The social impact of the Internet: promoting digital equality Making Research Count Conference 22nd January 2016 The social impact of the Internet: promoting digital equality Sue Watling s.watling@hull.ac.uk

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…never assume equivalent, equitable internet access… digital assumptions …never assume equivalent, equitable internet access…

I’m sure that in addition there are other ways folk can be digitally excluded. We won’t fix it all, but having the conversation and then taking action is a good start. You have certainly made me think about some of the digital assumptions I make.

Mouse, Eyes, Ears (MEE) Model MEE model influences understanding of Digital Access Digital Support Digital Design

Giesbert Nijhuis; graphic designer who is quadriplegic Stephen Hawking; scientist with motor neurone disease https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFLVyWBDTfo Giesbert Nijhuis; graphic designer who is quadriplegic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x31u1seLTo0 Richard Bernard: retired social worker with vision impairment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95AIcTTHAA Aliya Farmi; sight loss and problems of having personal letters read out loud by others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G73U-JJbLc

Digital assumptions can lead to digital exclusion In a digital society where the platforms of the public sphere are increasingly being digitised, if you are digitally excluded you risk being silenced and rendered invisible.

Potential for digital exclusion Traveller/Romany. Physical, cognitive, sensory impairment. Poor internet connections. Cultural restrictions. Older people. Children. Fixed incomes. Lacking formal qualifications. Lacking digital literacies. Homeless. New immigrants. Language barriers. 18

Go On UK charity http://www.go-on.co.uk/ Set up by Martha Lane Fox to replace Race Online 2012 Addressing the UK’s lack of Basic Digital Skills ‘in order to sustain economic growth, productivity and social mobility’. 17 million people unable to make use of the internet

http://www. go-on. co. uk/resources/heatmap/ http://www.go-on.co.uk/resources/heatmap/?utm_source=heatmap_info_page&utm_medium=heatmap&utm_campaign=rh_nav_bar

Social work students, practitioners and educators can find themselves both sides of the digital divide. Digital exclusion for service users might involve, for example, the mother in poverty trying to apply online for universal credit; the visually impaired person struggling with inaccessible websites; the personal budget holder wanting advice on using online market places or the older person who would benefit from telecare. In each of these cases a well informed and digitally savvy social worker can bring net benefit to individual lives. Digital literacies always raise complex issues but for social workers in a digital society they are essential requirements. Digital literacies always raise complex issues but for social workers in a digital society they are essential requirements.

Social impact of the internet Viewed through 7 critical lenses digital identity – online profiles digital boundaries – public and private digital surveillance – digital footprints digital assumptions – MEE Model digital exclusion – invisible digital by default – health, welfare, lifestyle digital equity – for everyone

‘The power of the Web is in its universality ‘The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone…is an essential aspect.’  Tim Berners Lee (1997) https://www.w3.org/Press/IPO-announce https://digitalacademicblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/digital-exclusion-as-linguistic-lockout

Sue Watling Email me: s.watling@hull.ac.uk Tweet me: @suewatling comment on my blog https://digitalacademicblog.wordpress.com Multimedia Birds of a Feather image from https://www.flickr.com/photos/james_nash/