A major contributing factor to the Digital Divide - the unequal access to and effective use of digital technology - lies squarely with those of us who build and maintain websites. We often compel users to download enormous images to use our sites, without considering the burden this places on infrastructure, devices, data costs, and personal patience. The sheer magnitude of image-based web content, estimated at about 40% by volume, exacerbates the problem.
It's time for us to responsibly use the excellent tools Drupal places at our disposal. We must architect our sites to balance our desire for visual impact with our duty to be good digital citizens, by empowering the browser to choose the most optimal image for every situation. It's time to rethink responsive images, relinquish centralized control, and let the browser decide.