The Digital Inclusion Barometer survey published in 2023 by the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) showed that 40% of Belgians aged between 16 and 74 were considered to be digitally vulnerable. As a result, the KBF concludes that promoting digital inclusion is a crucial challenge for our society.
40% means that we are doing a little better than we were in 2021 and 2019. In 2021, 46% Belgians aged between 16 and 74 were digitally vulnerable. When the first Barometer was published in 2019, that figure was 42%. So we are moving in the right direction.
Widening gap
The survey showed that digital vulnerability increased slightly (by 4 percentage points) only among single-parent households (mainly women), while other population groups were less digitally vulnerable. Having said that, many Belgians are finding it difficult to keep up with the way the digitalisation of our society is constantly accelerating.
Although all of the other groups are improving in this regard, it is interesting to note that people on low incomes, those with health problems, the poorly-skilled and jobseekers are particularly at risk of digital exclusion. 10 to 14 per cent of these groups have no access to essential digital services (this means that they have no computer or a decent internet connection). And the only access that 1 in 4 people on a low income have to the internet is with a smartphone.
But the lack of digital skills, as well as the widening gap between those who do or don’t have them is proving to be particularly problematic.
Consult the Digital Inclusion Barometer
only available in Dutch and French
No one left behind!
The figures from the Digital Inclusion Barometer highlight the need to continue our efforts to give all Belgians equal access to digital services. They also show that we must continue to help vulnerable groups to develop digital skills.
In a society that is digitalising at lightning speed, we need to ensure more than ever that no one is left behind. We also need to make sure that essential digital services, which are one of the gateways to our society, are as inclusive as possible.
With DNS Belgium we’re achieving that aim by making the internet as accessible as possible.
Together with 45 other organisations, we are also supporting DigitAll. DigitAll is a broad coalition of businesses, social sector organisations and government agencies that together are creating awareness and taking action on digital inclusion.
Through Digital for Youth, DNS Belgium is committed to getting vulnerable young people involved in the digital society.
- Visit the DigitAll website
- More on Digital for Youth (dutch/french)