The UN has called internet access a human right, but over 23 million rural US citizens don’t have access to internet speeds sufficient for even basic tasks such as booking a doctor’s appointment online. Microsoft plans to change this by converting old TV channels into broadband services.

If the internet were a country, it would be the fifth largest economy all on its own, but just 43% of people have access to it. Since 2013, Facebook has been working alongside names including Samsung and Qualcomm to fix this. But could making the internet accessible to all really be so simple?

America’s rural areas are seeing more deaths than births, along with widespread socioeconomic decline. Despite the hardships of city life, few young people are choosing to live outside of city centres, suburbs, and exurbs – and small town America is at risk of being snuffed out.

With rolling hills and ‘chocolate box’ homes, the British countryside is often idealised. Yet alongside the numerous benefits of living beyond towns and cities, there are many drawbacks. Canvas8 spoke with Michael Woods, editor of The Journal of Rural Studies, to shed light on rural realities.