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It's easy to think that everyone is connected to the internet and busy plugging away at MySpace or Facebook, but according to the Office of National Statistics over a third of all UK households are not connected to the internet. With almost 16.5 million homes (65 per cent) connected - 86 per cent of those connected using Broadband - leaving 35 per cent on the information dirt track.
This bothers the government as this is bad for online business (no surprises). A cause for concern that 70 per cent of people over 65 have claimed to never have used the internet, leading to suggest that the internet is not accessible by everyone.
"This is not only about getting cheap car insurance online. It is about equality in the marketplace. We know internet access can mean a difference of hundreds of pounds over the year from deals on utility bills, food to all other manner of other goods," said David Sinclair, head of policy for Help the Aged.
"It is time for industry to deliver more accessible and usable technologies, which will allow them access to a huge market. The government needs to invest in education and access to hardware, or see a technological divide enforcing these economic inequalities."
When releasing figures ONS stated that "The most common response, when adults were asked why their household did not have an internet connection, was that they did not need it (34 per cent)."
"The last time adults were asked why they did not have an internet connection was in 2006. Since then, while overall numbers are down, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of adults who stated they did not want the internet, from 3 per cent in 2006 to 24 per cent in 2008."
