Digital poverty affects millions of UK students — universities must treat internet access as a human right
By
Matthew Hinton
Summary
Digital poverty — the lack of access to devices, reliable internet, and digital skills — is a widespread issue affecting up to 19 million people in the UK, including university students. The article argues that digital access has become a fundamental human right that higher education institutions can no longer ignore, as students face real barriers to learning when they cannot afford devices, data, or connectivity. It calls on universities to take proactive steps to address this inequality.
Source
bskyDigital poverty affects millions of UK students — universities must treat internet access as a human righttheconversation.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledWhen a student can't submit their essay because the household's only device is being used by three siblings for school, or because their mobile data ran out mid-lecture, they are experiencing digital poverty.
Digital poverty describes a cluster of overlapping disadvantages: lack of access to devices, unreliable or unaffordable internet connectivity, and insufficient digital skills to make meaningful use of online resources even when access exists.
According to a 2023 report, between 13 and 19 million people over the age of 16 in the UK are experiencing this in some form.
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