Digital Inclusion, Policy, and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2023 - 20th - 21st September 2023

Digital Inclusion, Policy, and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2023 Call for Papers

We are pleased to announce that the fifth Digital Inclusion, Policy, and Research Conference will run on the 20^th and 21^st of September 2023.  As ever, we are seeking contributions from researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and intervention activities from around the world. We seek presentations on any aspects of digital inequalities, exclusion, or inclusion.  This year we would particularly welcome contributions that address:

• Marginalised communities
• Health and wellbeing

Today, citizens are ever more expected to participate in society via digital technologies and the internet. These technologies can offer a range of benefits and opportunities for health, work, recreation and entertainment. However, they are something of a double-edged sword, also presenting risks of exclusion and inaccessibility, issues of dis- and mis-information, privacy, and the potential for abuse. In an age of digital-by-default, everyday life is increasingly mediated and aspects of work, family life, leisure, and information are not just available, but sometimes only accessible, via connected technologies. It is essential in this landscape to address the needs of different individuals and groups in terms of providing opportunities to use, and benefit from the use of, digital technologies. Digital exclusion and inequalities can arise on multiple levels, both in terms of digital infrastructure and (a lack of) digital skills and as a result of the design of platforms and digital services. Digital services and platforms are often designed in ways that rely on algorithms aimed at providing personalised content and making this more visible. However, it is now well established that algorithms potentially exacerbate issues of misinformation, polarisation, and online abuse, which impact users, particularly those from marginalised or vulnerable groups. Very often, issues of digital infrastructure (in)accessibility, skills and online harm combine to further marginalise key groups or place them at greater risk.

Issues of digital inequalities are far from resolved and this is an area in which policy, research and interventions are essential. Often intertwined with socio-economic inequalities, these issues are based on gaps in terms of digital access, skills and attitudes. These challenges lie at the intersection of research policy and practice around digital inequalities, inclusion, and literacies. It follows that the task of promoting digital inclusion has never been more urgent.

The fifth edition of the Digital Inequalities, Policy, and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2023 will explore these issues in great depth by focusing on both the policy and practical implications of innovative research undertaken in this area. Held online, the conference invites international contributions from global perspectives that draw upon multiple disciplines, including media and internet studies, cultural studies, sociology and gender studies.

• What are the specific challenges faced by socially, culturally, or economically marginalised communities in relation to digital inequalities?
• How do digital inequalities impact on the health and well-being of different citizens and/or communities?
• Which groups and/or individuals are most at risk from digital exclusion or ‘online harms’? How might interventions target these successfully?
• How do people’s use of the internet and connected technologies vary, what might be the reasons behind these variations and why does this matter?
• What digital and media literacies are important, why, and how might they be targeted?
• How might issues of (in)accessibility be addressed?   
• How can different governments, regions, local authorities and civil society organisations respond to challenges relating to digital inclusion and digital literacy?

We invite scholars and practitioners to present their latest work on these topics. Themes that are particularly relevant to the conference include but are not limited to:

• Digital literacies, education, and skills development
• Material and financial barriers to accessing digital technologies
• Attitudes, motivations, and online usage
• Policy responses and recommendations in digital inequalities
• Civil society digital inclusion initiatives
• Regional, national, and global perspectives on digital inequalities

Submission Guidelines

Please submit abstracts of up to 300 words by 12th of June 2023.  

Please submit here: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=diprc2023

List of Topics

For the open sessions, we seek presentations and papers that cover empirical research as well as policy and practice interventions, on topics such as:

• Data analysis of levels of digital inclusion/exclusion and engagement
• Case studies of initiatives and programmes
• Case studies of community impact
• Studies of the impacts of digital exclusion and inequalities
• Policy interventions to address digital inequalities
• Gaps in digital and data literacy skills and knowledge
• Policy and practical interventions that aim at promoting digital and data literacy
• How digital and data literacy can be deployed to navigate online risks and opportunities and overcome issues of misinformation and privacy
• Government, community and voluntary sector responses to digital literacy needs
• Digital platform use and 'big tech' practices in relation to issues of digital inequalities and literacy
• Community responses to the digital needs of different groups.

Venue

The conference will be free to attend this year and held online - events will be scheduled to facilitate as far as possible attendance from all time zones.

Important dates

Confirmation of proceedings - September 2022

Last registration date - 17th of September 2022

Contact

For questions and other inquiries please email Dr Jeanette D'Arcy – Jeanette.D-Arcy@liverpool.ac.uk

We look forward to seeing you in September!

Sponsors

This conference is supported by the University of Liverpool.