Today I learned that [only half of the world's population (51.7%) has access to internet.](http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm) These are individuals who are connected, via #computer or #mobile device, within the home where they live. I was blown away by this. I've definitely taken high-speed #internet for granted, and it's mind numbing that as long as the internet has been around, and with the current state of technology, it has only reached about 50% of 7.6 billion people. Isn’t that insane? 

<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/digital-population-worldwide/" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.statista.com/graphic/1/617136/digital-population-worldwide.jpg" alt="Statistic: Global digital population as of January 2018 (in millions) | Statista" style="width: 100%; height: auto !important; max-width:1000px;-ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic;"/></a><br />source:   <a href="https://www.statista.com" rel="nofollow">Statista</a>

*I can’t even imagine living my life without internet. 
l think I would just become an empty shell of a human. 
I know I don’t NEED internet to live, but I really don't think it will be enjoyable or intellectually stimulating...* 


So now you know how I feel about internet, imagine my shock today. I’ve been so tunnel-visioned in my little previleged life that I’ve become so desensitized. Cryptocurrency/ #blockchain has opened my eyes to so many problems in our society that I hadn’t been aware of or cared much about, and I am literally working full-time researching and learning about all these issues.

Anyway, what I am thinking is,***'how is this not a pressing priority? How are we gonna stop #poverty, or prevent diseases without freaking internet?’*** Access to internet is access to #money, markets, opportunities to work, #education, and #information. It is a human right. [Right to internet access has already been a thing since like 2003.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_Internet_access#2003:_World_Summit_on_the_Information_Society) 


### How can I help this situation?
With the blockchain technology advancing rapidly, there will be countless ways to participate in the global #economy and make a living on the internet, regardless of physical or geographical limitations people may have. However, it’s useless if people don’t have the necessary hardware. At the same time, it’s not just a computer people need, it's electricity, internet service access, and affordability are some of the things that must co-exist. If we want to make crypto available for everyone, this needs to be rectified soon. 

*How can we make this better? What are some efforts that exist now that address this issue?* 


### I'd love to hear your thoughts and insights. Please feel free to leave comments below!