Inequalities and the digital divide in children and young people's internet use: findings from the UK Children Go Online project

Executive summary. Considerable academic and policy attention has recently addressed the so-called ‘digital divide’ in the UK and elsewhere. Yet very little research has addressed children and young people in relation to the digital divide. This report examines the extent and source of any inequalities in internet access and use among 9-19 year olds in the UK. Drawing on data from the ‘UK Children Go Online’ project, we ask: • Is there is digital divide among children and young people? If so, does it parallel or differ from the divide among the adult population? And among parents? • How do differences in internet access and use relate to age, gender, socio-economic status and ethnicity? Are there other barriers and enablers of use? • Are some children left out, on the wrong side of the digital divide? Does it matter that some use the internet much more than others? Is this a matter of individual choice?