Digital Poverty Is the New Literacy Crisis
Sunday Morning Coffee
For generations, being literate boiled down to two questions:
Could you read?
Could you write?
Those skills determined whether someone could find employment, understand a contract, help their children with homework, or fully participate in society.
Today, those questions are still important, but they're no longer enough. A new literacy crisis has quietly emerged, and it's affecting millions of people, including many who are incarcerated or returning home from prison. It's called digital poverty, and unlike financial poverty, you can't always see it.
A Different Kind of Illiteracy
Imagine walking out of prison tomorrow. You've earned your GED. Maybe even a vocational certification.You're motivated to start over.
Then someone tells you to:
Scan this QR code.
Download our app.
Upload your résumé.
Create an online account.
Verify your identity.
Check your email.
Join a virtual interview.
Sign your onboarding paperwork electronically.
Log into the employee portal.
Reset your password.
None of those tasks require advanced technology skills. They're simply part of modern life. But if you've spent years, or decades, without access to technology, they can feel overwhelming. Not because you're incapable. but ecause no one ever taught you, and because you’ve not had the opportunity to practice.
We've Changed the Rules
Here's what worries me. Society has quietly changed the definition of what it means to be "literate." Reading a newspaper isn't enough anymore. Now you need to:
Navigate websites.
Recognize scams.
Protect your identity.
Manage passwords.
Use online banking.
Access telehealth.
Apply for housing.
Schedule appointments.
Complete government forms.
Communicate professionally by email.
Understand artificial intelligence.
And keep learning as technology continues to evolve. These aren't luxury skills. They're life skills.
Digital Poverty Is More Than Access
When people hear the phrase "digital divide," they often think about devices or internet access, and for sure, those things matter. But I've come to believe the bigger issue is confidence. I've met people who own smartphones but don't know how to attach a document to an email. People who avoid online banking because they're afraid they'll accidentally lose their money. People who refuse to click anything because they're worried they'll get scammed. People who are embarrassed to ask for help because they think everyone else already knows.
That's digital poverty, not simply lacking technology. It’s also about lacking the confidence to use it.
Corrections Has an Opportunity
This is one of the reasons I'm so passionate about expanding digital literacy inside correctional education. Not because I want students to become computer experts, but because I want them to leave believing: “I can figure this out."
That mindset changes everything.
Technology will continue to evolve. The software they use today may disappear tomorrow. Artificial intelligence will reshape workplaces. New platforms will emerge. Passwords will become passkeys. The tools will change, but the confidence to learn them is what lasts.
We Can't Keep Preparing People for Yesterday
One of the questions I ask when designing educational programs is simple: "What will this person's first week home actually look like?"
That question changes the curriculum. Suddenly we're not just teaching keyboarding. We're teaching someone:
How to complete an online job application.
How to recognize a phishing email.
How to use digital calendars to remember appointments.
How to compare prices online before making a purchase.
How to access healthcare.
How to access eCourt portals and participate in online supervision check-ins.
How to safely use AI to improve a résumé or prepare for an interview.
How to protect themselves from identity theft.
In other words, we're teaching people how to function in today's world.
Digital Literacy Is Reentry Literacy
I've heard people say, "We don't have enough time to teach technology." I'd argue we don't have enough time not to. Because digital literacy isn't another class we squeeze into an already crowded schedule. It's woven into nearly every aspect of successful reentry:
Employment.
Housing.
Healthcare.
Education.
Banking.
Transportation.
Communication.
Family relationships.
Civic participation.
Without digital confidence, every one of those becomes harder.
Our Goal Should Be Freedom
At its heart, literacy has always been about freedom. The freedom to understand. The freedom to participate. The freedom to make informed choices. The freedom to keep learning. Digital literacy is simply the next chapter in that story. If we truly believe education changes lives, then we have to prepare learners for the world they're actually returning to, not the one that existed twenty years ago, because in 2026, knowing how to read is essential. Knowing how to navigate the digital world is essential, too, and when we teach both, we're not just helping people earn jobs. We're helping them reclaim independence.
That may be one of the greatest gifts education can offer.
☕ Cheers to you on this beautiful summer Sunday morning. I hope you’re sipping your coffee in peace, with the idea of how you’re going to change the world lurking in the back of your mind, just waiting to be launched! Tallyho!
