Digital Divide

Citizens Online (www.citizensonline.org.uk) is a national charity created in 2000 to focus on those getting left behind in the digital revolution and trapped on the wrong side of the 'digital divide'.

So why is there a Digital Divide? People are excluded from digital technology for many reasons - one third of adults in the UK have never used the Internet - and it's not necessarily because of economic issues. Individuals find themselves excluded as a result of lack of:

• education
• skills
• public access points
• confidence
• awareness (of what the technology can actually do for them)

However, gone are the days when the computer and the Internet were expensive luxuries for the fortunate few. The Government considers Information Technology (IT) skills as a basic skill after literacy and numeracy and 90% of new jobs rely on computer skills with 68% of companies doing business online.

Those of working age know how vital electronic communication is to them. Imagine being 65+, with no history of using computers, anxious about whether you can manage to learn, no one supporting your efforts to learn, and with a growing sense that mainstream life is slowly but surely disconnecting you.

The scale of the problem is massive. Older people make up the vast majority of the 25% of UK population who've never yet touched a computer.

On a material level, everything from flights to bank accounts to phone calls is discounted if you buy by mouse. Less obviously, if older people aren't helped to become online communicators, they lose access to a vital tool in becoming powerful and influential in their own lives and communities.

Citizens Online aims to help disadvantaged communities engage digital technology through their innovative scheme EverybodyOnline. The project, supported by BT and Microsoft, works within communities to help local people overcome any barriers they may have to technology so they are then free to enjoy the benefits of digital revolution without fear of getting left behind.

"It's changed my life", said 72 year old Frank Jones from Crewe, who attended a taster session run by EverybodyOnline and then when on to formal IT learning. Frank is less isolated and more independent thanks to being online and communicates with people all over the world.

But what happens if people don't get connected like Frank and do get left behind? People on the wrong side of the Digital Divide are going to become more and more excluded. As technology pervades our society tackling the divide is going to become increasingly important.

It's easy to say "It's hardly saving the world - why should we care?" but Citizens Online have found is that people who are digitally excluded are often excluded from mainstream society by other issues as well. For example, a person might have a disability, have no computers skills and a limited income; but by ensuring access to technology skills and facilities, they can search online for and apply for jobs, research health information and find out about services or use online support networks. As a result they could get a job more easily, access crucial services, make friends, get involved in the local community, feel less isolated and become more independent. It may not be 'saving the world' but it might vastly improve the quality of individual lives.

To date EverybodyOnline has launched eight projects in some of the most disadvantaged areas in the UK. Projects have been located in: Audley (Staffordshire), Bettws and Clydach Vale (both in South Wales), Croydon (Surrey), Rhyl (North Wales), St Stephen (Cornwall), Walker (Newcastle Upon Tyne) with a further project in Glasgow specifically focussed on the issue of homelessness. More projects are scheduled to launch in the New Year.

The website www.citizensonline.org.uk/everybody_online/project has further details on all the local projects including case studies, details of events and contact details for local project officers.
Technology can be the key to empowering and improving people's lives. Citizens Online wants to bring that opportunity to everyone.

An earlier version of this article was published in Ofcom Media Literacy bulletin September 2005.

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