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 is complex and evolving. We've pulled together a summary of the most important facts and stats and listed some helpful reports below. 

Useful Reports

There's lots of really great research and strategy being done around digital inclusion. We've picked out ones with useful facts and stats, but also ones with positive actions we can take. 

Benchmark Report

The Lloyds Consumer Digital Report is the largest ongoing annual study on the UK's digital and financial lives. We've got a summary here, but the full report is below.

A UK-wide strategy

The Digital Poverty Alliance has drawn up a UK-wide digital inclusion strategy  and drawn up a practical, detailed plan to make it happen.

Digital Inclusion and young people

There's an assumption that young people are "digital natives" and untouched by the digital divide.This third annual report by Nominet tracks how digital issues affect them. 

Inclusion & healthcare

This report from The Kings Fund talks to practitioners and patients and looks at the issues around digital inclusion in healthcare.

Cost of Exclusion

This report from the Good Things Foundation looks at the economic impact of digital inclusion in the UK.

Data Poverty

What it is and how to tackle it. Excellent report from the Data Poverty Lab. Clue: data poverty isn't what you think it is... 

Digital Skills and Work

A road-map from Futuredotnow, looking at how business, government and society can work together and fix the skills gap.

The Government Plan

There doesn't seem to be one, according to the House of Lords who accused the government of having no coherent digital strategy. 

The MDLS

The Minimum Digital Living Standards project is establishing benchmarks for digital inclusion and what you need to be able to connect and engage with confidence and safety.

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?