Digital exclusion is a social issue.

It affects every aspect of people’s lives, from poor health outcomes and reduced life expectancy to increased loneliness, social isolation, reduced access to employment and education, higher cost of living, financial exclusion and increased risk of poverty.

Digital exclusion also affects people’s ability to have a voice and visibility in the digital world. Government services and democracy are moving more and more online.

People who are most at a disadvantage in age, education and income, disability or unemployment are more likely to be at a disadvantage in the digital world, which further exacerbates social inequality.

People who experience marginalization associated with issues such as substance use, homelessness, poverty, mental ill-health, social isolation, or welfare dependence are sometimes referred to as being multiply excluded.