Digital exclusion research
Digital exclusion is where an individual lacks internet access and/or has low levels of digital skills or confidence. This section provides insights into digital exclusion in the UK among adults and children. It compares access to and use of the internet among UK adults and children and between demographic groups such as age, socio-economic group, income and any condition which impacts or limits their daily activities or the work they can do.
Among those who have internet access, we also provide insights relating to device poverty, data poverty and digital confidence/skills.
Adults
We have conducted analysis looking at the proportion of UK adults who are digitally excluded, including those who do not use the internet or have access to the internet at home, or have access to any connected devices. This analysis looks at the likelihood of digital exclusion by a number of different characteristics including; age, living alone, having a condition that limits or impairs their use of communications services, being financially vulnerable, and having more than one of these characteristics. We also provide population estimates based on the analysis, which are provided as a range, with a lower and upper bound.
This analysis was conducted using Ofcom’s Use of communication services, consumer omnibus. This survey looks at the access and use of communications devices and services among non-disabled and disabled consumers, and monitoring disabled consumers’ limitations and preventions of use caused by their disability.
Use of communication services, consumer omnibus: digital exclusion analysis (XLSX, 24.2 KB)
Children
Fieldwork for the Ofcom Technology Tracker CATI omnibus survey took place from 12 February – 5 March 2021; selected data tables pertaining to digital exclusion of children in 2021 are published here.
Ofcom Technology Tracker 2021 CATI omnibus survey – digital exclusion questions (PDF, 203.9 KB)
Ofcom Technology Tracker 2021 CATI omnibus survey – respondent level data (CSV, 1.1 MB)
Ofcom Technology Tracker 2021 CATI omnibus survey – respondent level data codebook (XLSX, 22.3 KB)
Ofcom Technology Tracker 2021 CATI omnibus survey – digital exclusion data tables (PDF, 1.9 MB)
Ofcom Technology Tracker 2021 CATI omnibus survey – technical report (PDF, 241.4 KB)
We have conducted analysis looking at the proportion of UK households, with under 18’s in the household, who are digitally excluded including those who do not have access to the internet or connected devices at home, or have limited access to the internet and devices. This analysis looks at the likelihood of digital exclusion among these households, by socio-economic group. We also provide population estimates for the number of UK children impacted based on the analysis; these are provided as a range, with a lower and upper bound.
This analysis was conducted using Ofcom’s Technology Tracker 2020 (data tables can be found on our statistical release calendar 2020). The survey tracks the attitudes and behaviour of UK consumers with respect to residential telecommunications, broadcasting and the internet.