Over one in three adults don’t use the Internet Monday, November 23, 2009 - 17:43

Over one-third of all adults (37 per cent) don't have regular access to the Internet; and just under a third (32 per cent) lack access to a computer. Digital participation is heavily dependent on class and income as 86 per cent of ABs have regular access to a computer or laptop, compared to 70 per cent of C2s and only 45 per cent of DEs. These are the headline findings from NIACE's Annual Survey of Digital Participation, published yesterday at a joint NIACE/Ofcom conference in London.

The digital divide is further illustrated by the findings that while almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of ABs have regular access to digital television and 44 per cent have regular access to digital radio; the figures for DEs are 56 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.

The survey also reports that for those adults using digital technology:

• the most common use of the Internet is for using email (80 per cent);
• the only digital activity done more by women (33 per cent) than men (29 per cent) is using the Internet for social networking e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Bebo. In the last year there has been a 10% (21% - 31%) increase in the total number of adult ‘social networkers';
• adults are - for the first time - more likely to watch TV or TV on-demand on a computer than use one to listen to live radio or use listen-again facilities (23% compared to 18% - in 2008 the figures were 17% and 20% respectively);
• one in six adults (17%) have used the Internet to help them help their children with their homework; this is down from 19% in 2008;
  

  Everyone should be given the chance to become informed, active and engaged in the digital world, through motivation and opportunities to learn.

  Rachel Thomson, a Senior Programme Director at NIACE
• almost nine in ten adult learners (85%) have regular access to digital technologies compared to almost three in five non-learners (57%); however the number using the Internet for learning and/or for finding out information for their learning has fallen by 8 per cent in one year; and
• only one third (33 per cent) of adults play or download music digitally and only one in every 50 adults (two per-cent) use the Internet for online dating.

Rachel Thomson, a Senior Programme Director at NIACE said:

"All of NIACE's research over recent years, points to an absolute connection between the learning poor, the economically poor and the digitally poor. The findings of this survey illustrate the harsh reality of the continuing digital divide."

"When universal broadband access is already established as a governmental goal for 2012, these findings show that there is still a long way to go. Digital technology is vital for day to day life and will only become more so. People need to be empowered so they can gain more from all media in terms of education, information, entertainment and communications. Everyone should be given the chance to become informed, active and engaged in the digital world, through motivation and opportunities to learn."

Robin Blake, Head of Media Literacy at Ofcom said:

"Developing digital life skills is an essential part of bridging the digital divide and experiencing the benefits of Digital Participation. We have a long-standing relationship with NIACE and appreciate the important role they play in promoting high-quality and relevant learning experiences for people seeking to develop their digital life skills."

"We are delighted that NIACE are members of the Consortium for the promotion of Digital Participation and look forward to working with them and other partners to inspire, inform and support people as they embark on their digital journeys."