Depending on where and how you grew up, there are certain things that we consider norms while they are considered luxuries in certain countries outside of the US. We use the restrooms inside, running water to wash our hands whenever we need to, air conditioning, heat, a stove to cook on, etc. This isn’t the everyday life of people living in a third-world country. If you look at certain countries’ governments over the past 50 years, you can understand the conditions they live under.

We are used to looking forward to the latest technology or Netflix episode of our favorite show. This is not the standard way of living for many people in the world. This is the American standard amongst a few other countries leading in the medical field and technology. If you live in most parts of America or Europe, then you are probably used to staying online 24/7. Most countries throughout the world have a decent access to the internet, however, there are third world countries that have limited access or sometimes no access, due to political reasons or other conditions, such as poverty.

Some of these countries include Pakistan, Iran, Vietnam, North Korea and even China. Not that China lacks the technology but they have their own rules on internet access for their citizens. In fact, China is the second country worldwide with the most people offline. If you wonder which country is the first, it is India.

If we skip political reasons, countries that have no access to the internet are countries where people are struggling to survive. There is no way a country can evolve and use the internet as long as its people are facing severe food, or even water, scarcity. People cannot take the next step when they are too absorbed on survival. Unfortunately, living in a survival state will only reinforce the current condition by creating a lethal feedback loop.

Internet is not just for fun. Consequently, that means that certain categories of people lack opportunities. The internet has connected the world and people can put their creative or administrative skills in good use, even get paid to work remotely. Maybe a poor kid from a third world country could get an opportunity to use their talent or maybe find an employee in another country that would invite them for a new job. But those opportunities are being lost in a daily basis.

To sum up, just like access to food and water is a human right, the internet should be viewed the same way. We can’t be living in a technologically advanced world and denying people the access to a means that carries the potential to improve their lives.