The digital divide is often understood in terms of Internet access. However, realities on the ground are more complex. While infrastructure is improving, youth emphasised that digital inequality has evolved. In the Philippines, access to stable internet connectivity remains a persistent challenge. In Vietnam, priorities focus on upskilling blue-collar workers and the older generation to avoid displacement by automation. In Singapore, the divide is more psychological, with marginalised groups lacking confidence in digital literacy.

While existing academic frameworks such as Jakob Nielsen’s “Three Stages of the Digital Divide” (2006) remain relevant, these practical and context-specific barriers call for more  fit-for-purpose policy responses.

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