The Appropriation of Computer and Internet Access by Low-Income Urban Youth in Argentina

Our research in Buenos Aires sought to understand the ways in which youth from low-income sectors use new technologies in their daily lives and the significance they attribute to them. We focused on technology accessed at three different types of venues located in the county of La Matanza: (1) a community initiative run by a local grassroots organization, (2) an information and communication technology (ICT) training and access center run by an organization with the support of the Government of Argentina, and (3) a cybercafé . The research is centered on the practices of low-income youth in these venues and explores the modes of appropriation of ICT that contribute to changes (positive or negative) in terms of employability, education, socialization, and participation in the political realm. The research was conducted through direct observation of venues, in-depth interviews of users in public access venues, and surveys of users and nonusers. The main finding of our study is that public access venues and community centers that support public access through ICT training contribute to the social inclusion of youth in poor urban environments. Community ICT training centers (CITCs), such as the two considered in this study, satisfy training needs that are not met by market-oriented institutions or formal schooling. Cybercafé s are spaces of sociability and contact where the main activities are centered on communication and entertainment over the Internet. Given the central role of cybercafés in providing Internet access to low-income sectors, special attention should be paid to the observed decline of these facilities in marginal neighborhoods as well as nationwide. We recommend the promotion of participation by women and consider it important to disseminate information about cybercafé activities and the significance of these spaces among youth in order to strengthen links with the school environment. We suggest establishing training centers in marginalized communities, where the data reveal high rates of alienation among young people. Finally, we recommend reproducing the PC Refurbishment and Repair Workshop implemented by the La Matanza MTD center, as we have been able to appreciate how this type of initiative can help young people improve their immediate job prospects.