Millions are finding themselves locked out of opportunities, not because of lack of motivation or skill, but because the only device they own simply isn’t fit for purpose. The misconception that widespread smartphone use equals digital inclusion is, in reality, disguising the fact that device poverty is a barrier in its own right.

Degrees of device poverty

The device gap is particularly stark in education, with around 26% of young people in the UK lack access to a laptop or similar device at home. During the pandemic, this translated to children struggling to keep up with remote lessons taking place via tiny screens, often sharing a single phone between siblings.

While the emergency shone a spotlight on the issue, it wasn’t one isolated to the pandemic and has long-term consequences for those trying to get ahead in their education while being digitally left behind, despite so many services moving online – and staying online.

Despite growing academic demands and increasingly digital course curriculums, only 10% of UK universities currently offer extended laptop loan schemes. The result is that opportunity to further your education is rationed by affordability. Research shows that 98% of families and students believe having access to a personal laptop is essential for success in university applications and studies. Yet, 67% note the lack of a device of reliable internet has not only disrupted their studies, but even influenced their decision to apply for further education at all.

These consequences inevitably ripple into the workforce. Employers consistently report a digital skills gap, with 61% noting shortages even in entry level roles. The government’s own agendas place innovation and digital fluency at the heart of national growth strategies but without intervention on digital access, the next generation face exclusion from the very tools designed to level the playing field. Device poverty doesn’t just disadvantage individuals, it undermines the UK’s ambitions for a competitive, skilled workforce.

Digital inclusion requires the big screen

We cannot continue to treat smartphones as a catch-all solution to digital poverty. If we are committed to building a fair society, digital access must be considered as fundamental as access to basic utilities because, in a digitally dependent society, that’s what connectivity has become: a basic utility. That means creating practical, sustainable solutions to ensure everyone has the tools they need, not just a phone, but a functioning device that enables full participation in digital life.

There are encouraging examples. Device redistribution schemes, which refurbish and rehome unwanted laptops, have already changed lives in communities across the UK. Some local initiatives provide access to shared devices in schools, libraries or community centres, offering a vital bridge for those otherwise excluded. But these efforts rely upon charitable goodwill rather than guaranteed provision, directly determining the radius of their impact. 

As access to healthcare is a fundamental right to meet a basic quality of life, so is digital access. Someone’s ability to get online shouldn’t be a question of luck, geography, or affordability but the direct consequence of a national level commitment to digital inclusion. The answer to achieving national digital inclusion doesn’t lie in the palm of your hand. By necessity, it’s bigger, broader and built on a commitment to accessibility to tools that truly open doors.

Elizabeth Anderson is CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance.

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