A Major Problem Resulted From Digital Divide

　　In recent years, although the majority of all countries especially the post-industrial societies, have achieved preeminent(卓越的) progress thanks to the widespread of personal computer and Internet, this trend also resulted in large groups of poor, underprivileged(被剥夺基本权力的,穷困的,下层社会的) and disadvantaged(贫穷的,处于不利地位的) people who lack in computer skills. Such groups have limited access to the information age and are identified below the Digital Divide. These people find it difficult to find a decent job, and many of them are likely to turn to drugs and crimes. In a word, this tendency has created many social problems, namely unemployment, clime, drug abuse, disparity(不一致, 不同, 不等) between the rich and the poor, and so on. I think the most important element among them is crime.

　　The Digital Divide functions on two levels, namely the domestic level and the international level. On the domestic level, when it comes to other negative effects accompanied by the emergence of Digital Divide such as unemployment and drug abuse, some people may adopt an inappropriate perspective that they are not affected by these problems and show no interest in solving them. Regardless of the political correctness of such opinions, the devastating effects of crimes closely associate with all those in the society and allow of no neglect. If we don't put this issue under scrutiny, our lives and properties will naturally suffer great loss as a result and this issue virtually serves the function of a trigger of dissatisfaction among the people. Furthermore, since the computer skills are necessary in our routine jobs, those computer illiterate will be disappointed to find they are not qualified to have an upper hand in the job market. They have no choice but to commit crimes as a means of earning their bread as well as revenging(报仇, 复仇,替...报仇, 复仇)on the society.

　　On the international level, people in underdeveloped countries will lament that their situation is worse than before since the advent of the personal computer and Internet, whose original purpose is , ironically, to provide convenience as well as efficiency to all human beings instead of causing social and economical gaps between rich and poor countries. To make it worse, radicals from some underdeveloped countries will attribute their plight to the exploitation and oppression inflicted by developed countries aided by advanced technology. Consequently, they are entitled to take an extreme form of crime, namely terrorist attacks launched against Western countries, as they deserve the punishment.

　　If the digital technology continues to develop at the expense of those beneath the Digital Divide and the underdeveloped countries do not take an active approach to the problems, even well educated computer literates in developed countries will not enjoy their lives devoid of a sense of security. To eliminate all crimes caused by the Digital Divide, all governments should provide the underclass with educational and financial provision, which in turn generates possible job opportunities. Meanwhile, developed countries should provide unconditional economic, financial, technological aids for poor countries to help them build infrastructure and purchase equipment so that they can take advantage of current technology.

（编辑：何佩琦）

　　更多内容请关注》》新东方网专四专八频道

　　我要报班 》》点击进入