“ItsEasierThanYouThink,” a new national digital literacy awareness campaign, kicked off Monday, September 2, 2013 with a White House petition and several public service announcement (PSA) videos addressing the education factors that contribute to the online education and skills gap in America.
The Goals of the “ItsEasierThanYouThink” Digital Literacy Campaign:
– Raise awareness with the public about the issue of digital literacy;
– Urge the Obama Administration to adopt a national digital literacy policy;
– Empower non-Internet users with the tools they need to get online; and
– Providing the online community with resources to take action on this important issue
Visit http://www.itseasierthanyouthink.org/ – It’sEasierThanYouThink Digital Literacy Awareness Campaign
Digital Literacy Facts & Figures:
60 MILLION AMERICANS
do not know how to use the Internet. This figure is surpasses over 5 billion people worldwide who cannot participate in our information economy.
THE US RANKS 7TH
when it comes to Internet adoption worldwide. We are the world’s largest economy, and we are not the leader when it comes to Internet adoption.
OVER 80 PERCENT
of Fortune 500 companies require that applicants submit job applications online. This means the largest companies in the United States require digital literacy skills.
ONLY 57 PERCENT
of African-American households use the Internet compared to 67% of White American households according to the Department of Commerce.
SLIGHTLY OVER HALF
of Americans ages 65 and older use the Internet. They are missing out on critical services and opportunities.
27 BILLION DOLLARS
in economic opportunity could lie ahead if we work to get the world’s population online and using the Internet.
1 IN 5 AMERICANS
say they don’t know enough about technology to start using the Internet on their own. They have no one to teach them how to get online.
ONLY 43 PERCENT
of those without a high school education are online and only sixty-two percent of those who make less than $30,000/year are online.
DIGITAL LITERACY IS
a gate skill, demanded by many employers when they first evaluate a job application. It is also a catalyst for many other important life skills.
