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Exciting News! The Special Issue on the Digital Divide in the Middle East and North Africa, Co-edited by Glenn Muschert and me, is Now Published! 🌟

After a long journey, Glenn and I are thrilled to announce that our special issue on Digital Divide in the MENA region is finally out. We had the privilege of collaborating with brilliant colleagues and authors to explore the intricate digital disparities in MENA. This collection of articles explores the complexities of digital disparities within MENA, taking into account cultural, economic, and historical factors.

📚 Highlights from the Issue:

Multicultural Arab Context: Fahed Y. Alsumait, Ellen Helsper, and Miriam Rahali delve into digital inequalities in Kuwait, emphasizing the need to adapt survey methodologies to local contexts.

Journalism Sector: Noha Mellor examines the evolving role of technology in the Arab region, highlighting how digital divides perpetuate offline power dynamics and the impact of Big Tech on journalism.

Rural Turkey: Veysel Bozan and Emiliano Trere’ focus on digital disconnection, revealing how infrastructure, geography, and socioeconomic conditions shape digital practices in rural Turkey.

North Africa: Hasnain Bokhari and Evans T Awun analyzes digital inclusion in Tunisia and Morocco, showing persistent inequalities despite improvements and emphasizing the link between digital inclusion and socioeconomic well-being.

This thematic issue aims to encourage international study and address social challenges stemming from digital divides in MENA by critically discussing these disparities and their effects.

Massimo Ragnedda, Maria Laura Ruiu and Daniel Calderon Gomez (2024), Examining the Interplay of Sociodemographic and Sociotechnical Factors on Users’ Perceived Digital Skills, Media and Communication, Cogitatio.

Abstract:  The rapid pace of technological advancements of the last decades, accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic, has increased the importance of digital skills for individuals, businesses, and society. However, despite efforts to increase digital ownership and educational initiatives, the digital divide remains a persistent issue and a barrier to social inclusion. Digital exclusion is not limited to access vs. no access but encompasses a spectrum of participation influenced by factors such as geographical location, skills, motivation, and identity. The study explores what sociodemographic and sociotechnical aspects shape users’ digital skills. It is based on an online survey of English internet users aged between 20–55 with school-aged children (N = 2,004), to measure their digital skills across six dimensions and analyzes the relationship between these skills and sociodemographic and sociotechnical variables. Results show that among the sociodemographic aspects, including gender, age, education level, employment status, income, and residential area, only income significantly contributes to distinguishing groups per level of digital skills. The study also shows that motivation gap, access gap, usage gap, and social support, are all associated with individuals’ digital skills.

The article is part of the thematic issue “Practices of Digital In- and Exclusion in Everyday Life” edited by Marcel Broersma, Joëlle Swart, Denise Mensonides, Alexander Smit and Maud Rebergen

🌟 Honored to have delivered a keynote at the Digital Inclusion in the Nordic-Baltic Region conference (14-15 May 2024) organized by Nordregio 🌟

I had the privilege of opening the section on Future Trends: Digital Inclusion in the Era of Industry 4.0 with a talk titled “Digital Inclusion in the Era of AI.” My focus was on the critical importance of promoting digital equity and inclusion as we navigate an AI-driven future.

As AI continues to shape our world, there’s a growing risk of further marginalizing the digital underclass. We delved into how AI systems, trained on vast datasets, can perpetuate existing biases in society, leading to algorithmic bias and unfair decision-making, particularly impacting marginalized groups.

To combat these disparities, we explored strategies to foster a more inclusive digital landscape. Collaboration across sectors—government, private companies, non-profits, academia, and community groups—is key to pooling resources and expertise in advancing digital equity goals.

My message underscored the need to:
🔍 Advocate for policies addressing AI’s impact on social inequalities, tackling algorithmic bias, ensuring data privacy, and promoting equitable AI access.
📊 Establish systems to monitor AI’s impact on social inequalities, using evidence-based research to inform policy and reduce disparities.
🏛️ Push for local and regional policy changes prioritizing digital equity and inclusion in AI governance, focusing on algorithmic fairness, data privacy, and equitable AI access.

A heartfelt thank you to Nordregio for the invitation, and to all attendees for their engaging questions, thoughtful reflections, and valuable insights.

