Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify the characteristics of the digital divide in society and to determine effective strategies for overcoming it, with particular attention to technological, cognitive, and economic aspects. The methodology included the conceptual and analytical method, document analysis, case study analysis, and comparative descriptive analysis of statistical data, which collectively ensure a comprehensive examination of digital inequality and the mechanisms for overcoming it. The findings of the study demonstrated that digital inequality constitutes a multidimensional phenomenon that combines limited access to technologies, different levels of digital skills, and economic barriers. A comparative analysis of the United States, Germany, and Bangladesh established that, in highly developed countries such as the United States and Germany, the level of Internet penetration reaches 94%, mobile connections exceed 100% (125 and 130 per 100 individuals, respectively), and the divide between urban and rural areas remains almost absent. In Bangladesh, which represents countries with lower income levels, 47% of the population uses the Internet, rural areas lag behind urban areas (49% compared with 78%), and gender and social disparities remain substantial. The analysis of case studies from Finland, India, and Kenya indicated that the integration of technological solutions with educational and social programmes contributes to the improvement of digital literacy, the expansion of access to knowledge, and the reduction of information isolation within local communities in Finland, India, and Kenya. International networks and programmes, such as Electronic Information for Libraries, confirm that global partnerships support the expansion of the effects of local initiatives and contribute to the sustainability of digital services. The study outlined data concerning the relationship between the level of economic development of countries and digital inclusion, together with the practical results of the application of digital libraries and archives across different socio-economic contexts. The obtained results emphasise that digital inequality determines the opportunities available to populations for education, participation in the digital environment, and access to information, whereas overcoming this divide requires a comprehensive approach that combines the development of technological infrastructure, education, socio-economic measures, and the provision of equal opportunities for all population groups. The practical value of the study lies in the identification of specific mechanisms of digital inclusion that may be used by governments, educational institutions, and international organisations to reduce the digital divide and improve access to knowledge

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