The Necessity of Social Connectedness | As the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the United States, it is disproportionately impacting the health and well-being of populations most vulnerable to social disconnectedness. The elderly, low-income, chronically ill, and racially marginalized—who on average face higher instances of social isolation—are succumbing to COVID-19 at higher rates.
As we search to understand the key drivers of these inequities, a lack of reliable connectedness to social support networks and services is emerging as a strongly contending contributor to health inequities. Social determinants of health and connectedness are well-documented, even outside the scope of the pandemic and the extreme social distancing measures it has incurred. However, in the age of shelter-in-place mandates, already vulnerable populations are now facing a compounded disconnect from the social support systems and resources needed to sustain their health and well-being.
According to a 2019 report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), roughly 21 million people in America do not have access to broadband internet service in their homes. Additionally, FCC data indicates that nearly 163 million people are not using the internet at the broadband speeds necessary to support higher-bandwidth services, such as video streaming and conferencing, which are increasingly necessary to support remote learning, tele-work, and tele-health services. Racial minorities, older adults, the chronically ill, and those with lower levels of education and income, remain, on average, far less likely to have broadband service and technology in their homes.
Circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak only appear to be exacerbating existing inequalities related to connectedness. Perhaps most alarmingly, there is mounting evidence that individuals and families of vulnerable communities are being systemically denied access to the technology needed to keep them connected with vital social supports and services. While internet service providers have publicly pledged to suspend internet disconnections, waive late fees, and open hotspots—in accordance with the FCC’s pledge in response to COVID-19—they are failing to consistently deliver on these promises. Low-income families in particular are being disproportionately impacted and continue to face barriers to internet access and suspension of service despite public corporate pledges to prevent such occurrences.
Ariadna Phillips, a teacher at a Title 1 school in the South Bronx, has tweeted about the struggles of keeping her students connected throughout the government-mandated shift to online learning, still ongoing as of April 17th. 

Visualizing the “Digital Divide”

Data come from a Pew Research Center survey, conducted Jan 8-Feb 7, 2019.

For those who have no access to internet or technology in the home, the chance of reaching help when facing a health crisis—whether related to the pandemic itself or other equally life-threatening physical, mental, and behavioral health needs—becomes severely hindered. Furthermore, without reliable internet and tech access, obtaining essential supplies becomes increasingly dependent on leaving the home, incurring greater risk of COVID-19 infection.
Right now, internet access is school access for children, a lifeline for individuals feeling unwell or unsafe in their homes, and a connection to loved ones and resources outside the home. Access to school, food, and mental health services has become largely dependent on online platforms, support groups, and delivery services. Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms are increasingly turning to social media to seek help and reliant upon tele-medicine services for health services. Reports of domestic violence and abuse are on the rise as victims are forced to shelter in place with perpetrators, disconnecting them from the safe faces and places that typically facilitate abuse detection and reporting. In New York City, the current epicenter of the global COVID-19 outbreak, it is estimated that
one in ten students are homeless or experiencing severe housing instability, providing substantial barriers to tech and internet access.
However, connectedness to social support networks and services is not only a lifeline to essential supplies, schooling, employment, and health services, but also a connection to loved ones and mentors outside of the home, which too significantly contributes to physical health and overall well-being. Maintaining close connections with others and “social capital”—the value that is derived from maintaining social networks—can get under the skin, so to speak, to impact health and resilience on a physiological level. These are topics that we will delve into in Vol. 1 of The Creature Times, as part of our “Connectedness is a Human Right” campaign.

While there are undeniable barriers associated with sustainably bridging gaps related to social connectedness inequities, it is an absurdity that in the year 2020 there remain individuals who cannot reliably connect with others. Partnering with and pressuring telecom providers to build out broadband networks and open up hotspots in socially disadvantaged communities is paramount. Supporting government facilities, such as libraries and community recreation centers, in offering free internet access and tech literacy courses must become a priority. Advocating for cable and telecom providers to leverage franchise fees to provide free or deeply discounted services to our most socially isolated populations will provide life-changing services. Working in conjunction with local schools and community-embedded organizations to ensure that students from underserved communities are provided consistent access to tech devices with internet connection will help level the playing field for all students. Thinking outside the box to innovate novel and inclusive solutions is key to overcoming existing barriers.
If we want to improve the nation’s overall health and resilience throughout this pandemic, and in preparation for future crises, we must place social connectedness equity at the center of policy and advocacy efforts. The Social Creatures team has rapidly mobilized to bridge the vast social connectedness gaps that we are witnessing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and which we have prior witnessed (with increasing frustration) throughout the course of our careers. Social connectedness is a human right, akin to having access to food, water, and shelter, all vital to our health and wellness; it is time we start treating it less as a nicety, and more as a necessity. The time is now. Help us eradicate social connectedness inequities by supporting our Digital Safety Nets campaign now. 

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