Deadline: June 12

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the Call for Papers for the fifth annual Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC).

The overarching theme for this year’s conference will be Health, Wellbeing and Marginalised Communities, but we welcome submissions on any topic relating to digital inequalities.

The conference will be supported by the University of Liverpool’s Digital Media and Society Institute and will be held online. The event will take place over two days from 20th to 21st September 2023.

Last year’s event was a great success, and we look forward to seeing both new faces and familiar ones this year. Please watch this space for upcoming publications based on previous DIPRC contributions.

Please submit a paper abstract of 300 words through EasyChair at:

https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=diprc2023

DIPRC 2023 CALL FOR PAPERS

We are pleased to announce that the fifth Digital Inclusion, Policy, and Research Conference will run on the 20th and 21st of September 2023. As ever, we are seeking contributions from researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and intervention activities from around the world. We seek presentations on any aspects of digital inequalities, exclusion, or inclusion. This year we would particularly welcome contributions that address:

* Marginalised communities * Health and wellbeing

Today, citizens are ever more expected to participate in society via digital technologies and the internet. These technologies can offer a range of benefits and opportunities for health, work, recreation and entertainment. However, they are something of a double-edged sword, also presenting risks of exclusion and inaccessibility, issues of dis- and mis-information, privacy, and the potential for abuse. In an age of digital-by-default, everyday life is increasingly mediated and aspects of work, family life, leisure, and information are not just available, but sometimes only accessible, via connected technologies. It is essential in this landscape to address the needs of different individuals and groups in terms of providing opportunities to use, and benefit from the use of, digital technologies. Digital exclusion and inequalities can arise on multiple levels, both in terms of digital infrastructure and (a lack of) digital skills and as a result of the design of platforms and digital services. Digital services and platforms are often designed in ways that rely on algorithms aimed at providing personalised content and at making this more visible. However, it is now well established that algorithms potentially exacerbate issues of misinformation, polarisation, and online abuse, which impact users, particularly those from marginalised or vulnerable groups. Very often, issues of digital infrastructure (in)accessibility, skills and online harm combine to further marginalise key groups or place them at greater risk.

Issues of digital inequalities are far from resolved and this is an area in which policy, research and interventions are essential. Often intertwined with socio-economic inequalities, these issues are based on gaps in terms of digital access, skills and attitudes. These challenges lie at the intersection of research policy and practice around digital inequalities, inclusion, and literacies. It follows that the task of promoting digital inclusion has never been more urgent.

The fifth edition of the Digital Inequalities, Policy, and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2023 will explore these issues in great depth by focusing on both the policy and practical implications of innovative research undertaken in this area. Held online, the conference invites international contributions from global perspectives that draw upon multiple disciplines, including media and internet studies, cultural studies, sociology and gender studies.

* What are the specific challenges faced by socially, culturally, or economically marginalised communities in relation to digital inequalities? * How do digital inequalities impact on the health and wellbeing of different citizens and/or communities? * Which groups and/or individuals are most at risk from digital exclusion or ‘online harms’? How might interventions target these successfully? * How does people’s use of the internet and connected technologies vary, what might be the reasons behind these variations and why does this matter? * What digital and media literacies are important, why and how might they be targeted? * How might issues of (in)accessibility be addressed? * How can different governments, regions, local authorities and civil society organisations respond to challenges relating to digital inclusion and digital literacy?

We invite scholars and practitioners to present their latest work on these topics. Themes that are particularly relevant to the conference include but are not limited to:

* Digital literacies, education, and skills development * Material and financial barriers to accessing digital technologies * Attitudes, motivations, and online usage * Policy responses and recommendations in digital inequalities * Civil society digital inclusion initiatives * Regional, national, and global perspectives on digital inequalities

Looking forward to seeing you in September!

Best wishes,

Prof Simeon Yates

For queries or further information, please contact Simeon Yates (scssy@liverpool.ac.ukmailto:scssy@liverpool.ac.uk) , Jeanette D’Arcy (jdarcy@liverpool.ac.ukmailto:jdarcy@liverpool.ac.uk) , Gianfranco Polizzi (g.polizzi@liverpool.ac.ukmailto:g.polizzi@liverpool.ac.uk) , Rebecca Harris (r.c.harris@liverpool.ac.ukmailto:r.c.harris@liverpool.ac.uk)