Five percent of the UK population are still completely digitally excluded, meaning they are not online at all. This equates to roughly 2.6 million people, according to the Lloyds Bank UK Digital Consumer Index 2021.
Nine in 10 of those are over the age of 50, and 55 percent of all those offline earn lower wages, too.
Now, you may think 2.6 million is a small figure, but it’s only part of the story.
Because for the 95 percent of people online in the UK, their digital skills vary across the spectrum.
- When it comes to the unemployed, for example, 31 percent of them have low or very low digital skills. For those in jobs, almost 20 percent are in this low-skilled category
- Over 20 million people have low, or very low levels of digital engagement in their daily lives as a whole. They may know, for example, how to use email or online banking, but not much else
- Over a third of people on benefits have very low digital engagement. In the South East region this accounts for 32 percent
- And overall, 67 percent of people have said they would better their digital skills if they had the support available
Plus, in research carried out by Ipsos Mori for Lloyds Bank in 2020, which was published as the Covid-19 lockdown was in effect…
- Around 11.7 million people in the UK, that’s 22 percent of the population, lacked the basic digital skills needed for everyday life
- And 54 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds, and 46 percent of 25 to 34 year-olds, had been helping others with digital skills. This suggests a high rate of dependence on others by people who lacked the essential skills
What are the benefits of digital inclusion?
Participating in today’s digital world can bring endless positives. Of course, we can stay in touch with family and friends, learn new skills and access a massive range of entertainment. But it’s also vital for equality in society, so all people have access to the numerous benefits of the internet.
Furthermore, how digital inclusion has a positive impact on the socially disadvantaged has already been evidenced by experts and academics, including that:
- It can help minimise both loneliness and depression in older people (Koss, 2014)
- Older people who can access the internet are three-times less likely to be excluded in their communities (Barnes, 2006)
- Around half of people given digital support “felt less lonely and isolated”, according to the Widening Digital Participation evaluation in England
- Disabled people who had internet access were able to improve their level of social interaction (Kydland, 2012)
Likewise, those with learning disabilities who had internet usage were able to have a private life independent of their carers (Lofgren-Martenson, 2008).
