How has the digital divide impacted our lives?

Jennifer Dawsonon 10 March 2021
mobile banking

It's not just older people who can be affected by technical issues. Learn about the widening digital divide and how it affects people from all areas of society.

In today’s new normal, our everyday lives are becoming increasingly digital, a trend that looks set to continue well after the pandemic ends.

Research conducted by the University of Cambridge has highlighted a widening of the digital divide, where poorer families cannot participate in society to the same degree as those with all the latest tech. Students are impacted by this, too; imagine not having access to a laptop, smartphone or tablet? It might seem far-fetched for many of you, but for some, it’s the reality. 

On the flip side, students tend to be good with tech and fast learners, and there are plenty of opportunities to interact with others online; whether through socialising safely, online forums or writing blogs.

The real question is whether the current rate of technological change is sustainable and, more importantly, accessible to the less well-off members of our society. Here are some of the innovations that will have the biggest impact on our daily lives.

1. Payments

The UK was one of the first countries to effectively adopt digital payments, with 77% of all transactions in 2019 being via card or contactless. Covid-19 restrictions have pushed this even further, with restaurants adopting online menus and delivery platforms to do your shopping for you.

With the contactless limit set to rise to £100, cash is set to be marginalised even further. For most students, going contactless may be the norm, but for those without bank accounts or cards, it widens the digital gap even further.

2. The banking gap

According to financial experts Finder, 1.3 million British adults don’t have access to a bank account. This can be due to several reasons, including homelessness, lack of documentation, or inability to access services for geographical reasons. This is a huge issue in the new digital age, where adults are expected to manage various aspects of their life digitally.

Work needs to be done to tackle this and promote inclusion. If you’ve watched the show Back to Life on Netflix, you’ll know how difficult it is for some people to access services that we take for granted.

3. Government initiatives

The digital divide has forced parliament to take action. £8 million has already been provided to fund ‘skills boot camps’ to give individuals lacking tech skills an opportunity to build them. For students, these boot camps contain useful hacks, tips and tricks for dealing with the responsibilities of adult life, including bills, council tax registration, and voting.

There are many areas in which anyone, students included, could struggle. If you need help accessing online services or getting the right tech in place, speak to your university, student union or find out what help is available.

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Jennifer Dawsonon 10 March 2021