News
Making digital services inclusive by default
A new report from the think tank Reform assesses the causes of digital exclusion and explores what can be done to make digital public services inclusive by default.
The report claims that older, less educated, unemployed, disabled and socially isolated people are more likely to be digitally excluded, and that “a lack of skills, motivation or the right infrastructure are some of the key factors that make digital exclusion more likely”.
Approaches to addressing digital exclusion outlined in the report are to design accessible services, ensure there is community support for digitally excluded individuals and the development of partnerships across sectors.
The groups more likely to experience digital exclusion have not changed since the publication of this report on digital inclusion by the Good Things Foundation in 2007 (who were sensibly involved in the development of Reform’s report).
Reform’s Inclusion by Default report also makes similar suggestions on how to address exclusion eg with good design and engaging content, but with the inclusion of an important section on the need for a joined-up approach to digital services.
Read the full report here