Digitalisation is already having a significant impact on society, but for the most vulnerable citizens in disadvantaged situations, such as those facing social challenges, addiction issues, or homelessness, technological change can create even greater difficulties. Many of these groups may not have access to the necessary digital resources and, as a result, risk becoming further marginalised in the digital world. Technological developments can thus exacerbate social issues by creating new forms of exclusion.
The purpose of the network is to gain a deeper understanding of how digitalisation affects the most vulnerable citizens and to explore solutions that meet their needs. The network will foster collaboration between researchers from different professional backgrounds and organisations to examine how digitalisation can both worsen and potentially alleviate the social problems faced by vulnerable citizens.
There is an increasing need for research and debate on how the impact of digitalisation on society’s most vulnerable groups can be addressed, and how technology can be used as a tool to improve their living conditions.
