Digital Inclusion Support Needs of Households in Poverty: Insights From Interviews With Dutch Social Workers

Abstract

As poverty and digital exclusion interrelate, it is relevant to investigate how households in poverty may be best supported in relation to the Internet. Social workers have unique insights into supporting households in poverty, but their perspectives have received limited research attention thus far. Hence, we conducted semistructured expert interviews with 14 social workers to gather their perspectives on digital inclusion support needs. These interviews aim to provide key insights into the role of the Internet in fulfilling economic, cultural, social, and personal needs. While the potential of the Internet is highlighted alongside a few perceived benefits, such as finding free activities in the neighborhood or supporting each other on social media, social workers underline that the Internet may make administrative tasks more complex and may amplify stress. This research adds social workers’ perspectives to existing knowledge on digital inclusion needs and poverty and assists in establishing related support and policies.