From Poverty to Digital Poverty

This chapter reviews the main debate and findings on the intersection between traditional forms of poverty and the rise of digital technologies. It starts by introducing the concept of poverty, albeit briefly (for a more comprehensive debate around poverty see Blocker et al., 2023; Lister, 2021; Spicker, 2007), acknowledging its multidimensional nature and emphasizing the need to analyze and understand it beyond the mere lack of financial resources or household income. This chapter aims to identify potential new dimensions that should be included in this concept, fostering a more comprehensive approach to addressing poverty in the digital age. It delves into the transformative influence of digital technologies as they intertwine with the daily experiences of individuals, influencing the definition and manifestations of poverty. Our focus is directed toward key definitions discussed in the literature related to digital disadvantages, including digital inequalities, digital exclusion, digital capital, and the digital divide. We posit that the conventional understanding of poverty necessitates a revision to account for the pervasive influence of digital technologies. In so doing, we reflect on the emergence of a new social group: the digital underclass. This marginalized segment of the population faces the risk of being left behind, primarily due to the rapid technology advancements imposed by the pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis. We also discuss how different digital experiences may underpin diverse levels of poverty in the digital age. Finally, we briefly focus on the evolution of digital inequalities at a global level.