Young People Digital Divide

8/8/2019 Young People Digital Divide

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Catch22 policy and research

Young people andthe digital divide



Contents

Introduction 1

Key findings 1

The benefits of going online 2

Availability of online access 3

Confidentiality, anonymity and security 5

The race online 6

Conclusions and recommendations 7

Catch22 is a local charity with a nationalreach. We work in over 150 towns and citieswith tens of thousands of young peopleevery year – supporting young people with

tough lives who are facing difficultsituations.

Our programmes help young people todevelop the confidence and skills to graspsolutions that are right for them – fromgetting back into school or training andchoosing to stay out of crime, to helpingthem with the skills needed to liveindependently after leaving care orcustody.



Introduction

This report presents the findings ofresearch carried out by Catch22 on young

people’s experiences of using the internet.It highlights the effects that theGovernment’s drive to increase onlineservices has on young people who havelimited or no access to the internet.

It is widely recognised that a gap, a ‘digitaldivide’, exists in society between those whoare able to use and access the internet,and those who are not.1 There is a commonassumption that young people simply do

not suffer from this divide, that they are the‘digital natives’.2

However, while research suggests that themajority of young people are online, thereare a number of young people who haveeither limited or no access to the internet.These young people are increasinglyinvisible to policy makers and those whoseresponsibility it is to bring everyone online.

‘Getting more people and public services

online is essential if we’re going to cut the

cost of public services while maintaining

standards.’

Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office3

The Government’s growing emphasistowards online services brings the digitaldivide into sharp focus, as those who are

not online are more rapidly deprivedaccess to essential services, such aseducation, benefits, job opportunities,health information and housingallocations.

This report makes a series ofrecommendations to help bridge this divideand ensure that all young people benefitfrom the internet.

Key findings

In spring 2010, Catch22 asked over 250young people about their experiences of

using the internet:

I whether they are able to get online

I how and where they use the internet

I whether they are able to use theinternet in a safe, private andconfidential space.4

The findings indicate that there aresignificant gaps in online access for this

group of young people who are at risk ofbeing overlooked in the ‘race online’.

1 in 5 of the young people Catch22 workswith has no access to the internet.

We believe that the ongoing failure torecognise digitally excluded young peopleas a group, which requires focus andsupport, will lead to these young peoplebecoming increasingly isolated from

mainstream society. This makes it harderfor them to succeed in education, find a joband apply for the support they need.

For those young people who are able to goonline, there are concerns in terms of theease and availability of access, and theability to use the internet in a confidentialand secure setting.

Young people and the digital divide

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The benefits of goingonline

‘Access to high quality digital public

information and services has the dual

impact of empowering individuals and

delivering significant efficiency savings to

Government.’

Race Online 20125

There has been a significant amount ofresearch about the benefits of going onlinefor individuals and the state. Many peoplenow see internet access as an essential

part of life, which brings real benefits.6 Ithas been estimated that the total potentialeconomic benefit of getting everyoneonline in the UK is in excess of £22billion.7

The benefits of going online for vulnerablesocial groups have been identified by theDepartment for Communities and LocalGovernment (DCLG) as including:

I enhanced self-sufficiency for

vulnerable adults

I increased access to better publicservices through e-Governmentchannels

I enhanced community cohesion

I improved education, attainment andlife/work chances.8

Some of the key areas of benefit for young

people are in respect to education, skills,training and employment, where access tothe internet can make a real difference totheir outcomes.

Increasingly, access to the internet is anessential part of learning, such ashomework that involves young people goingonline. Young people who are able to use theinternet at home can improve their GCSEresults by two grades in any one subject.9

Research has also shown that internetusers are better equipped to either keep

their job or find a new job, compared tonon-users.10 It has been estimated that ahome computer and internet connectioncould increase potential lifetime earnings

for young people in digitally excludedhouseholds by over £10.8billion.11

In 2009, about half of young people hadused the internet to look for informationabout education, training or courses, andhalf had either looked for a job or sent a jobapplication online.12

In 2007, over seven million jobs wereadvertised online in the UK, some

exclusively.13 This is only set to increasewith a new drive to place all council jobsonline in order to save money.14

There is also a number of services that areincreasingly only available online and, assuch, those who do not have access to theinternet are missing out on opportunitiesand areas of public life.

I Financial inclusion – some banks are

only online, and a debit or credit card isoften necessary to purchase goodsonline. For those on benefits, theinternet provides a single point ofinformation and an online benefitsadviser provides 24/7 access to adviceacross a broad range of benefits.

I Health information – NHS Choicesoffers a one-stop shop for healthservices, such as the nearest GP,

dentist, pharmacy and hospital.The internet also contains a wealth ofinformation about sexual health, drugand alcohol support, as well as generalwell-being advice.

