As part of a series of posts, we examine the latest research on how young people and the wider population in the UK use the internet, and what it means for Local Authorities, schools and teachers.

29% of people in the UK have never had access before or used the net. A large number of these (17%) are nay-sayers, and never will get access to the net. The age where internet use starts to plummet is currently around 45. The reasons for this seem to be mostly down to lack of knowledge of how to use the internet or a computer. There is also more chance that a non-user thinks of the net as not making life easier, than a user believes (48% v 85%). The reasons people find for not using the net are likely to hit most on being complex, containing too much immoral material and, less so, being frustrating to work with.

Increasingly, though, access to equipment is an issue. Ironically, although costs are coming down but hardware is made more powerful and better designed, cost is seen as an increasing reason NOT to get a computer, although two thirds of internet users would find the notion of not having access a problem for carrying out their lives.

Categories: Digital Literacy, Research