Linking Social Deprivation and Digital Exclusion in England
Paul A. Longley; Alexander D. Singleton (2009). Urban Studies, 46(7), 1275-1298. DOI: 10.1177/0042098009104566
Abstract
This paper develops a cross-classification of material deprivation and lack of digital engagement, at a far more spatially disaggregated level than has previously been attempted in the UK. This is achieved by matching the 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) with a unique nation-wide geodemographic classification of ICT usage, aggregated to unit postcodes. The results of the cross-classification suggest that lack of digital engagement and material deprivation are linked, with high levels of material deprivation generally associated with low levels of engagement with ICTs and vice versa. However, some neighbourhoods are `digitally unengaged’ but not materially deprived and the paper investigates the extent to which this outcome may be linked to factors such as lack of confidence, skills or motivation. As with material deprivation, there are distinctive regional and local geographies of digital unengagement and these have important implications for digital policy implementation.
Extended Summary
This research examines how digital exclusion relates to material deprivation across England by creating the first detailed spatial comparison of these two phenomena. The study combines the 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation with a unique geodemographic classification of information and communication technology (ICT) usage patterns, analysed at the unit postcode level to provide unprecedented geographical detail. The methodology involves cross-referencing neighbourhood-level data on material conditions with patterns of digital engagement, revealing a more complex picture than simple binary ‘digital divides’ between the connected and disconnected. The research finds that whilst material deprivation and digital unengagement are generally linked, with the poorest areas typically showing lowest ICT engagement, significant variations exist across different types of neighbourhoods. Approximately 5.6 million people live in areas characterised by both material deprivation and digital unengagement, yet many digitally unengaged neighbourhoods are not materially deprived. The study identifies distinct geographical patterns, with a notable ‘north-south divide’ where digital exclusion coincides more frequently with material deprivation in northern England, whilst southern areas show different patterns of digital unengagement often linked to rural or coastal retirement locations. The analysis reveals that digital unengagement has multiple causes beyond poverty, including lack of motivation, confidence, or perceived relevance of technology. Different domains of deprivation show varying relationships with digital exclusion, with education, employment, and health deprivation showing the strongest correlations with low ICT engagement. These findings challenge policy assumptions about digital inclusion, suggesting that interventions need to be geographically targeted and tailored to local circumstances rather than treating digital exclusion as uniformly linked to poverty. The research demonstrates the value of geodemographic analysis for understanding complex social phenomena and provides a framework for developing more effective digital inclusion policies. The spatial patterns identified have significant implications for how local authorities and policymakers approach digital inclusion initiatives, suggesting different strategies may be needed for urban deprived areas versus rural or coastal locations with different causes of digital unengagement.
Key Findings
- Digital unengagement and material deprivation are linked but not uniformly distributed, with distinct regional geographical patterns across England.
- Approximately 5.6 million people live in neighbourhoods characterised by both material deprivation and low digital engagement levels.
- Many digitally unengaged neighbourhoods are not materially deprived, indicating multiple causes beyond poverty including motivation and confidence factors.
- Education, employment and health deprivation domains show strongest correlations with digital unengagement compared to other deprivation measures.
- Northern England shows greater coincidence of digital exclusion with material deprivation whilst southern patterns reflect different demographic factors.
Citation
@article{longley2009linking,
author = {Paul A. Longley; Alexander D. Singleton},
title = {Linking Social Deprivation and Digital Exclusion in England},
journal = {Urban Studies},
year = {2009},
volume = {46(7)},
pages = {1275-1298},
doi = {10.1177/0042098009104566}
}