Thank you. 🙏

It has been an immense honor to return to Italy as one of the Keynote speakers at the prestigious 4th International Conference on “Data Science & Social Research” in Naples (25-27 March, 2024), hosted by one of the oldest public universities in the world.

In my presentation titled “Bridging Theory to Practice: The Operationalization of Digital Capital” I delved into the academic journey of introducing a groundbreaking concept into the theoretical toolkit of social research and its subsequent operationalization, validation, and testing.

We explored the translation of the concept of “Digital Capital” from theory to practical application. Our primary focus has been on defining Digital Capital and devising methodologies for its measurement. These inquiries have guided our research journey as we conceptualized the idea, developed frameworks, constructed measurement scales, validated our concepts, and applied our findings in real-world contexts.

Drawing upon Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical framework, we have gained a nuanced understanding of how digital capital shapes social inequalities. This lens enables us to analyze the distribution of resources, power dynamics, and interaction patterns within the digital sphere.

Digital Capital represents a distinct form of capital that is amenable to empirical measurement. The focus of this presentation was on the mapping and creation of a scale for measuring Digital Capital, with a discussion on the introduction of this new theoretical concept and the methodological challenges inherent in its operationalization.

Currently, we are in the process of redefining how we measure this novel concept, particularly as we apply it to diverse cultural and economic contexts. The discussion at the conference was invaluable, as we received several insightful feedback from colleagues across different backgrounds. This feedback will greatly assist us in the process of refining the measurement of Digital Capital.

Looking forward to continuing this important work and sharing our progress with the academic community!

“The Palgrave Handbook of Everyday Digital Life” (2024) This handbook I’ve had the privilege of co-editing with Maria Laura Ruiu, Hopeton Dunn, and Laura Robinson is a comprehensive exploration of the fascinating intersection between digital technology and our everyday experiences.

In today’s world, digital technologies like the internet, mobile telephony, artificial intelligence, the metaverse, social media platforms, and algorithms have become integral parts of our lives. They have brought about significant transitions in human civilization, impacting various aspects of society, governance, and personal livelihoods. “The Palgrave Handbook of Everyday Digital Life” dives deep into these transitions, exploring the myriad ways in which people navigate and experience digital life.

“The digital” is more than just technology; it represents a new way of life. It has reshaped commerce, governance, and society, offering unparalleled flexibility and productivity. Digital living involves creating new experiences and value in our daily lives through neural networks and evolving data applications. Our handbook delves into this dynamic landscape, where artificial intelligence, the internet, social media platforms, and smartphones converge to shape our interactions and behaviors.

Here’s a glimpse into the structure of the handbook:

I have successfully achieved the Italian National Scientific Habilitation (ASN) for the position of Full Professor in Sociology of Culture and Communication!

The National Scientific Qualification (ASN) is a meticulous and non-comparative evaluation procedure overseen directly by the Ministry of University and Research. The process is facilitated through the national committees, each dedicated to a specific competitive sector.
The ASN procedure is characterized by a thorough assessment of candidates, encompassing their scientific, cultural, and professional merits. This comprehensive evaluation ensures that those who receive the qualification have demonstrated excellence in various facets of academia. The committees responsible for this significant evaluation are composed of five Full Professors in the same discipline.

The ASN serves as the essential qualification required for participation in competitive processes at individual universities, specifically for securing the prestigious position of Professor.

Here is a sneak peek (along with the word cloud) of our forthcoming book project, titled “Digital Environmental Poverty” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024). This has been a collaborative effort with Maria Laura Ruiu, who is the principal author of this book. In a world shaped by the rapid acceleration of digital technologies, especially intensified by the global pandemic, our forthcoming book dives deep into the profound transformations occurring in contemporary society. These shifts extend beyond the realms of technology; they’ve had a profound impact on societal structures and dynamics. We recognize the urgency for scholars and policymakers to explore the multifaceted consequences of this digital evolution, particularly concerning social inequalities and the evolving nature of poverty in the digital age.

Our book takes a holistic approach to understanding the complex phenomenon of digital poverty. We firmly believe that poverty cannot be exclusively defined by economic limitations. Instead, it’s crucial to consider the intersection of digital, socio-economic, and environmental factors. The book begins by deconstructing the conventional concept of poverty and explores how technology access plays a pivotal role in today’s society. We discuss the importance of “digital capital” and emphasize its role in shaping social structures and opportunities in the digital era. Moreover, we delve into how the quality of the natural environment significantly influences poverty levels.

