Motivation is the Main Barrier to Getting More UK People Online

The latest annual Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2018 has revealed that the number one reason why people offline are not using the internet is because they have no interest or motivation. Meanwhile problems with poor broadband ISP and mobile connectivity remain in the minority.

The index, which combines consumers’ actual behavioural data with survey research to understand the attitudes behind their behaviour, found that there are now 4.3 million people (8%) in the UK with zero Basic Digital Skills (470,000 fewer people than in 2017). The proportion of UK citizens with the full five Basic Digital Skills has also plateaued and 11.3 million people (21%) have limited abilities online.

The figures are perhaps naturally similar to last year’s report from the Office for National Statistics (here), which found that 9% (4.8 million) UK adults have never used the internet and that was down from 10.2% (5.3 million) in 2016. The ONS study noted that adoption can be linked to issues with age and disability (e.g. logically the very old are less likely to be online).

Meanwhile the new 2018 Digital Index noted that 39% of internet refuseniks were offline because the internet doesn’t interest them and 17% found it to be too complicated, while issues with broadband and mobile connectivity came way down the table of reasons.

Offline users were also asked what might help to get them online and 78% responded to say “nothing.” Fair enough. However 8% of offline users cited “improved online security awareness” as a barrier that must first be overcome.

Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2018
https://www.lloydsbank.com/../LB-Consumer-Digital-Index-2018-Report.pdf