One in two people in France, according to the latest figures from the digital barometer, faces at least one barrier preventing them from fully using digital technology and the internet. Three barriers include a lack of digital skills, a lack of equipment, and a lack of connectivity.
One in four people, or 8 million individuals in the country, do not own any digital equipment, or have equipment that is too old.
These issues do not only concern seniors, contrary to popular belief, but affect the entire population.
In response to this situation, Emmaüs Connect offers solutions: prepaid top-ups that do not require a bank account, quality SIM cards or equipment collected from businesses and local authorities, then refurbished in integration structures and sold at solidarity prices.
The organization also provides training on usage, either individually or collectively, depending on the audience, to support the development of digital skills.
It is also about raising awareness and politicizing a subject that has not been sufficiently addressed in the shift to a fully digital world, where almost every action in our daily lives now takes place online. “If we decide to dematerialize, perhaps society has a responsibility to ensure that everyone can access their rights, to our democratic system?” questions Victor Baysang-Michelin.
