Abstract
Forces of globalisation and economic competition enhanced by, among others, the digital technologies, are radically transforming the social context. Digital technologies are characterised by a powerful and pervasive Internet as well as the related information and communication technologies. Globalisation is facilitated by the universally accessible, reliable and inexpensive communication assisted by these digital technologies. However, there is growing and valid scepticism regarding the digitally influenced socio-economic emancipation. This scepticism is mainly driven by a lack of understanding of digital literacy as a holistic process of creating the necessary social, economic and political changes within a given context. The understanding of digital literacy therefore needs to join a number of seemingly divergent views of digital technology when dealing with these technologies’ benefits in socio-economic emancipation. This understanding of digital literacy should therefore be shaped and focused more on understanding how digital literacy impacts the poor and marginalised, especially in looking at the socio-economic welfare of these marginalised sections of the society. This article discusses digital literacy by firstly looking at the shortcomings of the available definitions and approaches and then recommends a socio-economic development-orientated definition. The article brings to the fore the most critical digital literacy issues for socio-economic development. These issues are important; they ensure that digital literacy is not viewed in isolation, but rather in terms of its outcomes and consequences, especially with regard to socio-economic development.
Highlights
Digital technologies are major drivers of globalisation and related economic competitiveness, which in turn, have become powerful forces in the social context (Avgerou 2010; Czerniewicz, Ravjee & Mlitwa 2006; Garrido et al 2012)
The digital technologies view of economic competition and competitiveness requires individuals to have digital literacy (DL), which is synonymous with the ability of individuals to participate in the economy through skills and creativity enabled by the digital technologies (Klecun 2008)
O’Brien and Scharber (2008:66–67) view DL as ‘socially situated practices supported by skills, strategies, and stances that enable the representation and understanding of ideas using a range of modalities enabled by digital tools’
Summary
Digital technologies are major drivers of globalisation and related economic competitiveness, which in turn, have become powerful forces in the social context (Avgerou 2010; Czerniewicz, Ravjee & Mlitwa 2006; Garrido et al 2012). The focus on DL should be concerned with the processes that create the required change in the relationship between the individuals and society on one side, and the digital technologies on the other side.
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