At the heart of our book also there is the intricate interplay between social, digital, and environmental poverty. We argue that marginalized communities often lack the means and opportunities to shape policies that affect their lives, which can hinder sustainable development. By adopting a nuanced approach to framing digital poverty, we consider exposure to environmental degradation, the capacity to use digital technologies sustainably, and the broader social context.

We recognize the critical role of algorithms and artificial intelligence in perpetuating digital poverty and the need for effective governance and policy-making. The book has revisited the Digital Poverty Framework developed by the Digital Poverty Alliance, with the significant addition of the environmental component. We explore how environmental transformation is connected to digital transformation, and we discuss the potential for long-term sustainability in the face of ecological degradation.

The book concludes with case studies and policy recommendations, aiming to inform strategies that promote inclusive digital recovery while safeguarding the environment.

Şentürk, M., Ragnedda, M., and Muschert, G., New Media New Society? Istanbul University Press

This open-access edited book is a collection of nine chapters which include topics and issues like toy activism, WhatsApp groups, online dating sites, migrants and social media, activism and social media, artificial intelligence and/in journalism, virtual ethnography, subculture practices in social media and new audiences in new media like binge-watchers. All these topics represent different forms of multimedia cultures, and mostly the emphasis is on the daily practices occurred in social media.
This edited book shows us how the convergence phenomenon occurs nowadays. Toyification of society as an expressive media for communication and cooperative play, not just for children and teenagers but also for adults, as part of produsage and affectionate activism. We used to think of the convergence factor in medium, platforms, etc. However, this book reminds us that as new media cultures expand, we should also consider the convergence of different segments of society. In that sense, it also focuses on mediums (like smartphones) and activities and agents. As McLuhan highlights, we encounter these items like mobile phones in every part of everyday life, which turn out to be an extended part of our bodies. Besides, we produce relationships and communities via these items and applications on it, and day by day, these items and applications have become a trend in almost every culture and society. This ‘we’ composition may also differ, like university students, women, elderly people, etc. However, with users and applications as an ecosystem, it may sometimes (re) produce unequal relationships, especially on gender-based activities and representations.

During a week-long visit (October 2023) to the Digital Economy Lab at the University of Warsaw in Poland, Maria Laura Ruiu and I had the invaluable opportunity to engage with scholars and researchers affiliated with this interdisciplinary group. The experience was enriching and intellectually stimulating, allowing for in-depth discussions about our ongoing research on Digital Capital, encompassing both theoretical frameworks and empirical explorations. Specifically, we presented and delved into our research concerning the third level of the digital divide and the intricate interplay between social and digital inequalities. We delved into a critical investigation of the self-reinforcing dynamics inherent in both digital and social exclusion. Our inquiry led us to define a concept we termed “The Inequality Loop.” This loop encapsulates the interconnected and mutually reinforcing relationship between digital and social exclusion, perpetuating a cycle of inequality that is often difficult to break.

Moreover, we introduced and deliberated upon the concept of Digital Environmental Habitus, shedding light on our empirical research endeavors aimed at comprehending this aspect. We propose a conceptualization of the Digital-Environmental Habitus, which integrates the structural underpinnings (existing background) and the metabolized heightened integration of digital technologies into individuals’ daily routines, interacting with their environmental attitudes. Additionally, we presented the empirical findings from our research conducted in England, which highlighted how factors such as parental education levels, gender, age, and income influence the degree of awareness regarding environmentally conscious usage of digital technologies. This investigation revealed a stratified nature of the digital-environmental habitus among parents in England, determined by a fusion of pre-existing socioeconomic characteristics and an individual’s ability and willingness to adapt to the pronounced surge in digital technology use (attributed to pandemic-induced social distancing) and the concurrent environmental degradation.

The past week has been both stimulating and demanding, filled with engaging public lectures, insightful discussions with colleagues, and thorough reviews of ongoing research projects. Our time at the Digital Economy Lab (DeLab) has been immensely rewarding, offering us the opportunity to connect with esteemed scholars and researchers from diverse disciplines focused on the evolution of the digital economy, societal shifts, and globalization. The collaboration extends across faculties, notably involving the Faculty of Economic Sciences, the Faculty of Sociology, and the Faculty of Law and Administration, further enriching our collective academic endeavors.