I Housing – websites provide informationabout all of the private propertiesavailable for rent or sale in an area.Increasingly, housing associations areusing an online choice-based letting

scheme that allows people to view andbid for properties online. If a youngperson cannot go online at home, they


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are dependent on someone else to helpthem bid at the appropriate moment.Some young people have expressedthat they missed out on a property they

wanted because they could not goonline at the crucial moment.15

I Sporting and cultural events – for someevents and opportunities, it is onlypossible to apply online. For example,the Great North Run has an onlineballot system, and the recruitment of8,000 London Ambassadors for the2012 Olympics and Paralympics isprimarily online.16

I Discounts for buying online – onaverage, consumers save £560 per yearas a result of greater choice, time andmoney saved by shopping online.17

There are also significant savings to bemade from online-only tariffs for payingbills for utilities.

There are significant economic advantagesfor the state to having more people online.

Research suggests that if digitallyexcluded adults made one digital contactwith Government services each monthrather than using other mechanisms, itwould save £900million each year. Onlinehealth services are estimated to havegenerated cost savings to the Governmentof £87million.18

Availability of

online accessIn 2009, 86% of 16 to 24-year-olds used theinternet every day or almost every day.19

Catch22’s survey revealed that 1 in 5 youngpeople did not have any access to theinternet. This compares to just 4% of thegeneral population of 16 to 24-year-olds.

Wider research tells us that those youngpeople without access to the internet arealso socially disadvantaged.20

‘If we want to avoid this new gulf between

information rich and information poor,

between the connected and unconnected,

we have just simply got to get everybody

connected to the internet and

make sure they are sharing in this

information rich age… I want to

give this all the support I can…’

David Cameron21


3

Case study

Alex, age 23

‘I have recently been given a laptop withinternet connection by Catch22, this hasbeen really helpful and has made lifemuch easier for me.

Before I had access to the internet athome, I found it really difficult tocomplete my college work. Although Ihad access to computers at college,because I have a little girl I could not go

in early, or on non-study days, do theresearch and the homework.Eventually,I became so behind in my work that I hadto leave the course.

I could not go to the library to use thecomputers because I couldn’t look aftermy daughter whilst also trying to do mywork. Also, it was expensive to get to thelibrary, as we had to get the bus.

.. .Before I had the computer I couldn’tsearch for jobs very easily. I was relyingon the local job paper or the job centre.Now I can search on the internet andsend off my CV via email, which is reallyeasy and fast.

. . . Having the internet at home alsomeans that I can do things like check mybank balance or look up information that

I would not have wanted to do on apublic computer in case someone sawmy details or something.’



The vast majority (95%) of respondents tothe Catch22 survey who used the internetindicated that they go online using acomputer. Yet a third of young people whouse a computer to access the internet arenot able to access one at home.

A lack of access to the internet at homehas been recognised as a key barrier whentrying to access services for young peoplewho are not in education, training oremployment,22 and frequent use of theinternet is almost always facilitated byhome access.23

Furthermore, the latest Minimum IncomeStandard research from the Joseph

Rowntree Foundation, which considers whatis necessary to allow people ‘to have theopportunities and choices necessary inorder to participate in society’, has indicatedthat the ‘need for people to have access tocomputers and internetwithin their ownhomes’ (emphasis added) is now consideredto be essential for people of working age.24

For those unable to go online at home,Catch22’s findings show that young people

use computers in a real variety of differentlocations, including the local library, aCatch22 service, and at college or school.

Many young people also told us that theyuse the internet at friends’ houses, theirparents’ and wider family’s homes(mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents),at their partner’s homes, at their partner’sfamily’s homes, at Connexions, and atinternet cafés.25

Although in some local areas, particularly incities, there are competitively pricedinternet cafés that offer relatively low-costaccess, a fifth of the young people wespoke to told us that they needed to payeach time they wanted to go online,and thiswas seen as a key barrier for some.

‘I don't always have money to buy

top up for internet.’Female survey respondent, age 21

‘I don't go on [the] internet regularly –

[I] can't afford it.’

Male survey respondent, age 20

Most of those who needed to pay forinternet access were being charged upto £1 an hour, but some had to pay over

£2 an hour.


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70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Home Work College/

school

Local

library

Catch22

service

Other

(please specify)

If you access the internet using a computer, where is it?(Select all that apply)

P e r c e n t a g e

Location



A fifth of the young people Catch22 workswith depend on the library to go online.However, access can be patchy withopening times varying and some libraries

charging for access. Currently, 1 in 5 libraryauthorities in England does not providefree internet access.26 As such, it isparticularly concerning that the PublicLibrary Modernisation Programme, worth£2million, is one of the initiatives that hasbeen cancelled as part of the savingsannounced by the Department of CultureMedia and Sport.27 This programme had aspecific remit to develop free internetaccess in all libraries.28

Confidentiality,anonymity and security

The ability to go online in a confidential andprivate space is increasingly important.The Government’s policy of shifting thedelivery of services online assumes thatyoung people feel able to access the

internet safely and securely, where theirprivate details, such as name, age,addresses, and so on, will be protected.

