By Jane Grant, Health Improvement Lead, and Laura Hills, Health Improvement Senior, NHSGGC, on behalf of the Aye Mind Collaborative 

“Access to the digital world can no longer be seen as a luxury. Instead, digital inclusion must be seen as the cornerstone to ensuring social justice and equitable life chances for every child” (Unicef)

The internet is being used increasingly in all areas of our lives. When it comes to children and young people, however, we often assume that they are all frequent, confident, able users of the internet and digital technology. The reality is that many children and young people across Scotland have limited digital literacy or internet access. This is cause for concern – in this digital age, those who are not able to engage with the online world are at risk of being left behind.

This blog takes a look at what digital inclusion means, who is more at risk of digital exclusion, outlines the potential negative impact on their lives, and shares some information about what we can all do to address digital exclusion.

What does digital inclusion mean?

Being digitally included is not just about ensuring that people are connected and online. Instead, UNICEF has shared five key components that underpin what it means to be digitally included:

1. A device – Access to a computer, laptop, or tablet. This needs to have licensed word processing, appropriate safeguarding software, and equipment to meet accessibility needs.
2. A Strong Connection – Connection to the internet through home broadband, wireless router or other connector with adequate download speed.
3. Skills and Support – Having the skills and support to participate online as active, critical, and engaged digital citizens. This includes being able to make video calls, upload, create and look at age-appropriate material online, connect with friends and family online, and have safe and secure online leisure opportunities. These aren’t a set of static skills, but are ever-evolving capabilities that develop in line with the digital world.
4. A safe online environment – Accessing an online environment that is safe for children and young people, free from bullying or abuse, fraud or misinformation.
5. Sustainability of access – Have access to digital devices and connections that work reliably and are maintained and/or upgraded as technology progresses (Unicef – Closing the Digital Divide for Good)

Who is at risk of Digital Exclusion?

It’s easy to think of children and young people as being experts in the digital world.  However, a significant number of children and young people face barriers to digital inclusion which affects their education, life chances, wellbeing, and the ability to make their voices heard. Those more at risk of digital exclusion include:

• Care leavers
• Looked after children
• Those from disadvantaged families
• Families in rural areas
• Children with special educational needs and disabilities
• Gypsy and Traveller children
• Young offenders
• Children from households that don’t speak English as a first language
• Children who are looked after by a single parent (CYP Now, 2022; Wilson & Grant, 2017)

Some facts and figures

• 12% of 11 and 18-year-olds reported having no internet access at home from a computer or tablet. 68% of these individuals reported they would find it difficult to complete school work without it (Office for National Statistics, 2019)
• 80% of children had constant home access to an appropriate device to enable them to connect to the internet for online learning, 13% had access some of the time, 2% rarely had access and 2% never had access.
• 2 million young people (15%) have a smartphone but no access to a laptop or desktop computer.
• 30% of children living in households with a combined income below £20,000 do not have access to a laptop or desktop computer.
• 32% of young people do not have access to home broadband (CYP Now, 2022).

These figures are a stark reminder of the effect that being digitally excluded can have on children and young people and their opportunities in life.

What are the impacts on children and young people of being digitally excluded?

We often hear about the potential harms of the online world, but being digitally excluded brings its own negative impacts, including on:

• Employment – More and more jobs are needing digital skills and personal access to technology. It’s common now for recruitment processes, job adverts, applications, and interviews to all be online. Young people need confidence and digital literacy otherwise they won’t be able to access these opportunities.
• Learning and development – Lack of access to information, online training, learning, and development opportunities.
• Wellbeing – Those digitally excluded face poorer health outcomes and lower life expectancy, increased loneliness, and social isolation. They also have limited access to a range of resources and networks that could enhance wellbeing (including information, online communities, and peer support).
• Financial – Paying more for items and services as a result of limited opportunities to shop around for the best price. Lack of access to financial services which play a role in supporting people to manage their money.
• Access to services – Slower, less convenient access to a variety of diverse, rapidly growing set of public services, such as booking medical appointments or accessing benefits. There is also a risk that digitally excluded people’s voices won’t be heard as services and society increasingly move online (Bowyer, 2019; OECD, 2018).

What can we do to tackle digital exclusion?

Without action, the differences in life chances between the digitally included and those who are excluded will widen. It is for this reason that digital inclusion and digital literacy education are key priorities for policymakers in Scotland (Scottish Government, 2021).

There are things that we can be doing to tackle digital exclusion, including:

• Develop our own digital skills so that we can help children and young people who need support. Our Aye Mind toolkit can help you on your digital journey.
• Design all services inclusively to meet people’s needs, taking a human rights-based approach to digital. TEC include some tips on how to do design digital services inclusively in health and social care settings via their Digital Pillars Paper, pages 17-18.
• Apply for funding opportunities to support digital inclusion initiatives, including funding from Connecting Scotland.
• Undertake free Digital Champion Training – to understand how to support someone who has limited or no digital skills/confidence.
• Join the National Databank – Community organisations can apply for free which will give access to support and resources. Joining the network means you can help tackle digital exclusion by delivering data, devices, and digital skills training.
• Signpost individuals to their local Digital Inclusion Hub – For Data banks (offering free mobile data for those 18+), free digital support services and digital skills training.
• Inform eligible individuals about Social Tariffs – This is cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or other benefits.
• Share best practice and learn from others.
• Develop our understanding of what digital poverty looks like and the groups affected, co-designing any policies or projects with those impacted by it.

Resources and websites

There are many resources that can support us in this area and these are listed below:

• Be Internet Legends – A free programme that empowers young children to use the internet safely and wisely. Includes a Be Internet Legends Curriculum for teachers to download lesson plans to deliver in class, including classroom activities. Visit Be Internet Legends.
• Digital Skills for Families, Children and Young People – Connecting Scotland have a page of resources which cover digital literacy, information for parents/carers, misinformation and critical thinking, how to stay safe online, and how to report harmful content. Visit Connecting Scotland.
• Essential Digital Skills – A framework from the SCVO highlighting the skills that everyone needs for life and work. It can be used as a benchmark, to highlight gaps, evidence need, or measure the success of an intervention. Visit the SCVO.
• Learn My Way – A free online learning platform to help people gain essential digital skills to stay safe and connected. Covers a range of topics from using devices, staying in touch, safety and security, and managing your health online. Visit Learn My Way.
• Scotland’s Digital Participation Charter – Includes a toolkit and checklists for measuring Foundation Skills and Essential Skills, and information about developing own/others digital skills. Visit the Digital Participation Charter.
• Where to Access Digital Support – A card including information on digital support services that can provide digital support where you live. Copies can be ordered through the Public Health Resource Department. Download the Digital Support Card.

My details are below and I’m happy to be contacted if I can help in any way.

Jane Grant

Health Improvement Lead

Jane.grant2@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Digital Support – NHSGGC