Disconnected: The Real Cost of Digital Poverty

What Is Digital Poverty 

Digital poverty (often described as part of the digital divide) refers to the inability of individuals or households to meaningfully participate in the digital world — not just lacking internet access, but also lacking devices and the skills to use them effectively. It includes gaps in internet connectivity, affordable devices, and digital literacy. It isn’t just about having internet — it’s about whether people can use digital tools to participate fully in modern life. 

As of late 2025, approximately 2.2 billion people remain completely offline, representing about one-quarter to one-third of the global population. While access is growing, with an estimated 6 billion people now using the internet, significant disparities in quality, affordability, and infrastructure mean a large portion of the population is either unconnected or poorly connected. 

Although about 94% of Canadians aged 15 and older report having internet access at home, access and meaningful use are uneven: usage drops to roughly 84% among seniors aged 65+, and nearly one in four Canadians (about 24%) are either non-users (9%) or “basic users” (16%) with very limited digital engagement. Barriers are especially pronounced for marginalized groups — for example, around 17% of Canadians with disabilities report difficulties using the internet for essential tasks like accessing services or booking appointments — and rural communities face ongoing infrastructure gaps, with only about 62% having access to certain higher-speed broadband services compared to higher national coverage overall. 

Even though overall internet use is high in Canada, meaningful access — which includes reliable connectivity, devices, and skills — is lower than headline statistics suggest. Groups most affected include seniors, people with low digital skills, some rural communities, and people with disabilities.  

Groups at greatest risk include: 

  • People with low incomes or in poverty 
  • Older adults 
  • People with disabilities 
  • Rural or geographically isolated populations 
  • Unemployed individuals 
  • Certain ethnic and marginalized groups (e.g., people seeking asylum)

Impacts of Digital Poverty 

Digital poverty is far more than a lack of access to entertainment; it carries serious social, economic, and health consequences. Those excluded from digital participation face systemic barriers to education, employment, healthcare, government services, and social connection. Beyond individual hardship, digital exclusion also weakens entire communities and economies, as societies forfeit billions in potential earnings, productivity, and cost savings when large segments of the population lack digital access and skills. 

1. Housing  

In Canada — including Toronto — digital access is increasingly essential for securing housing. Apartment listings are now almost entirely online, where scams are common and difficult to detect without digital literacy skills. The City of Toronto’s rent-geared-to-income system operates through the MyAccesstoHousingTO portal, which is fully online, creating barriers for those without internet access or confidence navigating web forms. Likewise, Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) conducts most hearings virtually, and while in-person options technically exist, arranging them can be complicated for individuals unfamiliar with the process or lacking advocacy support. Community housing centres often direct people to online listing websites rather than providing direct placement assistance, leaving digitally excluded individuals at a significant disadvantage in an already competitive rental market. 

2. Healthcare  

Healthcare access is similarly shaped by digital systems. Across Ontario, patients are increasingly expected to use online portals to book appointments, access lab results, download requisitions, and message clinic staff. Phone lines often involve long wait times, and some clinics prioritize online booking entirely. With an ongoing family doctor shortage in Ontario, tools designed to help residents find a physician or register with a clinic are primarily web-based. For individuals without reliable internet or digital literacy skills, this can delay care, limit access to test results, and reduce their ability to advocate for their own health needs. 

3. Education 

Students without reliable connectivity or devices often fall behind academically. Schools expect homework submission and research online, but students with digital barriers may miss assignments or opportunities for enrichment. Over time, this widens educational inequality and limits future prospects. 

4. Employment 

Employment has largely shifted online. Most employers now post openings exclusively on digital job boards and require online applications, often screened through automated systems or AI-driven filtering tools that disadvantage those unfamiliar with modern résumé formatting or digital submission processes. Beyond formal applications, online networking platforms such as LinkedIn and even social media channels have become central to job searching, professional networking, and recruitment, with many positions filled through digital connections rather than traditional walk-in or paper applications. Those without digital access or literacy skills are therefore excluded not only from job postings but from the informal networks that increasingly drive hiring. At the same time, job seekers must navigate the growing risk of online employment scams or “ghost” postings, which can further discourage and financially harm vulnerable applicants. 

5. Government Services  

Government and social services are similarly delivered primarily through digital portals. Applications and account management for immigration programs, permanent residency or citizenship status checks, and document uploads are handled online through federal systems. Income supports such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), provincial social assistance, and disability benefits increasingly rely on online applications, digital accounts, and electronic communication. While phone and in-person options technically exist, wait times can be lengthy, especially during tax season or benefit payment periods when agencies such as the Canada Revenue Agency experience surges in demand. Navigating multiple portals, remembering passwords, uploading documentation, and responding to digital correspondence can be overwhelming for those without internet access or digital literacy skills. As a result, people may experience delays in receiving essential income, miss critical deadlines, or struggle to resolve errors — placing already vulnerable Canadians at further financial and social risk. 

