About a year ago I came across a few headlines on social media that older adults were the population spreading fake news the most.

After investigating I came across more sources that said the same thing, that older adults shared the most fake news, not for fun though. But because they genuinely could not tell the difference.

Instances like this show why many scholars and other individuals who have a vested interest in bridging the digital divide, assert that access is not enough but literacy in using forms of ICTs even if it just facebook, is important.

I came across this great article about a New Orleans resident, who started her own business, selling T-shirts! What struck me about Tiffany Williams story is how she used Teespring. Teespring is an online platform that allows individuals to make and sell their goods.

Because of this existing platform, her skill, and access she was then able to quit her job in sales, and is now fully self employed. She continued using the internet to build her brand by finding all employees on various websites.

Through her use of ICTs she has now been able to build a brand that makes 7 figures a year.

Tiffany Williams story shows the possibilities and opportunities that may exist for everyone if not for the digital divide.

Having access to information and communication technology, is the beginning, but without the skill set and literacy the digital divide widens and prevails.

In the times that we live in it is pretty much agreed that having access and the skills to utilize ICTs is imperative. Individuals who do not have the skills will be behind their counterparts.

So where do schools come in? School is the place where most people pick up the skills and tools to be productive member of society, however in todays society having digital skills is very much apart of thriving as an adult.

According to this article, the Norwegian school system is making a point to provide students with access to ICTs and develop their digital literacy.

Programming and other ICT related subject areas are projected to enter the European countries school day.

Right before the New Year the African continent made strides in bridging the digital divide.

In 2019, Africa experienced a surge in the amount of tech hubs in the continent. In the spirit of Nii Quaynor, the Father of African Internet, it is said that the continent is now the fastest growing continent for developers around the world. As we progress into 2020 this will continue to rise.

In December Ghana, hosted The Year of Return, to commemorate the 400 years since the Atlantic Slave Trade, in this celebration Ghana saw many tourist from the African Diaspora and all over the world. It is reported that the country is set to bring in $1.9 billion from the surge in tourism .

Tourism can help to bridge the divide through boosting the economy individuals will have more money in order to invest in gaining access to or skills in various forms of information and communication technologies.

These economy boosters will no doubt, help to bridge the digital divide.