• Digital disengagement refers to people that have limited access to the internet or digital devices for motivational or personal reasons, rather than other forms of digital exclusion, such as access or affordability barriers. However, reasons behind digital exclusion can be inter-related.
• Digital disengagement and other forms of digital exclusion are negatively associated with social, health, employment, and financial inequalities, and can compound existing inequalities.
• In 2024, Ofcom estimated that 6% (1.7 million) of UK households did not have the internet at home. It is not clear how many are disengaged due to motivational reasons. However, multiple surveys indicate that lack of interest is the most cited reason for being offline. Other motivational reasons include fear of scams, or lack of confidence and skills.
• Levels of digital engagement are on a spectrum. People may engage with some aspects of digital technology but not others, depending on factors associated with the task, device, confidence, or current life circumstances.
• Stakeholders expressed policy considerations including refreshing the 2014 Digital Inclusion Strategy, improving accessibility, developing digital skills, empowering choice when using technology, and preserving non-digital services and solutions.
The Note goes on to state
Digital disengagement and impacts on exclusion
Digital disengagement refers to motivational and personal reasons for not being online or using digital devices. It is closely linked to digital exclusion, which broadly refers to people who cannot fully participate in society because they have limited access to internet or digital devices, or are unable to use them.
Issues associated with digital exclusion (Box 1) are well recognised in academic research and UK policy. Motivational barriers have not been researched in as much depth, or been as much of a focus in policy compared to ability, access and affordability.
It can be challenging to separate issues associated with digital disengagement and other forms of digital exclusion. This POSTnote focuses on digital disengagement and references digital exclusion more broadly where relevant and inter-linked.
Key issues associated with digital exclusion
Motivation: Motivational or personal barriers preventing people from engaging online include lack of interest, low confidence, mistrust in the internet, or challenges with using the technology due to inaccessibility (see potential reasons for disengagement). People may make a deliberate choice to not engage with some digital activities, such as owning a smartphone (see selective engagement).
Ability: Those lacking basic digital skills are excluded by not being able to navigate the online environment. Lack of skills can also affect motivation.
Access: Digital exclusion can result from people lacking the infrastructure to access the internet, such as not having adequate broadband or devices to connect with
Affordability: Digital exclusion can occur if people cannot afford the costs of being online. Ofcom’s 2024 Adult’s Media Use and Attitudes report found that 17% of people who did not have internet at home, did not have internet because of reasons relating to cost, for example of broadband and devices.
What is digital disengagement?
Disengagement may be an active choice, as people have differing views on the benefits of online engagement and preferences for non-digital options. It can alternatively be due to external factors that are beyond the person’s control.
Digital disengagement does not necessarily mean that people are completely offline. Online engagement may be selective based on the type of task, for example (see selective engagement).
Survey data from Ofcom and others indicate that motivational barriers are the most common reason for being offline (Figure 1).
In 2023, respondents were over four times more likely to specify lack of interest for non-use, compared to cost (Figure 1).
It is not clear exactly what proportion of the public are disengaged, as people may have multiple reasons for being offline and disengagement is not clearly defined. Research on motivational factors is often based on small sample sizes, potentially as those offline are a smaller and harder to reach proportion of the public (see future research and representation). The proportion of the public that do not have internet at home has been decreasing, which indicates that the population still not regularly online are increasingly those that are not interested (Figure 1).
