Culture and Digital Inequalities: Uses Among Young People in

Québec In recent years, the concept of the digital divide has become more complex and is no longer limited to difficulties in accessing the Internet or acquiring technological equipment. We now speak more oftenof digital gapsor inequalities, of the information poor and information rich, and so on, which means taking

into account much more complex variables that require constant adaptation (SSHRC, 2017). Public digital strategies in OECD countries increasingly focus on youth digital-literacy training while also democratizing access to high-speed Internet in cities and regions, in order to help reduce socio-demographic, economic and territorial inequalities and vulnerabilities. Digital literacy, in this sense, enables the development of digital skills: the ability to find, organize, understand, assess, create and share information through digital technology. These skills involve ICT skills, but also social, collaborative and cognitive skills (PAEN, 2016: 66). In this context, the current challenges

of Québec’s digital economy, in the face of the “rapid pace of technological change” (UNESCO, 2003: 93), include developing and maintaining specialized skills in a changing labour market. Such adaptation is needed, for example, to increase the performance of businesses in the ICT sector (AQT, 2016), just as “mastery of digital literacy is considered essential for success” (SSHRC, 2017). Figure 1 below shows the positions to

be filled by Canadian province in ICT fields across all sectors of activity by 2019: fig. 1 Issues and trends (AQT,

2016: 30) In Québec, more than 49,600 positions

will need to be filled. In terms of the need for a specialized workforce, Québec will see a 25% increase in specialized ICT job openings (Table 1), across all regions. Table 1. Growth in

ICT jobs (AQT, 2016: 30) This is why, in

a society marked by intensified technological change and the spread of disruptive technologies, building a digital culture and digital citizenship—beyond the underlying economic issues—responds to an urgent need for adaptation, training and innovative initiatives. Citizens, while adapting, will have to keep learning throughout their lives. The project of the nonprofit cultural organization

that is a pillar of Montréal’s digital-creativity ecosystem (Quintas, 2016)—Printemps numérique (PN)—has adopted a social and cultural mission and pursues objectives that parallel those of the social economy: improving the living conditions of individuals and communities, strengthening solidarity and social cohesion, and reinforcing ties of belonging to a territory (PESAL, 2012). To help fight the digital divide among young people in different

regions of Québec, Printemps numérique will offer Digital Cafés to improve digital skills through workshops, activities and immersive experiences that focus on innovation and awareness of new digital technologies. SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY – AQT (Association québécoise des technologies), 2016, PwC analysis source – © Competitiveness

Barometer 2016

https://www.aqt.ca/lindustrie/barometre/#ENJEUX%20ET%20TENDANCES – SSHRC. 2017. Advancing knowledge on the use of new technologies for the benefit
of Canadians. Research and knowledge-mobilization perspectives and opportunities. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, November, pp. 1-55. – Lacroix, E. (ed.). 2016 (August 29). A report on business priorities in ICT.
AQT 2016 Competitiveness Barometer, SOM research and polling, survey conducted for the Association québécoise des technologies, pp. 1-32. – PESAL (Pôle de l’économiesociale de l’agglomération de Longueuil).
2012. Portrait of the social economy, pp. 1-24. “Culture and Digital Inequalities: The Question of

Uses Among Vulnerable Young People in Québec” is an action-research project carried out by Amina Yagoubi, PhD in sociology and researcher at the Canada Research Chair on Digital Equity in Education at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). This research, supported byMITACS(Accelerate program), is carried out as part of the Jeunesse QC 2030 project supported by the Secrétariat à la jeunesse (SAJ). In acontext where disruptive technologies are multiplying [Artificial Intelligence — AI, virtualand augmented reality — VR/AR, digital mobility, the Internet of Things — IoT, cloud technologies, etc.], the questionof lifelong learning for young people and other segments of the population arises. In the face of increasingly accelerated transformations, it is important to remain attentive to social and digital inequalities, especially in terms of digital practices, skills and knowledge. MORE INFORMATION

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PAPER: The Gendered Digital Divide Although

the gendered digital divide does not in itself represent a threat among the youngest people, it could become problematic in the future, especially from a socioeconomic point of view. The world of work and society are undergoing accelerated changes with the rise of technologies and the multiplication of digital uses. We observed this growing phenomenon with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown periods that followed, which forced us to adapt quickly to remote work. This is why it is important today for women to have an equal place with men in the digital

world of work. MORE INFORMATION AND ACCESS

TO DOWNLOAD THE STUDY Cyberviolence Among Young People: The

Challenges of Cyberbullying Printemps numérique, as part of the “Together Against Bullying” financial-support program of the Ministère de la Famille du Québec, presents the report “Cyberviolence Among Young People: The Challenges of Cyberbullying” and the “Framework of Competencies for Preventing Cyberbullying Among Young People,” produced by sociologist and researcher Amina Yagoubi, PhD. These documents aim to raise awareness, prevent cyberbullying and equip educational and community stakeholders.

MORE INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO DOWNLOAD THE REPORT AND FRAMEWORK