Digital Poverty Deepens Isolation and Marginalization 

As more social interactions — from banking and healthcare support to community engagement and cultural participation — move online, digitally excluded people become socially isolated. They often miss out on: 

  • Social isolation: Without internet, people miss out on social networks, community events, and online communication that connect families and peers. 
  • Marginalization: Digital exclusion amplifies existing inequalities: the poor, elderly, disabled and minoritized groups are disproportionately shut out as society moves online. 
  • Compounding disadvantages: Lack of access or skills means missed opportunities for financial stability, education, healthcare, and civic engagement — reinforcing a cycle where digital exclusion further entrenches inequality. 

Digital Exclusion Creates a Financial Penalty 

Digital poverty can quietly increase the everyday cost of living. As banks close branches and move services online, those without internet access or digital skills are often left paying higher fees for in-person transactions, cheque-cashing services, prepaid cards, or money orders. Many online-only banks offer lower fees and better interest rates, but these options remain out of reach for the digitally excluded. Similarly, utilities and service providers frequently charge extra for paper billing or offer discounts only for online payments, meaning those who cannot pay digitally may face late fees, miss reminders, or lose access to cost-saving incentives. 

The shift toward online shopping also creates financial strain. As physical stores reduce inventory or close, many affordable goods, specialty items, and hard-to-find sizes are primarily available online. Without the ability to compare prices, access online deals, or navigate e-commerce platforms, digitally excluded individuals may pay more, travel farther, or settle for lower-quality products. Over time, these disadvantages add up, effectively creating a “poverty premium” in which those with the fewest resources end up paying the most. 

At the same time, limited digital literacy increases vulnerability to scams, phishing schemes, fraudulent banking messages, and fake shopping sites. Financial losses from online fraud can be devastating, especially for seniors and low-income households. Without the skills to identify secure websites or verify legitimate communications, digitally excluded individuals face heightened financial risk in an economy that increasingly assumes digital competence.

Bridging the Digital Divide 

Digital poverty isn't just about lacking a laptop; it’s about being locked out of the modern world. Whether you have an hour to spare, an old device in a drawer, or a neighbour who is struggling, here is how you can make a difference: 

  • Donate used laptops, tablets, or smartphones to family members or neighbours who lack them. 
  • Support or volunteer with programs that distribute affordable or free devices. 
  • Offer to teach basic skills like email use, online forms, or safe browsing to those who lack confidence. 
  • Organize informal digital literacy workshops through churches, community centres, or clubs. 
  • Support campaigns for subsidized internet plans or community broadband projects. 
  • Encourage local libraries and organizations to provide internet access and tech support. 
  • Volunteer with or donate to nonprofits focused on bridging the digital divide. 
  • Partner with schools to ensure students from digitally poor households have at-home access. 
  • Check in with older relatives or neighbours to see if they can access required services online. 
  • Help people navigate government sites, job portals, or health information platforms.

Resources  

The following list is of programs and resources where eligible individuals and households can get help accessing tech and devices, low-cost providers, or tutoring in digital literacy. 

Free Geek Toronto
A nonprofit organization that refurbishes donated computers and other tech and distributes low-cost devices while also offering digital literacy training to increase access and skills in the community. 

Reboot Canada
A charity that provides refurbished computers to low-income individuals, families, and nonprofits, helping close the digital divide through affordable device access. 

Renewed Computer Technology (RCT)
A national nonprofit that refurbishes donated computers and distributes them at low cost to schools, charities, and individuals with limited income across Canada. 

Connecting Families Initiative
A federal program that works with participating internet providers to offer low-cost home internet to eligible low-income families and seniors receiving certain government benefits.  

Rogers Connected for Success
A discounted internet program from Rogers providing affordable home connectivity options for households receiving income support, helping reduce cost barriers to broadband access. 

Toronto Public Library – Digital Innovation Services
Toronto Public Library’s Digital Innovation Services offer free access to technology, tools, and support — including multimedia equipment, digital creation labs, software, and one-on-one assistance and digital literacy classes — to help people build digital skills and bring creative projects to life. Check the link to explore available labs, workshops, and tech resources at your local branch. 

Parkdale Project Read
A community-based literacy program in Toronto offering small group and one-to-one tutoring for adults seeking to strengthen reading, writing, math, and practical digital skills.  

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