Demographics, tech, and the digital divide

In the tech industry, one of the central debates has been over whether continued technological innovation can do much good for a wider group of people than just a narrow slice of the urban upper middle class.

The “digital divide” -- the gaps between technology haves and have-nots -- is a real and pressing issue. The skewed demographics of the tech industry can also make using technology to improve social outcomes a challenge.

“It creates a lot of anxiety and fear,” says Tessie Guillermo, CEO of the tech consulting company ZeroDivide. The ability to give digital literacy to these groups -- community organizations and underserved communities -- is difficult, and the demographics compound the challenge.

Furthermore, the way the tech industry impatiently deals with these problems with quick fix improvements could be counterproductive, she said.