Introduction

"We can alleviate pressure on existing services by serving those that have access through new, more efficient channels; but for practical innovations to replace the old methods, they must be accessible on an equal basis to all parts of society, and leave no-one behind......Treating people fairly does not mean giving everyone the same thing: it means meeting them on their own terms."

Overview

The 2011 OFCOM Communications Report highlighted the 26% of homes still without internet access; these are often the people with most need of public sector services. Looking Local believes that its multi-platform approach has a significant role to play in reaching these homes and delivering services.

In amongst this figure there is a particular emphasis on older people; 55% of people aged 65-74 have access to the internet (45% do not) and only 26% of people aged 75+, leaving a massive 74% without the web.

Around 40% of all people in rented accommodation are offline, this figure rises markedly for tenants of social landlords in some areas - being up to 80%.

However by using other channels and devices, there is a clear case showing that many of these people can and will interact with public sector via TV, mobile and smartphones.

86% of C2DEs own a mobile or smartphone possibly driven by the rise of pre-pay options for smartphones and over 40% of C2DEs subscribe to either Sky or Virgin.

Over the past year there has been an increase in access to digital TV as the switchover grows ever closer and an increase in cable and satellite subscriptions; now 14million homes have access to interactive TV. However by far the biggest change in media consumption and device ownership over the past year was around mobile phones, in particular smartphones.

Surveys run on Looking Local have shown that we are making significant inroads in delivering government services to those who need it most and who do not have other means of 24/7 electronic access. 42% of respondents said they did not have access to the Internet either at home or at work.

In a different survey focused on finding a job, from over 1,500 people who responded 70% had no access to the Internet. Just under 50% searched for a job on a daily basis using Looking Local and 25% had been successful in finding a one via Looking Local. The main reasons cited for using Looking Local are the fact that it is free, that there is no travelling involved and the ease of use.

Click here to read OFCOM's Communications Report in full.

"Technology and the Internet are now woven into the fabric of our society. However, we cannot ignore the fact that those who are socially excluded are much less likely to have access to and benefit from technology."

"Digital inclusion aims to create a fair society and bring social and economic benefits to individuals, communities and the economy as a whole. It is the links between social and technological disadvantage that makes digital inclusion a priority today."

"To consider ICT deprivation as somehow less important than, for example, poor education, underestimates the pace, depth and scale of technological change and overlooks the way that different disadvantages can combine to deepen exclusion"

"Some of the research is what we would expect; that those who suffer deep social disadvantage are up to seven times more likely to be disengaged from the internet than those who are socially advantaged."

""The most significant lesson - and obvious - is that simply providing access is not enough. Digital disengagement is a complex compound problem - involving cultural, social and attitudinal factors - all of which mean that not only are we still not reaching the socially excluded, but we have a long way to go."

"The research also reveals the 'true picture' of digital exclusion is that 4 million adults who suffer from 'deep' social exclusion - that is they have a severe combination of social disadvantages - have no meaningful engagement with Internet -based services at all."