In one of the last issues of Hispanic Engineer published in 1999, the magazine re-dedicated efforts to promote tech careers among young people so that we will no longer have to talk about a Digital Divide. In March 2020, as more public and private schools close from Washington state to New York, the digital divide issue has come into sharp focus again.
The digital divide has been a central topic for decades, and recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Pew Research center shows that 15% of U.S. households with school-age children do not have a high-speed internet connection at home. The study also shows that nearly one-in-five teens can’t always finish their homework because of the digital divide.
The survey findings from the Center said that some teens are more likely to face digital hurdles when trying to complete their homework because they lack broadband internet connection at home. Overall, 17% of teens said they are often or sometimes unable to complete homework assignments because they do not have reliable access to a computer or internet connection. According to the researchers, 6% of Hispanic teens say this often happens to them.
In the study, teens who lack reliable internet service at home said they seek out other locations to complete their schoolwork: 12% of teens say they at least sometimes use public Wi-Fi to complete assignments because they do not have an internet connection at home.
More than 30% of teens say they sometimes have to do their homework on their cellphone. Although it is not uncommon for young people in all circumstances to complete assignments in this way, it is especially prevalent among lower-income teens.
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