Contextualizing connectivity: how internet connection type and parental factors influence technology use among lower-income children

an article by Vikki S. Katz and Katherine Ognyanova (Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA) and Meghan B. Moran (Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA) published in Information, Communication & Society Volume 22 Issue 3 (2019)

Abstract

This project links research on digital inequality, which focuses on connection quality and its outcomes for under-connected individuals, and parental mediation, which focuses on the influence of parents on children’s technology experiences.

We examine the internet connection type used by families, the technology experiences of lower-income parents, and their perceptions of opportunities that technology use offers their children. We then determine how these factors influence the frequency and scope of their school-age children’s technology use.

Findings show that contextualizing children’s connectivity to account for infrastructural, socio-demographic, and relational influences provides new insights into the technology experiences of lower-income children. One set of findings suggests that direct benefit from increased connectivity is most evident for lower-income parents – those with the lowest household incomes, lowest levels of education, and whose dominant language is not English.

These effects remain after controlling for other socio-demographic factors. The second set of results shows that greater connectivity increases how frequently both children and parents use the internet, but is associated only with a greater scope of internet activities for parents.

Parents’ online activity scope is important for their children’s online experiences, directly predicting the scope of their online activities. High-scope parents were also significantly more likely to see digital opportunities in their children’s internet use, which in turn also predicted more frequent and broader internet use by their children. We conclude by considering the practical implications of these findings for digital equity initiatives targeting lower-income families.

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‘Borrowed access’ – the struggle of older persons for digital participation

an article by Linda Reneland-Forsman (Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden) published in International Journal of Lifelong Education Volume 37 Issue 3 (2018)

Abstract

This study investigates older persons engagement with digital interfaces as one important way to social inclusion. Digital exclusion and social exclusion are intrinsically intertwined, which put older persons at risk for exclusion.

To construct meaningful educational practices for inclusion, more insight is needed to understand consequences of low digital competence.

Eighteen men and women (retired) have been interviewed about their everyday encounters with digital interfaces. Results show how older persons ‘borrow’ knowledge from social networks or from contacts at previous workplace, to access technology and digital practices.

Data also show a common acceptance of exclusion and changes in lifestyle. These fragile chains, put together to access digital practices jeopardise social inclusion understood as autonomy and participation in society.

Informants did not mention community arrangements as resources for access and knowledge, which indicate that hard work is required to promote inclusion of this group.

A possible way could be using the power of informally framed learning scenarios. Society cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that groups of citizens are hindered from developing capabilities to maintain a social life, to access the health sector, to enjoy integrity and independence and cultural recreation – to live a capable life.

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Welsh digital inclusion research shows access to the internet is not a magic bullet

LASA ICT E-Bulletin (June 2012)

The Welsh Government devised a programme of research, including analysis of national survey data, mapping of internet use rates at neighbourhood level, and case studies of older people to understand the lived experiences of those affected by digital inclusion policies.

Findings revealed, according to the LSE Media Policy Project (PDF 2pp) that internet access alone will not raise participation in education, impact the job market or civic life.

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‘Digitally excluded’ losing out as services move online

The Low Income Tax Reform group has published a new report (PDF 64pp) highlighting the growing problem of ‘digital exclusion’.

It provides new evidence that government efforts to move services and transactions online are disadvantaging older people, the disabled and the self-employed in particular.

Thanks to ICT E-Bulletin - May 2012 via Lasa knowledgebase

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Increasing digital channel use amongst digitally excluded Jobcentre Plus claimants

DWP Research Report 776 by Duncan Adam, Dr Maria de Hoyos and Anne E. Green (Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick) and Vicky Campbell-Hall and Dr Andrew Thomas (TNS-BMRB)

Qualitative research was commissioned to develop an actionable approach to encourage digitally excluded claimants to use Jobcentre Plus digital channels, by increasing Jobcentre Plus’ understanding of:

• how to address the barriers to digital service usage;
• the behavioural strategies required to encourage digitally excluded claimants online;
• the types of services that claimants might value (which involved presenting claimants with examples of potential digital services); and
• the role of Jobcentre Plus staff and digital partners in supporting the migration of claimants to online services.

For the purpose of this research, ‘digitally excluded’ claimants are defined as individuals who never access the internet, or do so no more than three times a month, and lack confidence in their internet skills.
Between April and June 2011, 80 face-to-face interviews with digitally excluded Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support (IS), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Incapacity Benefit (IB) claimants, 35 telephone interviews with Jobcentre Plus staff and five telephone interviews with external digital partners were undertaken and analysed thematically (further details are presented in Chapter 1).

Full report (PDF 95pp)
ISBN 978-1-908523-26-6

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UK Government Refreshes e-Accessibility Policy

an article by Dan Jellinek published in the E-Government Bulletin (Issue 338 July 2011)

A range of new initiatives relating to access to information and communications technologies by disabled people, including a new online forum to discuss key issues with government, was announced by Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Ed Vaizey and his senior digital inclusion policy adviser at last week’s e-Access ’11 conference.
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Hazel’s comment:
Why does the government think that new initiatives are needed? The law about access is quite clear – but is not adhered to.
I do hope this helps but I am not intending to hold my breath.