Directions Newsletter
By the Numbers: The digital divide
Toronto – February 27, 2016 – A new study reveals that low-income Canadians are having to reduce their spending on essential items like food and housing in order to pay for another necessity – the Internet.
The "digital divide" between those who have home Internet versus those that do not puts many low-income families at a disadvantage when it comes to access to education, employment, and government services. There is a growing consensus that the digital gap is linked to socio-economic exclusion as well as poverty. In 2011, the United Nations declared Internet access as a human right, putting it on par with the right to freedom of expression.
17%
The percentage of Canadian households that do not have home Internet access.
8%
The percentage of survey respondents who don't have home Internet service or have cancelled it due to high cost.
58%
The percentage of Canadian households with annual incomes of $30,000 or less with home Internet access.
98%
The percentage of Canadian households with annual incomes of $120,000 or more with home Internet access.
83.5%
The percentage of survey respondents who find the price of high-speed Internet as being "extremely expensive "
59%
The percentage of respondents who pay for Internet by forgoing other household necessities.
71%
The percentage of survey respondents who have used food money to pay for Internet services.
13%
The percentage of survey respondents who have used rent money to pay for Internet services.
Sources: Statistics Canada - Canadian Internet Use Survey, 2012, Acorn Canada - Internet for All, Toronto Star