Living in the shadow of rural digital vulnerability: Navigating technology needs and resources

As internet access becomes increasingly required for full societal participation, the risks of digital exclusion are accentuated for some populations, such as rural citizens. The objective of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the digital experiences of rural residents in a Western Canadian province with differing broadband speeds. Participants were recruited in follow-up to an online survey which asked for interest in participation in focus groups to further discuss experiences with digital technologies. Rural adults (n = 32) with connectivity speeds both above and below the Canadian definition of high-speed participated in one of six focus groups. Transcripts from the recorded focus groups were thematically analyzed. The overarching theme that described participants' digital experiences was living in the shadow of rural digital vulnerability, or the interaction between their needs and available resources, with three sub-themes further detailing their experiences. Rural conditions threatened digital vulnerability, and produced harm when there was mis-alignment between participants’ needs and available resources. Compounding their susceptibility to vulnerability, were pressures to engage digitally, which participants described coming from services, work, and family and friends, and tech companies and emerging technology. Participants navigated threatened vulnerability by accommodating the technology to fit their lives and by adapting their lives to fit the technology within their infrastructure limitations. Overall, the digital experiences of rural residents highlight the role of context and individual agency in predisposition to risk, advancing a nuanced understanding of vulnerability.