[Commlist] Call for Papers 5th Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2023

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 (by 12th June 2023) 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!


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