Digital disengagement and impacts on exclusion

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58248/PN725

Background

Digital disengagement refers to motivational and personal reasons for not being online or using digital devices. It is closely linked to digital exclusion, which broadly refers to people who cannot fully participate in society because they have limited access to internet or digital devices or are unable to use them.

Issues associated with digital exclusion are well recognised in academic research and UK policy. Motivational barriers have not been researched in as much depth or been as much of a focus in policy compared to ability, access and affordability.

Disengagement may be an active choice, as people have differing views on the benefits of online engagement and preferences for non-digital options. It can alternatively be due to external factors that are beyond the person’s control, such as lack of skills, safety concerns or accessibility barriers.

Academic stakeholders suggested that those that are disengaged due to motivational reasons require more of a focus in future policy initiatives, as existing digital exclusion interventions, such as providing devices or social tariffs, do not motivate this group to go online. Other commentators highlight the importance of preserving non-digital options, rather than assuming that increasing online engagement is the solution.

Overview

• Digital disengagement refers to people that have limited access to the internet or digital devices for motivational or personal reasons, rather than other forms of digital exclusion, such as access or affordability barriers. However, reasons behind digital exclusion can be inter-related.
• Digital disengagement and other forms of digital exclusion are negatively associated with social, health, employment, and financial inequalities, and can compound existing inequalities.
• In 2024, Ofcom estimated that 6% (1.7 million) of UK households did not have the internet at home. It is not clear how many are disengaged due to motivational reasons. However, multiple surveys indicate that lack of interest is the most cited reason for being offline. Other motivational reasons include fear of scams, or lack of confidence and skills.
• Levels of digital engagement are on a spectrum. People may engage with some aspects of digital technology but not others, depending on factors associated with the task, device, confidence, or current life circumstances.
• Stakeholders expressed policy considerations including: refreshing the 2014 Digital Inclusion Strategy, improving accessibility, developing digital skills, empowering choice when using technology, and preserving non-digital services and solutions.

Acknowledgements

POST is grateful to Hannah Romanowski for researching this briefing and to the Nuffield Foundation for funding this parliamentary fellowship. For further information on this subject, please contact the co-author, Dr Clare Lally.

POSTnotes are based on literature reviews and interviews with a range of stakeholders and are externally peer-reviewed. POST would like to thank interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing, including:

Members of the POST Board*

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology*

Ofcom*

Chris Andersson, FutureDotNow*

Professor Helen Atherton, University of Southampton*

Fay Benskin, University of Sheffield*

Christopher Brooks, Age UK*

Helen Burrows, BT Group

Professor Ana Isabel Canhoto, University of Sussex*

Holly Chate, FutureDotNow*

Sarah Christie, consumer advisor to Barclays

Robin Christopherson MBE, AbilityNet*

Anna Colom, Ada Lovelace Institute

Dr Catherine Dennison, Nuffield Foundation*

Dr Christopher Dodd, Oxford Institute of Applied Research, Oxford Brookes University*

Becky Driscoll, University of Sheffield*

Charlotte Edney, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory*

Dr Paolo Gerli, Edinburgh Napier University*

Professor Kate Hamblin, University of Sheffield*

Katie Heard, Good Things Foundation

Professor Ellen Helsper, London School of Economics*

Vanessa Higham, Vodafone*

Dr Olga Kozlowska, Oxford Institute of Applied Research, Oxford Brookes University

Dr Mikael Leidenhag, Digital Inclusion Research Hub*

Mavis Machirori, Ada Lovelace Institute*

Jen Reed, University College London*

Dr Anastasia Rousaki, University of Sheffield*

Aliya Saied-Tessier, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory*

Dr Laura Sbaffi, University of Sheffield*

Professor Neil Selwyn, Monash University*

Dr Emma Stone, Good Things Foundation*

Anna Studman, Ada Lovelace Institute*

Dr Leonie Tanczer, University College London*

Dr Emily Tanner, Nuffield Foundation*

Dr Sharon Wagg, University of Sheffield*

Sally West, Age UK

Dr Grace Whitfield, University of Sheffield

Dr Simeon Yates, University of Liverpool*

Dr Efpraxia Zamani, Durham University*

Dr Emilene Zitkus, Loughborough University*

*denotes people and organisations who acted as external reviewers of the briefing.