When you finally get round to having a clearout, rather than binning your old gadgets, pass them on to people in need – and help bridge the digital divide Most of us have a drawer of shame somewhere at home – a dusty cavern full of outdated mobiles, tablets, dongles and doodads that were once our pride and joy. It seems wasteful to throw them out, yet realistically we know they’ll never “come in useful one day”. If we did let go of them, our old devices that can have the latest IOS update could be given shiny new lives – really making a difference in the hands of someone who needs them. Continue reading...

From finances to loneliness, being digitally disconnected can have far-reaching consequences In today’s digital society, connectivity is at the heart of almost all that we do. Being online aids financial management, facilitates social connections, provides access to work and education, and can help keep us healthy and well. More than one in three Brits say being connected is top of their list of essentials. Brits complete an average of 90 tasks online every day. Nine in 10 jobs are advertised only online. Continue reading...

At its outset, the internet may have been seen as a ‘nice-to-have’ home luxury, however, in 2024 being digitally connected is an essential – those who aren’t online are being left behind … For many of us, the internet is now a mainstay of our waking hours. Whether at work or play; home or out and about; on our phones, laptops or desktops, many millions of us are almost constantly connected – and we assume that it’s the same for everyone else. But the reality is that for people experiencing poverty, digital access is a luxury, and when they have to go without it they are often left isolated and excluded from large parts of life. There needs to be considered and conscientious action to ensure that people who are struggling to get by can still be digitally connected. Keen to learn more? Here are five common digital poverty myths, busted … Continue reading...

With toxic, sexist content flooding the phones and devices of many teenage boys, we ask experts what can be done to break the cycle If you’ve had the misfortune of stumbling across misogynist videos from influencers online, you’ll be aware how toxic this content can be. But did you know that more than two-thirds of boys aged 11 to 14 have been exposed to this kind of harmful, damaging “manosphere” content? Or that 70% of teachers noticed a rise in sexist language being used in the classroom over the 12 months to February 2024? This research was brought to life in a powerful short film earlier this year, called The Rise of the Aggro-rithm. It follows a boy’s gradual descent into misogynistic thinking – a journey that leaves him lonely and sad, with negative feelings towards his female teacher and even his own sister. Continue reading...