Why is digital inclusion important?

New technology and the internet are impacting how we live, learn and work. Much of our daily lives can now be made possible, and some would say easier, through the internet. This might include:

• managing our finances,

• attending classes,

• finding love,

• doing our jobs,

• looking for somewhere to live,

• ordering shopping,

• reading the news,

• speaking to friends,

• and even having a consultation with a GP.

Digital has the potential to make our worlds bigger, expanding experiences and opportunities.

Digital is for everyone. 'Digital Navigators' from the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) share their views on why digital inclusion is important for people with learning disabilities.

The Covid-19 pandemic was a catalyst for change. Digital was our lifeline. We used it to build a new way of living. Four years later, much of this has become the status quo. A lot has already changed, and further change is certain. We are on a journey, and we need to make sure that no one is left behind.

Being excluded from the online world means being excluded from services. 'Digital first' options often present barriers to people who require these services most. In some cases, there are no non-digital alternatives.

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In this short video from Vodafone, Emma Willis spends a day disconnected from the internet to highlight how difficult it can make everyday tasks we often do online: