On the website of Internet.org, Facebook and its partners display their noble goals: Internet.org was founded to bring internet to all people, to connect them and to improve their lives by offering online access. But not all projects by internet.org are actually welcomed in the Global South.
This is the fourth article in a critical series on when well-intended ICTs and online platforms miss the mark in transforming society. This article discusses how the digital divide effects access to remote learning and learning outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week, Richaela discusses Aadhaar, India’s national biometric identification system, data injustice, and how it reproduces inequalities for historically disadvantaged groups. In Aadhaar India: When well-intentioned innovation marginalizes, Richaela dives into the history of Aadhaar and discusses a few case studies, which highlight how the ID system misses the mark …
This is the third article in a critical series on when well-intended ICTs and online platforms miss the mark in transforming society. This article discusses the case of India’s biometric ID system, Aadhaar, and it linkages to social services assistance delivery and data injustice.
This week, Elli addressed the topic of cancel culture on social media as a way to counter behavior contributing to inequalities and Richaela brought up a recent ICT failure as Uganda imposed a compulsory license for online publishing in addition to the existing tax for social media use. Cancel Culture …
This is the second article in a critical series on when well-intended ICTs and online platforms miss the mark. It discusses a recent public notice in Uganda, which requires citizens to obtain “a license to post online,” which coupled with social media taxes further violates freedom of expression and access to information.
In the previous articles, we have explored three different perspectives on the role of social media in (mis)representations of development: the risks of celebrity philanthropy, the white savior complex on Tinder, and sometimes problematic marketing of social enterprises. These new forms of manifestation of deeply rooted perceptions of development on social media are also being countered in a variety of ways. One concept that has risen in recent years but gained especially popularity in 2020 is “cancel culture”.
This week Elli delved into the issues faced by social enterprises in social media marketing, Richaela presented an African feminist perspective on online gender-based violence, and Anna discussed the role of Facebook in pro-democracy protests in Thailand. In Social enterprises – Balancing between target audiences and stakeholders, Elli considered …
If you travel to Thailand as a tourist, you should know some basic rules. The probably most famous one: Don’t do or say anything that might seem to criticize the monarchy. The strict lèse-majesté law affects peoples’ lives and political changes in Thailand. And it affects the way people can communicate via Facebook.
This is the first article in a critical series on when well-intended ICTs and online platforms miss the mark in transforming society. This article discusses a study on online gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa.
