New polling highlights alarmingly low digital confidence as Get Online Week 2024 kicks off
With Get Online Week on the horizon, our recent poll uncovered some alarming stats - showing low digital confidence & skills are affecting job opportunities, savings & online participation. Read the findings and watch as TV personality Gail Porter unplugs to experience the challenges faced by 8.5m people who lack basic digital skills.
The cost of living crisis is worsened by the digital skills gap
As we near our 17th Get Online Week (14-20 October), we're revealing our latest polling. It shows that digital confidence in the UK remains alarmingly low. Many people feel unequipped to manage money, find jobs and/or stay safe online, with the gap most severe among for the one in twenty people lacking home broadband access.
Managing & spending money online is a concern - and it's costing digitally excluded people
Our polling found that one in 10 (10%) people are not confident in using the internet for banking and managing their finances, rising to 18% for those without broadband access. With 82% of people agreeing that online banking saves them time, this lack of skills and confidence results in missed opportunities. Moreover, over half of home broadband users look for online coupons and deals, saving an average of £3.89 per purchase - meaning being offline is costing people more.
Employment prospects are hampered by a lack of digital skills
More than a quarter (26%) of people don’t feel confident using the internet to compete in the job market, despite 59% saying they'd start their job search online. Confidence in career advancement online is also low (22%), despite as many as 84% considering good digital skills to be important for their job. This confidence gap markedly worsens for those without broadband access, with 28% not feeling confident to advance their careers.
Staying safe online remains a key barrier and struggle
The gap in online safety confidence is worrying, with 15% of people not feeling confident about staying safe online, increasing to 22% among those without broadband. Additionally, 61% worry about their personal details’ security, and 31% frequently encounter scams, putting them in a potentially vulnerable position.
These findings underscore the urgent need for digital skills to help people navigate modern life, especially as more services and opportunities move online. And they come as we get ready to launch our 17th annual Get Online Week from October 14th to 20th.
Cue Get Online Week: helping people gain digital skills and confidence
With over 900 free community events planned across the nation, Get Online Week will help people build the skills and confidence to manage money, secure jobs and stay safe online.
On the findings, our CEO Helen, said:
“These findings underscore the urgent need to fix the digital divide in the UK. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, digital skills are more than just convenient – they are the foundation for full participation in society.”
Gail Porter Unplugs for Get Online Week
To highlight the issue ahead of Get Online Week, TV personality Gail Porter recently took on the challenge of living without basic digital skills.
Gail experienced firsthand the isolation faced by the 8.5 million people struggling to get online due to low basic digital skills.
At the end of her journey, Gail sat down with fellow learners at the Digital Skills Hub in Boscombe, part of the National Digital Inclusion Network, where she saw how community support is helping people gain confidence and thrive in a digital world.
Gail Porter Unplugs: A Journey Without Digital Skills
Watch Gail's journey, hear stories from Digital Skills Hub managers and Ann, a digital novice-turned-digital champion, and discover how Get Online Week helps people boost their digital skills and confidence.