Most vulnerable groups (who experience digital inequity) and key barriers reported by them
| Population sub-groups | Most reported barriers | Study (N) | Source documents * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-income people | Limited internet access and digital skills | 25 | Bailey and Nyabola (2021), Boesch (2012), Breed (2019), Carson et al. (2021), Chang et al. (2016), Cherewka (2020), Forman et al. (2020), Good Things Foundation (2021), Hartnett (2017), Heponiemi et al. (2020), Horrigan (2021), House and Urban Development (2016), Islam (2021), Martinovic and Freiman (2018), Moore (2021), Mubarak et al. (2020), Murray (2021), Nielsen et al. (2018), Sanz and Turlea (2012), Schmidt (2005), Social Planning Council of Ottawa (2021), The city of Cassey (2021), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2021), Vogels (2021), Zwimpfer et al. (2017) |
| Older adults | Lack of technological skills, digital Literacy, fear, and safety concern | 17 | Andrey et al. (2021), Bucea (2018) Cherewka (2020) Good Things Foundation (2021), Islam (2021), Kim and Jeong (2010), Lamberti et al. (2021), Martinovic and Freiman (2018), Moore (2021) Nam (2010), National Science Foundation (2016), Puretz and Aguinaldo (2021), Schmidt (2005), Social Planning Council of Ottawa (2021), The city of Cassey (2021), Vazquez et al. (2015), Zwimpfer et al. (2017) |
| Racial and ethnic minorities | Limited internet access | 8 | Andrey et al. (2021), Carson et al. (2021), Cherewka (2020), Dilmaghani (2018), Moore (2021), Schmidt (2005), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2021), Zwimpfer et al. (2017) |
| Newcomers/New immigrants and refugees | Limited internet accessibility | 7 | Bailey and Nyabola (2021), Carson et al. (2021), Cherewka (2020), Dilmaghani (2018), Good Things Foundation (2021), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2021), Zwimpfer et al. (2017) |
| Indigenous groups | Limited internet access and digital skills | 6 | Good Things Foundation (2021), Murray (2021), Resta and Laferriere (2015), The city of Cassey (2021), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2021), Zwimpfer et al. (2017) |
| Persons with disabilities | Internet cost, language barriers, digital skills, and lack of easy-to-understand content | 5 | Good Things Foundation (2021), Puretz and Aguinaldo (2021), The city of Cassey (2021), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2021), Zwimpfer et al. (2017) |
| Women | Technological knowledge, Access, Internet Safety | 4 | Carson et al. (2021), Foteinou (2010), Good Things Foundation (2021), The city of Cassey (2021) |
| Population sub-groups | Most reported barriers | Study (N) | Source documents * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-income people | Limited internet access and digital skills | 25 | Bailey and Nyabola (2021), Boesch (2012), Breed (2019), Carson |
| Older adults | Lack of technological skills, digital Literacy, fear, and safety concern | 17 | |
| Racial and ethnic minorities | Limited internet access | 8 | |
| Newcomers/New immigrants and refugees | Limited internet accessibility | 7 | Bailey and Nyabola (2021), Carson |
| Indigenous groups | Limited internet access and digital skills | 6 | Good Things Foundation (2021), |
| Persons with disabilities | Internet cost, language barriers, digital skills, and lack of easy-to-understand content | 5 | Good Things Foundation (2021), Puretz and Aguinaldo (2021), |
| Women | Technological knowledge, Access, Internet Safety | 4 | Carson |
Note(s): * Details of these sources are available in Appendix Table 2 and Appendix Table 3
Source(s): Authors’ own synthesis