Laptop and coffee in outdoor office
The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has published new research into internet adoption and digital disadvantage, which among other things estimates that 2.8 million people (5% of the UK population) do not have internet access (broadband etc.) at home. But 69% of those unlikely to get access in the next 12 months said this was because they had “no need” or were “not interested” in it.
Naturally, age was found to be a predictor for not having internet access at home, but the analysis shows it is much stronger for those aged 85+ than those aged 75-84. Despite this, more than half of those without internet access at home are still younger than 75. The analysis also shows that renting from a social landlord is a predictor for not having home broadband access.
People living in households where the chief income earner is either not in work, retired and reliant on state pensions, or semi or unskilled workers account for the other half of those without internet access at home. In addition, some 82% of those with no access were found to be unlikely or certain not to get internet access in the next 12 months.
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In terms of the reasons why people have not yet gone online, some 69% of those unlikely to get access in the next 12 months said this was because they had “no need” or were “not interested” in it. But the cost of getting access (service or hardware) was also a factor for about 27% of people in Ofcom’s survey.
At this point it’s worth noting that 1% (0.4 million users) were found to have internet connectivity at home that they do not use, which is often because they do most of their online tasks externally (e.g. when at work).
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As part of this work, researchers also interviewed 70 people from across the UK, including many who face unique forms of digital disadvantage based on their identity or circumstances. This included: disabled people; people in insecure housing; minority ethnic groups; individuals with limited English proficiency; and people with lower internet use.
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According to Ofcom, participants described the internet as a double-edged sword, acknowledging the benefits to communicating online, while also reporting a range of challenges. This included problems with connectivity, cost concerns, harmful online experiences, accessibility issues and lack of digital confidence. These challenges affected many aspects of their daily lives and were experienced across a range of sectors and services (e.g. banking, public services, employment etc.).
The report also reveals the psychological, logistical and societal impacts on people who experience digital disadvantage. This included adverse effects on their mental and physical health, feelings of social isolation, and exclusion from work opportunities and support services.
Experiences of Digital Disadvantage
➤ Disabled people talked about negative impacts on their physical health because of being online, including fatigue, physical discomfort using unsuitable devices, and anxiety. Some disabled people also highlighted accessibility issues with how some online services are designed.
➤ People experiencing housing challenges described a wide range of challenges using the internet which affected their daily lives. Overcrowding in homes with multiple occupants affected internet quality and speeds, and people living in short-term lets or staying temporarily in someone else’s home faced barriers when choosing and signing up with an internet provider. Having a lack of access to the internet also caused issues with working and studying from home.
➤ People from minority ethnic groups felt there was a lack of representation in online spaces they visited, and talked about seeing discriminatory and racist language online. This brings to life other evidence that nearly half (48%) of people in minority ethnic groups experienced hateful or abusive content online in the past four weeks.
➤ People with lower levels of English reported significant barriers to getting online, including the design of platforms for non-English speakers.
➤ Infrequent internet users had poor experiences of using essential services, especially around important day-to-day tasks including booking doctors’ appointments.
The research shows there remains a great deal of “diversity in people’s relationships with and attitudes towards the internet“, which will be challenging for the government’s new Digital Inclusion Action Plan to overcome.