Race Online 2012 recommends that the‘DWP [Department for Work and Pensions]should introduce an expectation thatpeople of working age should apply forbenefits online and have the skills to lookfor, and apply for, work online’.29

However, a quarter of the young peopleCatch22 spoke to said that they did not feelthey were able to use the internet in aconfidential and private space. This rose toalmost 40% for those who were not able toaccess the internet at home.

‘I use the library computer and I would feel

that somebody would access my personal

data once I am finished on the library's

computer.’Male survey respondent, age 19

‘[I] don't feel that the data is secure or

private and I feel that I should be able to

see an adviser to speak to.’

Female survey respondent, age 18

In addition to Government services, adviceand information services are increasingly

moving online.Young people are more oftenturning to the internet as a key source forinformation and advice, and consider it asimportant as family and friends for advicein stressful situations.

For particularly sensitive areas of concern,the internet often becomes the primarysource for young people. It is particularlyimportant for matters such as sexualhealth advice, drugs and alcohol, where

young people feel able to talk about issuesonline that they would not feel comfortablediscussing face-to-face.


5

Case study

Sam, age 20

‘My life is made more difficult by nothaving access to the internet or a PC.

… It seems that everything now requiresthe internet; often other organisationstell me to look online to find information.This includes the Job Centre, HousingBenefit, choice based lettings, SureStart,health information.

On occasions when I have not hadenough phone credit to contact anagency by phone, they have suggestedthat I email them. If I can’t afford creditfor my phone, what makes them think Ican afford the internet?

I do not see how I will be able to save upto buy a PC in the foreseeable future asit is difficult to manage a home on

benefits. I do want to better myself, butit is all a struggle.’



For almost two thirds of young peoplelooking for help, anonymity is the mostimportant reason for choosing to use theinternet.

For advice on sexual matters and drugs,the internet is the single most importantsource of information for young people.30

For those young people who are concernedabout confidentiality, anonymity andsecurity, they may well be discouragedfrom accessing these services at all if theyare unable to go online at home.

‘My carer checks up online on what

I’ve looked at online.’


‘I don't want such personal information

online – I’m a bit funny like that – I like to

keep things private.’


The race onlineWhen Catch22 asked young peoplewhether they supported the Governmentputting services online, a quarter thoughtthat this was a bad idea. This rose to athird among those young people who didnot have a computer at home to go online.

Young people told us that they would preferto be able to access services face-to-face,

by telephone (freephone) or by post.Thiswas for reasons of trust, ease of access andliteracy concerns.

Research by the DCLG supports theseresults. It found that young peoplepreferred accessing services in person,visiting a local office and having a

discussion face-to-face, particularly insituations where the issue was morecomplicated or depended on personalcircumstances.This was for a variety ofreasons, including:

I difficulties with reading and withcomplicated text on websites

I difficulties trying to find the rightinformation

I an inability to access the internet athome or when required

I the inability to ask questions andreceive clear answers.31

‘I feel the money that would be invested

into this service would be better spent on

improving face-to-face services…’


‘Access is not very good… I can only use it

if I have free time. I have no access in

holidays… I'd like to access the services

through college or at the Jobcentre.’


‘Because I like to speak to a person and I

get confused online as well. Sometimes I

find it difficult, especially reading and

understanding the questions.’



6



Conclusions andrecommendations

It is clear that significant disadvantagesexist for those young people who areunable to get online.The assumption thatall young people are ‘digital natives’ issimply not the case and the findings ofresearch by Catch22 challenge thispresumption.

Recommendation It is vital thatGovernment services continue toprovide alternative channels ofaccessing services and gettinginformation and advice, while continuingto develop the opportunities and skillsthat young people need in order to fullyengage with the online community.

It is important to recognise that thoseyoung people who could benefit most fromaccessing services online, are those who

are least able to. Catch22’s researchfindings indicate that some young peopleare being left behind in the drive to geteveryone online.

Recommendation We stronglyrecommend that Race Online 2012dedicates a stream of work to gettingyoung people online, recognising thatyoung people’s reasons for not

accessing the internet are oftendifferent to those experienced by olderpeople.

Catch22’s research findings show thatyoung people have very real concernsabout confidentiality and security whenusing the internet, for example when

entering their personal details online.Thishas direct impact on the Government’sdrive to increase the range of services,information and advice that is onlyavailable online.

Recommendation Catch22recommends that security andconfidentiality at points of online accessin public places, such as libraries, is

looked at as a matter of urgency. Wherea young person can enter their personaldetails securely online, these locationsshould be advertised as such.

