No One Left Unread

In an increasingly digital world, to be offline is to be invisible. But if we are serious about leaving no one behind, we must first ensure that we leave no one unread.

by Florence Kim

Visual concept by Florence Kim and generated by Midjourney

There’s nothing worse than sending a message and seeing it go unread. Those two grey ticks, stubbornly refusing to turn blue. Argh! We’ve all felt that frustration. But imagine if being unread wasn’t just an occasional annoyance but a permanent reality—not because the recipient is ignoring you, but because they are excluded from the conversation altogether.

This is the digital divide today. It’s not just about who has Wi-Fi. It’s about who has a voice. And if we are serious about achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and delivering on the promise to “leave no one behind”, we must first ensure that we leave no one unread.

In a world that thrives on instant communication, where conversations unfold at the speed of a swipe, where the digital space dictates who is heard and who is ignored, the reality is stark—millions remain unread.

Unread, not because they have nothing to say, but because they lack the means to say it.

Unread, not because they are silent, but because no one is listening.

The digital divide is not just about connectivity. It is about visibility, representation, and the fundamental right to be part of the conversation.

The Digital Silence

We have built a world where everything—work, education, healthcare, governance—is shifting online. But what happens to those who can’t follow? Who is left behind when society moves at the speed of Wi-Fi, but they have no connection?

The digital divide is no longer just about internet access. It’s about:

• The elderly who are locked out of essential services because they don’t have a smartphone or don’t know how to navigate digital bureaucracy.

• The poor who can’t afford devices or monthly data plans, effectively excluding them from education, employment and even basic communication.

• The illiterate who, even with access to technology, cannot engage in the digital space designed for those who can read and write.

• Rural and remote communities where connectivity is still a luxury, where even making a simple phone call requires climbing a hill or walking miles.

• The Global South, where AI, digital governance and financial services are being rolled out without ensuring that people can actually use them.

Press ONE for Inclusion

We were promised that digital technology would connect us, that it would break barriers, bring knowledge to the fingertips of anyone, anywhere. But instead of bridging gaps, we are reinforcing them.

When technology excludes rather than empowers, it becomes a tool of inequality rather than progress. And if we do not act now, we are coding inequality into the future.

We need to rethink how we use AI and digital tools not just to serve the connected, but to uplift the disconnected:

• Make technology intuitive, not exclusive. A system that requires five steps, an email verification and a second device just to make a phone call is a system that excludes by design.

• Prioritize accessibility and literacy. Voice commands, simplified interfaces and alternative verification methods must be standard, not an afterthought.

• Treat connectivity as a right, not a privilege. Governments and private sector players must work together to ensure affordable access for all.

• Use technology to amplify voices, not silence them. AI can be a tool for inclusion, ensuring that the unheard are placed on speaker, not put on mute.

We Must Dial(ogue)

In an increasingly digital world, to be offline is to be invisible. But if we are serious about leaving no one behind, we must first ensure that we leave no one unread.

We have the tools. We have the technology. We just need to press ONE.

This article is original work by Florence Kim. If you wish to quote or reference it, please attribute accordingly. For direct quotes, please cite '[article title]' by Florence Kim, aidvocacy.org, [year]. For online references, kindly include a link to the original article.