Digital Inequality Worsens in UK as Cost of Living Crisis Intensifies

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LONDON - British inflation is running at 10.4%, creating a cost-of-living crisis that is leading to wider digital divides for poorer households who may have to cut back on non-essentials such as tech and internet costs. The situation has created digital poverty that is affecting not only individuals and families but also schools and businesses. A trust of seven schools and one further education college, Summit Learning Trust, has provided hardware and Wi-Fi services to 200 students at a school alone, 60% of whom come from lower-income backgrounds. Strong digital connectivity enables pupils to work independently and supports those who have to be out of school for medical reasons. However, 15% of the trust's 8,000 students have benefited from its digital assistance programme. The problem goes beyond just schools as 6% of homes in the UK do not have any access to the internet, while another 5% rely solely on mobile internet connections. British lawmakers have launched an inquiry into how rising living costs are affecting digital exclusion.

Digital poverty:

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The ability and resources to operate effectively online are increasingly vital for everyone, says Baroness Stowell of Beeston, chair of the Communications and Digital Committee. Ofcom, the communications regulator in the UK, is also reviewing in-contract price rises and has raised concerns that inflation-linked hikes in broadband and mobile bills are causing uncertainty for customers. Many consumers are facing price rises of above 14% in the coming months under the terms of contracts with suppliers. The problem is causing a generational divide, as large numbers of older people are impacted by rising costs, and many are also unfamiliar with tech devices that are now needed to access a growing number of shops and services.

Generational divide:

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Ruth Sinclair, a 79-year-old retiree in Scotland, received her first tablet computer nine months ago as part of a scheme from Glasgow's Golden Generation, a charity which distributes the devices to older people. Sinclair said she had noticed more services shutting down or moving online since the pandemic, such as healthcare, retail, and consumer services, and has noticed her bills rising. Margret Carlyle, an 82-year-old retiree who is also part of the scheme, is using her tablet to book medical appointments, order prescriptions, and stay in touch with her son in the Philippines. However, before 2022, Sinclair and Carlyle would have been two of the 3 million people aged over 55 in the UK who have never used the internet, according to Natalie Turner, a deputy director at the Centre for Ageing Better charity. There are already a number of barriers that prevent older people from getting online, she said. We have considerable concerns that the cost-of-living crisis is creating a further barrier.