Internet and Developing Countries

    Sometimes I forget that some parts of the world do not have internet access. The first thought that comes to mind is how much I use google to help me when I think something isn't right with my kids. I couldn't imagine not having the internet. 

    The past few weeks have been one thing after another! I think *fingers crossed* we are on the mend. Last week my daughter got Hand, Foot, and Mouth. Since she has a bunch of bites from being attached my what felt like a billion mosquitoes. I didn't realize she had HFM until I saw some white dots on her tongue. I took to google to figure out what it could possibly be. After a google search and a message to my doctor's office, we got the confirmation that she did in fact of HFM. I just used the internet to help me figure out what was wrong with my daughter and how I could help her feel more comfortable. The internet searches didn't stop there, what could she eat? They said to help her hydrated and with the sores on her mouth, she wanted nothing to do with real food. I was able to make sure some Pedialyte popsicles and she loved that! She'd eat popsicles and ice cream for the next three days. 🙊 

    How do they do it? Where are we still seeing no internet use? According to this week's reading "Social Media Use Continues to Rise in Developing Countries but Plateaus Across Developed Ones" there has been increased use of the internet over the past five years in the 19 countries they surveyed. The journal states, "between 2013 and 2014 a median of 42% of the countries surveyed had accessed interest and by 2017, it was 64%" (Poushter et al., 2018). There is progress! But there is still room for improvement. The internet can bring so much information to these populations that don't have the opportunity. Hopefully one day everyone can have access to the internet 😊

Reference: 

Poushter, J., Bishop, C., & Chwe, H. (2018). Social Media Use Continues to Rise in Developing Countries but Plateaus Across Developed Ones, 1–46. Retrieved July 23, 2022, from https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/06/15135408/Pew-Research-Center_Global-Tech-Social-Media-Use_2018.06.19.pdf.