Desconectados en la era de la información: niveles de acceso, conectividad y competencias digitales básicas

Abstract

The digital age requires adequate levels of access, connectivity, and basic digital skills; however, in semi-rural contexts such as the canton of La Concordia, gaps persist that limit the educational and social development of young people and adolescents. This study analyzes the digital disconnect among young people aged 12 to 18 in the semi-rural canton of La Concordia, Ecuador, to identify the gaps that limit their inclusion. Using a qualitative approach with an ethnographic emphasis, semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and a questionnaire based on UNESCO standards were applied to a purposive sample of 45 participants. The results show a predominance of limited mobile access (64.4%), unstable connectivity (55.6%) affected by topography, and digital skills restricted to recreational use (51.1%). The findings indicate that disconnection responds both to infrastructure limitations and to sociocultural dynamics that prioritize the subsistence economy, contrasting with urban studies. This creates a vicious circle that hinders networked learning according to connectivism. It is concluded that comprehensive policies are needed to strengthen digital infrastructure and promote contextualized training programs that transcend recreational use. The study opens avenues for longitudinal research to evaluate the impact of these interventions in similar Amazonian contexts.