The cost of living crisis is worsening digital exclusion in the UK, with many people unable to afford internet access, devices, or data as household budgets tighten. It highlights how being offline increasingly means missing out on cheaper deals, job opportunities, and essential services that are now primarily accessed online.
It also discusses how digital exclusion disproportionately affects low-income households, older people, and vulnerable groups, who are more likely to struggle with both affordability and digital skills. The piece argues that this creates a “poverty premium,” where those without digital access end up paying more for everyday essentials.
From online deals to job searches: How digital exclusion makes the cost of living even higher
