Research reveals mobile phones serving as primary source of internet access for welfare recipient.
Many individuals on government aid consider their smartphones as their only means to connect to the internet, as indicated by a research from the Nuremberg Institute for Employment Research (IAB). This is because 26% of these recipients don't own a computer or laptop, whereas just 6% of the general population don't have these.
Furthermore, 7% of recipients have no access to the internet whatsoever. This segment mainly comprises older and less educated individuals in the basic security system. In the overall population, this proportion is only 1%.
These findings have significant implications for digital job center services. As IAB researcher Sebastian Bähr put it, "Customized digital services from job centers must align with the digital devices of their clients." Thus, online services tailored to this group need to function on smartphones that have small screens and tiny keyboards. However, offline solutions will still be crucial, at least for some time, particularly for older benefit recipients and those with educational deficiencies.
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Although citizen's allowance recipients rely heavily on their cell phones for internet connection to access digital job center services, the small screens and tiny keyboards can make online study challenging. Therefore, it's crucial for IAB to develop services that cater to both digital and offline needs to ensure equity in digital literacy among all recipients.
