SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND DIGITAL EXCLUSION IN BRAZIL: INTERFACES BETWEEN ACCESS, TECHNOLOGICAL LITERACY, AND SOCIAL PARTICIPATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/aurumpub.046-016Keywords:
Digital citizenship, Social vulnerability, Information technologies, Digital literacy, Technological equityAbstract
Digital transformation has intensified dependence on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) across different dimensions of social life, making access to technology a fundamental element for social inclusion and citizenship. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the interfaces between social inequality and digital exclusion in Brazil, considering aspects related to access to technologies, technological literacy, and social participation. This is an integrative literature review with a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, conducted between April and May 2026. The search for studies was carried out in the databases Periódicos CAPES, SciELO, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis Online, SAGE Journals, and Wiley Online Library, resulting in the final selection of 17 scientific articles published between 2021 and 2025. The findings revealed that digital exclusion is directly associated with socioeconomic, educational, and territorial inequalities, mainly affecting vulnerable populations, rural residents, and individuals with low educational levels. The study also demonstrated that access to technologies alone does not guarantee social inclusion, making the development of digital skills essential for the critical and autonomous use of technological resources. It is concluded that digital inclusion should be understood as a multidimensional process, dependent on the articulation between technological infrastructure, democratization of internet access, digital literacy, and inclusive public policies aimed at reducing social inequalities and strengthening digital citizenship.
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