The unjust burden of digital inclusion for low‐income migrant parents

Abstract

AbstractThere are significant digital inclusion disparities between low‐ and high‐income households across countries. Yet, there is a lack of in‐depth research about the relationship between digital and social participation in low‐income family households, especially in households facing multiple forms of disadvantage and discrimination due to language, cultural or literacy barriers. This article is based on long‐term ethnographic research with low‐income, migrant family households in the most culturally diverse region of Australia—Western Sydney. We find that household digital inclusion is perceived as necessary and important by parents—but also as a burden that has social, financial and emotional dimensions. We also find that a lack of targeted and culturally informed digital and social inclusion services constrain what digital connection can achieve for families. We argue that under these conditions, equitable digital inclusion cannot be achieved.