The Great Digital Divide of Public Outreach

Virtual engagement has been on the rise for years, but the pandemic is forcing public and private sector entities to move outreach to the virtual space quickly. Since few had time to plan and prepare for the sudden transition, it's important to pause to consider how to make virtual public engagement accessible.

There are many positives to virtual public engagement. Its flexible nature tends to boost participation rates as people can participate wherever and whenever it's convenient, and it can reach populations that often do not have time to participate in traditional meetings. But there are also essential downsides that can become barriers to an inclusive process.

A study done by Pew Research Center estimates 10% of Americans (more than 30 million) do not use the internet. 27% of American adults 65 and older, 29% of adults with less than high school education, and 18% of adults earning under $30,000/year don't use the internet. Rural Americans are less likely to use the internet, and minorities are more likely to report they don't use the internet.

Coronavirus is exacerbating this digital divide. Under normal circumstances, many of the aforementioned groups could visit libraries, schools, internet cafes, or other venues to gain online access. But we are now urged to stay home, and with non-essential businesses closing, internet access is even harder to come by for millions across the nation.

Public engagement has long been a great equalizer where every voice counts, everyone is welcome to participate, and every idea matters. But limited to an online audience, it will inherently be more likely to exclude the voices of people of color, the elderly, lower-income Americans, less-educated Americans, and those without access to technology.

That's why we're investing our time at home to uncover and share new solutions founded on the original commitment of public engagement to give everyone a seat at the decision-making table because every voice counts.

About Arch Street Communications:

ASC delivers strategic solutions that move infrastructure projects and major initiatives, helping drive growth and revenue in complex organizations. We engage markets to communicate about issues that matter to Americans in a changing world: energy, transportation, safety, jobs, and the environment.