Digital Literacy Empowers Rural Communication-regarding Guizhou Province, China

  • Weixuan Huang Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah , Malaysia.
  • Intan Soliha Ibrahim Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
  • Fong Soon Fook Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Keywords: Digital Literacy, Rural Communication, Guizhou Province, Digital Divide, Marginalised Communities

Abstract

The study is based on analysing the impact of digital literacy impacting the rural communications of Guizhou Province. The study aimed to understand how digital skills among rural people of Guizhou Province influence their communications. The study examines the benefit of digital literacy to bridge the communication gaps of the region. Despite the inclusion of digital infrastructure, the rural areas of the province experienced the digital divide, especially among middle-aged people, as informed by the interview participants. Through the implementation of relevant secondary literature and interview-based methods, the study demonstrates how digital literacy supports the rural inhabitants to access online applications and services, engage in political discussion, raise their voice against minority issues, and promote local culture on the global platform. The study findings reveal that digital literacy not only empowers rural communication but also supports the marginalised communities to strengthen their agency in socio-political discourse.

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Published
2025-08-31
Section
Articles