In 2008, the Government announced theHome Access Package, which was aimed atdelivering universal home access to theinternet for 270,000 low-income families by2011. This package, an investment of

£300million, included free broadband foreligible young people aged 7 to19 years, afree computer with software and support inareas such as internet safety, effective useof technology for learning and a technicalsupport helpline.The Home Accesswebsite32 shows that there are now lessthan 10,000 grants left and only thosechildren with severe disabilities or specialeducational needs are eligible for grants.

Recommendation Catch22 stronglyrecommends that the Home AccessPackage continues to be funded, and theeligibility criteria are widened to allowall low-income families to apply forgrants.


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1. Department for Communities and LocalGovernment (DCLG) (2008) Understanding

digital exclusion: Research reportLondon:DCLG

2. Prensky M (2001) ‘Digital natives, digitalimmigrants’On the horizon 9:5 pp 1–2,West Yorkshire: MCB University Press

3. Cabinet Office (2010)Directgov joins theCabinetOfficeefficiency drive CabinetOffice 20 July 2010 press release, availableonline at: <http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2010/100720-directgov.aspx> accessed September 2010

4. 264 young people aged between 16-24 whoare engaged with Catch22 servicesresponded to the survey.

5. Race Online 2012 (2010)Manifesto for anetworkednation, available at<http://raceonline2012.org/manifesto>accessed September 2010

6. Pitt J (2010)Broadbandminded?Overcoming consumers’ barriers to internetaccess London: Consumer Focus

7. Race Online 2012 andPriceWaterhouseCoopers (2009)Championfor digital inclusion:Theeconomic case fordigital inclusion London: Race Online 2012

and PriceWaterhouseCoopers8. See note 1.9. Race Online 2012 (2010)David Cameron

supports digital champion’s ambition –makeUK first nationwhere everyone canuse the web 12 July press release,available at: <http://raceonline2012.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/david-cameron-supports-digitalchampion%E2%80%99s-ambition-%E2%80%93-make-uk-first-nation-where-everyonecan-use-the-web/> accessed August 2010

10. Freshminds (2009)Does the internetimprove lives? London: UK Online Centres11. See note 7.12. Office for National Statistics (ONS) (2009)

Statistical bulletin: Internet access,householdsand individualsNewport: ONS

13. The Nielsen Company (2009) in Manifestofor a networked nation, Race Online 2012,available at: http://raceonline2012.org/sites/default/files/resources/manifesto_for_a_networked_nation_-_race_online_2012.pdf accessed August 2010

14. Department for Communities and LocalGovernment (DCLG) (2010) The internet agewill help end the townhall ‘non-job’ 6 July2010 press release London: DCLG

15. Department for Communities and LocalGovernment (DCLG) (2008) Digital

exclusion profiling of vulnerable groups:Young people not in education, employmentor training (NEET): A profile London: DCLG

16. Greater London Authority (GLA) Mayorbegins search for Londonambassadors 27July 2010 press release London: GLA

17. See note 7.18. See note 7.19. See note 12.20. See note 1.21. Number10.gov.uk (2010)PMbacks

RaceOnline 2012 campaign 12 July pressrelease, available at:<http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latestnews/2010/07/pm-backs-race-online-2012-campaign-53250> accessedSeptember 2010

22. See note 15.23. Livingstone S, Bober M and Helsper E

(2005) Inequalities and the digital divide inchildren andyoung people’s internet use:Findings from the UKChildrenGo OnlineProject London: LSE Research

24. Davis A, Hirsch D and Smith N (2010) Aminimum income standard for the UK in

2010 York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation25. Respondents were able to select more

than one option,so values add up to morethan 100%

26. CFE (2010)Role of public libraries insupporting andpromotingdigital participation Birmingham: Museums,Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)

27. Department for Culture, Media and Sport(DCMS) (2010) Further savings announced17 June 2010 press release London:DCMS

28. Department for Culture, Media and Sport

(DCMS) (2010) DCMSsavings announced,available at: <http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/media_releases/7191.aspx>accessed August 2010

29. See note 5.30. Youthnet (2009) Life support:Young

people’s needs in a digital age London:Youthnet

31. See note 15.32. <www.homeaccess.org.uk> accessed

September 2010


8

Notes



Catch22’s research findingsshow that 1 in 5 young people

do not have access to

the internet.



Names of respondents have been changed to protect identities.

© Catch22 2010

All rights reserved.

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PUB003

This report presents the findings ofresearch carried out by Catch22 in spring2010 on young people's experiences ofusing the internet. It highlights the effects

that the Government's drive to increaseonline services has on young people whohave limited or no access to the internet.

In order to ensure that all young peoplebenefit from the internet, the report makesa series of recommendations to help bridgethe 'digital divide' between those who canaccess the internet and those who cannot.

Documents

Young People Digital Divide