Britain facing age-related ‘Digital Divide’
A report from the Office for National Statistics has established that the elderly, the widowed and people on lower incomes are the ones who have the least probability to ever use the internet. Despite various measures undertaken by the Government, there still are more than nine million British adults who have failed to access the internet in their lifetime.
The official data shows that 30 million British users log in every day and as much as 38 million British adults now use the internet and go online. The number is said to have increased, with a million users logging in last year. Britain has been facing a ‘digital divide’, say campaign groups and this divide will continue to rise if more and more people are not made to get online.
The internet offers different services to its users and 31 million users reportedly have utilized these services and bought goods in 2010. Therefore, this added benefit of the internet is being missed out by those who do not get online and save money on a range of products and services. By visiting price comparison websites the users get to know the value and the worth of products when buying cars or planning holidays and insurance.
“It is essential that government, business and the third sector work together to provide older people with bespoke training and support to help them get online. Otherwise the digital divide will continue to deepen”, says Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director at Age UK.
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