Understanding the Impact of Technology on Marginalized Populations During COVID-19

By DeeDee M. Bennett Gayle, this book delves into the secondary impacts of COVID-19 in the United States, focusing on the increased use of technology and its effects on various aspects of life. It highlights the global response of social distancing, lockdowns, and remote work, as well as the disparate guidance provided at state and local levels.

The book centers on how technology facilitated access and reach for some, while contributing to difficulties for others, particularly marginalized populations, due to digital literacy or digital access issues. It is structured around the social determinants of health domains, explaining how technology was an umbrella domain that impacted every aspect of life during the pandemic, including access, use, adoption, digital literacy, and digital equity, as well as privacy and security concerns.

Given the focus on the impacts to marginalized populations, the book also addresses the use of technology to perpetuate hate, discrimination, racism, and xenophobic behaviors that emerged as a twin pandemic during COVID-19. It is divided into three parts: Part I explains the defining differences between primary and secondary impacts, as well as the unique guidelines adopted in each state; Part II focuses on specific domains, with each chapter dedicated to topics including economic stability through employment, education, healthcare, and the social/community context through access to services; and Part III focuses on unique technological considerations related to COVID-19, such as mobile health-related apps and privacy or security issues that may have posed barriers to the adoption and use of technology. The book concludes with a chapter that explicitly explains the advantages and disadvantages of technology adoption during COVID-19, which will have implications for policies, disaster management practices, and interdisciplinary research.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the secondary impacts of COVID-19 on technology use and access in the United States
• How technology facilitated access and reach for some, while contributing to difficulties for others, particularly marginalized populations
• The impact of technology on various aspects of life during the pandemic, including access, use, adoption, digital literacy, and digital equity
• The use of technology to perpetuate hate, discrimination, racism, and xenophobic behaviors during the pandemic
• The implications of technology adoption during COVID-19 for policies, disaster management practices, and interdisciplinary research

Target Audience:

• Researchers and academics studying the impact of technology on society during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Policy makers and government officials looking to understand the role of technology in addressing the pandemic
• Healthcare professionals and practitioners interested in the use of technology to improve health outcomes during the pandemic
• Technology developers and innovators seeking to understand the challenges and opportunities of technology adoption during the pandemic