Everyday Practices for Access to ICT: Another Way of Understanding Digital Inclusion

Abstract

The article offers a discussion on social and digital inclusion from the standpoint of practices for accessing and using information and communication technology (ICT) in everyday life. Theoretical reflection is developed to that end, based on a review of literature on research that analyzes projects and initiatives for digital inclusion and practices concerning the social uses of ICT. The results of an empirical study on how ICT is used by a specific group comprised of transnational migrants are discussed in the second part of the article. The methodology featured in-depth interviews with a group of more than 200 Latin American migrants in the contexts of the cities of Porto Alegre (Brazil) and Barcelona (Spain). While no comparison is made between digital inclusion policies and spontaneous appropriation of ICT, the data from the study suggest that important advances have been ignored by assessments ofprojects that seek to reduce the digital divide. This is due to the disparity that exists between the supposed needs and desires of social groups that guide these initiatives and the particular appropriation experiences of those who are the ultimate recipients of digital inclusion initiatives.