In the midst of the social isolation that everyone is hopefully practicing, I wanted to share some thoughts to serve as a reminder to take care of one another.
As has been quite obvious, social networks have been serving their purpose in bearing a large burden as people attempt to combat the effects of social isolation, work from home, and check in with their loved ones. Thankfully, many internet providers, such as Telus, have waived home internet overages and roaming charges for customers trapped overseas. In addition to their already non-existent caps on overages, Shaw has opened up Shaw Go Wifi to everybody, not just Shaw customers. The good news is that internet providers and companies are recognizing the increased dependency on internet-based means of interaction in these difficult times.
Consequently, the question arises as to whether our internet infrastructure can really support this #WFH shift. Studies cited in the PCMag article suggests that America’s networks are currently under strain.
However, what the article points out and what I think is the larger issue at play is that the problem is poverty. An American census revealed that 35 percent of households with incomes under $20,000 in the urban county of Queens, New York, do not have internet. The most troubling part for me is the idea that those who cannot afford the internet are those who perhaps need it the most in order to combat the negative impacts of social isolation: at-risk youth and the elderly.
As I’ve been navigating the web of Allard student concerns regarding exams and classes over the past few days, I’ve noticed that this is prevalent in our own community – students live in buildings where the internet has continually crashed due to everyone working from home, while others lack stable wifi to begin with. Concerns relating to access, fairness, and poverty all have profound impacts on the wellness and livelihood of our neighbours, loved ones, and even classmates. With that being said, I hope everyone is able to remain compassionate and patient in these very uncertain times.
I hope everyone is doing well, and I hope we are all taking care of one another.
Information about overages:
https://www.telus.com/en/about/covid-19-updates
https://www.shaw.ca/covid-19
How social networks can do good while we’re all trapped indoors: https://www.theverge.com/interface/2020/3/13/21176880/covid-19-quarantine-social-distancing-isolation-loneliness-zoom-fortnite
PCMag on the stability of US networks:
https://www.pcmag.com/news/covid-19-isnt-crashing-the-internet-yet
Emotional NYT article about how isolation has affected elders (which prompted me to call my own grandparents): https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/nyregion/coronavirus-elderly-nyc.html
Thank you so much for your post Shona. I think you have brought a really important class analysis of COVID 19 to the forefront.
Over the past few days, I have been observing the ways in which social media has been replacing news sources for many people without cable TV. Because information shared through twitter and Facebook can be distributed so quickly, it puts social media platforms in a unique position of providing up to date information. For example, yesterday I saw a video from an emergency nurse working at Surrey Memorial Hospital speak about the current situation on Facebook. Additionally, the sharing of graphs and GIF’s have helped people understand the dire need for social isolation as this virus really ramps up.
I also really appreciate your piece on the digital divide. This divide is also particularly poignant as it relates to Indigenous communities even here in BC. Network BC estimates that only 35% of Indigenous communities in BC meet the current broadband definition of 50 mbps download speed and 10 mbps upload speed (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/connectivity-in-bc). I have also been personally told that in some communities, the internet is only available through public spaces such as libraries and deeming a community ‘connected’ is defined loosely. This is especially frustrating as the United Nations described internet access as a human right back in 2016 (https://www.businessinsider.com/un-says-internet-access-is-a-human-right-2016-7). Not only does this divide exacerbate existing inequalities on a daily basis in normal life, but even more so during this pandemic. As institutions transition from in-person learning and knowledge sharing to distance, knowledge will be lost for many due to a lack of connectivity. I worry that with overcrowding and strain on existing networks, this may, as you said, punish those who need it most including the at-risk and elderly, but also those navigating through existing structural inequalities as well.
Claire