New research finds that the internet is now seen as essential for participation in society
06 July 2010
Last year research by the Panel found that the public believed access to the internet was at a tipping point, moving from being a nice to have to an essential commodity, particularly for households with children or for individuals who are physically isolated. Research published today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation supports that research, illustrating that for many people the scales have already tipped.
The latest Minimum Income Standard report, which gauges what members of the public think people need to achieve a "socially acceptable standard of living", found that a computer and an internet connection at home are no longer viewed as luxuries but as essentials. They are vital for all working-age households to enable people "to participate in society", both to access job opportunities and to get discounts on services, and everyone should be able to afford them.
This trend is only likely to increase as more, and more vital, services are delivered solely online, or provided offline in a way that penalises users through higher cost or lower quality. Already some of the best deals in areas like shopping, banking and insurance are only available online, and it is likely that online delivery of public services will also be on the agenda - moving transactions online has the potential to deliver considerable cost savings for a cash-strapped government.
Look in a bit more detail at those who are not online though and the picture is more complicated. Financial barriers are rarely the only - or indeed the main - reason people don't get the internet at home. Many fail to see how the benefits of the internet would make a difference to their lives. Even those who do are likely to need considerable support to get online and get the most from the internet, including help to choose and set up equipment, learn how to use the internet and possibly also a computer, and to keep themselves safe once they are online.
We have recently published a consumer framework for digital participation, supported by considerable consumer research, which brings together all the different things people need. We hope this will be a useful resource for all of those who agree, as we do, with the findings of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation research and want everyone to have access to the benefits the internet can bring.