internet connectivity among people experiencing poverty and deprivation
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Internet connectivity among people experiencing poverty and deprivation. Dr Sarah Wise University of Melbourne and Berry Street Victoria. Presentation aim. 7 points about deprivation of telecommunications among people experiencing poverty - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AMONG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY AND DEPRIVATION
Dr Sarah Wise
University of Melbourne and Berry Street Victoria
PRESENTATION AIM
7 points about deprivation of telecommunications among people experiencing poverty
1 strategy to build a more digitally inclusive society
ANG
LICARE VICTORIA’S 2013 H
ARDSH
IP SURVEY
280 emergency relief and 45 financial counselling clients (N = 325)
24 Victorian service locations (14 metro, 10 non-metro)
Deprivation index
Items on telecommunications access and affordability
62.8% disability
7.7% homelessness
41.8% long-term (10+ years) unemployed
51.0% less than Year 12 education
55.0% living with dependent children under the age of 18
26.3% born in a non-English speaking country.
46.6% male
10.8% above the working age (65 years or more)
INTERNET CONNECTIVITY HAS POSITIVE BENEFITS
Information and knowledge Skills building (e-learning) Services Social and political participation Employment Creative expression
DIGITAL EXCLUSION CAN REINFORCE AND DEEPEN EXISTING SOCIAL INEQUALITIES
83.0 per cent of Australian households have access to the Internet (ABS 2014)
93.0 per cent of Australians with home Internet have broadband access (ABS 2014)
64.0 per cent of adults over the age of 18 (11.19 million people) use a smartphone (ACMA 2014)
UNDERSTANDING WHO IS EXCLUDED AND WHY IS CRITICAL TO BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Skills and confidence in using the Internet
Perceived benefits and interest/motivation
Age Geographic location Affordability
MAJORITY OF WELFARE SERVICE CLIENTS MISSED OUT ON HOME INTERNET AND SMART PHONE, BUT NOT MOBILE PHONE
Home Internet Mobile phone Smart phone 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Welfare service clients Australia
Per c
ent
AGE AND PRESENCE OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN DIFFERENTIATED USERS AND NON-USERS OF HOME INTERNET AND SMARTPHONE
Smartphone users significantly younger
Home Internet users (almost) significantly older
Home Internet users significantly more likely to have dependent children (<18 years) living in the home
≤$50 MONTHLY EXPENDITURE ON HOME INTERNET AND MOBILE PHONE AFFORDABLE FOR THOSE WHO HAD IT
Home Internet 49.2% didn’t have it because they couldn’t afford it 68.0% (who didn’t bundle) spent $50 or less per month 63.4% (who didn’t bundle) felt the cost was ‘very’ or
‘moderately’ affordable
Mobile phone 11.1% didn’t have it because they couldn’t afford it 82.3% spent $50 or less per month 61.7% felt the cost was ‘very’ or ‘moderately’ affordable
HOME INTERNET GREATLY IMPROVED (OR WOULD IMPROVE) STANDARD OF LIVING
Welfare service client (had home In-ternet)
Welfare service client (deprived of home Internet)
Australia 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Impr
ovem
ent (
or p
erce
ived
impr
ovem
ent)
in s
tand
ard
of li
ving
SCHEMES FOR AFFORDABLE SMARTPHONES COULD INCREASE INTERNET ACCESS FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY
Welfare service clients see the benefits of Internet access, but many can’t afford it
Mobile phone is the dominant form of telecommunication
Mobile networks, such as 4G, and Wi-Fi hotspots making mobile Internet more accessible
Cost effective programs and special schemes for smartphone usage could be an effective strategy to increase Internet access for people living in poverty
Up to $50 per month affordable for most
FURTHER INFORMATION
Australian Journal of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy 2(4), December 2014.