1.7 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE FREE
The Government should also step in to guarantee a free internet-enabled device to anyone that needs, but can’t afford, one – as identified by councils or charities. To encourage uptake, new and existing benefit recipients should be automatically notified of their eligibility and provided with an easy-to-use discount code. Under such a policy, all providers would have to offer a high-quality connection, for a maximum monthly price of £15, to those receiving means-tested benefits and disability benefits. To ensure everyone can afford to be online, the Government should make it mandatory for internet providers to offer a social tariff through a broadband discount scheme, co-funded by industry and taxpayers. Our Fabian Society report shows a way forward. People at the sharp end of the digital divide now need to see bold action from the Government, to support and strengthen these efforts. There are some amazing organisations working on fantastic local initiatives, but they are under-resourced – while social tariffs vary dramatically in price and quality, as well as having a pitifully low uptake. These initiatives have made an impact, but there is much more to do. In addition, several internet providers now offer a ‘social tariff’ – a discounted internet package available to those on low incomes. Greater Manchester has provided funding for a Digital Inclusion Lead in each of its 10 constituent councils, and the Greater London Authority has been actively promoting device donation and refurbishment. Some local authorities and telecoms companies have made great strides in their efforts to advance digital inclusion too. And their Online Centres Network has been bringing together community-based initiatives that provide the hardest-to-reach people with support to develop and build digital literacy and skills. From this initial work, Good Things Foundation founded the National Databank with Virgin Media O2 and it is continuing to engage with people who have lived experience of data poverty. Their Data Poverty Lab, for example, has been progressing the agenda on affordability. Organisations like Good Things Foundation have already been working to break down these barriers. Around 10 million adults lack the most basic ‘foundation-level’ digital skills, according to the UK Essential Digital Skills benchmark report (Lloyds Banking Group 2021). The research confirmed that two of the most significant reasons for people not accessing the internet are, firstly, the affordability of connections and technology and secondly, a lack of digital skills and confidence. As part of the Fabian Society’s Bridging the Divide project, we spoke to digitally excluded people and examined survey data. To overcome the digital divide we have to first understand why people are offline. And this exclusion has, in effect, become more severe because the internet is now so essential.
People on low incomes are more than twice as likely as adults in general to be offline, while older people are more than three times as likely. 1.7 million households are not accessing the internet – still a substantial number (Ofcom 2022). This is an enormously positive development.īut people remain digitally excluded. Ofcom figures suggest that the percentage of adults not accessing the internet at home has fallen, from 11 per cent to 6 per cent. All manner of life’s activities had already been shifting online but, almost overnight, Covid lockdowns forced a gear change.Ī lot of people who were not using the internet before have now moved online. The pandemic has changed our relationship with digital technology.
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