A man using a mobile phone

Digital inclusion means that everyone, regardless of background or abilities, has access to and can effectively use digital technologies like computers, the internet, and smartphones.

This means they have the skills, devices and data needed to participate in the digital world. 

The aim of digital inclusion is to prevent anyone from being left behind because they lack these resources, and to create a more equal and accessible society.

Digital Inequality: the key stats

Useful Research & Reports

There's lots of really great thinking being done around digital inclusion. Here are some of the most useful and up to date.  

Lloyds Digital

Now in its 10th year, the benchmark report for inclusion. It's increasingly more about the overlap between financial and digital skills but has valuable insights. 

Lloyds Consumer Digital Report

Essential Skills

What are the Essential Digital Skills and who has them? 

This is a spin off from the Lloyds report, very useful for looking at skills needed for life and work. 2025

The EDS

Minimum Requirements

What is the Minimum Digital Living Standard (MDLS) needed to participate in a digital society? 

And who's and who's out? From 2025.

The MDLS

The Benefits

The Ripple Effect: how essential digital skills create social value and improve lives. From 2025.

From Futuredotnow

Cost of Exclusion

From the Good Things Foundation looking at the economic impact of digital inclusion in the UK. Figures are 2022 but still relevant. 

Costs and benefits

What it all means...

Our CEO, Emma Weston OBE's take on what these reports tell us, what matters and why.

What we believe

A graphical representation of the periodic table which includes descriptions of digital capabilities rather than chemical elements

Table by Kat Dixon at the Data Poverty Lab on what you need the internet for. Downloadable version here.

How do Digital Champions combat digital inequality?
Find out more