New research commissioned by Good Things Foundation supporter Virgin Money reveals almost a third of people (29%) know a friend or relative who doesn’t have access to data/the internet, which has often prevented them from completing simple tasks like registering for a service, purchasing an item, or booking travel.
The research also found that one in five people (20%) in Britain could only cope a maximum of two hours without access to the internet while over one in ten (11%) can only cope less than an hour. During the weekend a fifth of people in Britain spend between four to five hours using data enabled services (such as browsing the internet, scrolling through social media etc.); 14% use it for over 10 hours.
The most common everyday tasks people complete online (via any internet-enabled device) include:
- Checking the weather (68%)
- Banking (67%)
- Googling/searching for information (65%)
- Reading the news (60%)
- Getting directions (52%)
The research was carried out as part of the bank’s ongoing work to help reduce the digital divide and raise awareness of the impact of data poverty. Data from our Digital Nation infographic shows that although 92% of people in the UK think most essential services require internet access, 4 in 10 (45%) households with children in the UK today do not meet the Minimum Digital Living Standard and 8.5 million people lack the most basic digital skills to use the internet.
In response to this and as part of its work to tackle data poverty, Virgin Money recently completed its first SIM-Free Saturday, a new company-wide challenge that encourages colleagues to take part in an internet detox and experience the impact of digital exclusion for themselves. During the challenge, which took place on 10 August, Virgin Money colleagues were asked to live a day without data and complete a series of tasks that could usually be done quickly and easily online, without using the internet for help. This included checking their bank balance, finding out the cost of a train ticket between their nearest national rail station and London King’s Cross or London St.Pancras and checking the weather forecast for their local area for the next seven days, plus others.
Virgin Money is the first and only bank in the UK to take part in the National Databank programme – founded by Good Things Foundation and Virgin Media O2 – which works like a foodbank, but provides free mobile data, texts and calls for people in need. Through the National Databank, digitally excluded people (whether they are a Virgin Money customer or not) can visit their nearest Virgin Money store or banking hub and pick up an O2 SIM card loaded with 25GB of free data, which renews every month for six months.
Colleagues across the bank also work to raise awareness and secure donations to our National Device Bank, which works alongside the National Databank to provide free smart devices, including laptops, mobiles and tablets, to people who are unable to afford them.
Virgin Money are also working with Good Things Foundation on Learn My Way, a free beginners’ online digital skills platform, to provide training to anyone looking for help to improve their digital skills.