Communities and neighbourhoods

Digital Inclusion

Developments in digital technologies over the last decade have generated a period of extraordinary social and cultural change. Digital technologies impact on almost every aspect of modern society, creating huge social benefits. They can improve how we work, how we are entertained, how we communicate with each other, the healthcare available to us, and how information and knowledge can be brought together and used for our benefit. We now take for granted the technologies that give us these new opportunities. Our lives have been transformed by technology.

But these benefits are not enjoyed by all. While the majority of people in the UK are active participants in the digital revolution, these benefits are not distributed equally to all groups and communities. Inequality in the use and application of digital technologies is a new driver of social exclusion in the 21st century, which risks accelerating existing social divides and creating new ones. Digital exclusion is a symptom of wider exclusion, but also a cause.

The Action Plan below outlines the key issues relating to the use of digital technology and argues why digital exclusion is an increasingly urgent social problem. To comment on these proposals and the benefits of technology for all individuals and communities visit our discussion forum.

The in this section link below details new research and resources which have been developed to assist local authorities, the third sector and private enterprise in tackling digital inclusion.

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