Thousands of adults in East Renfrewshire could be missing out on virtual catch-ups in isolation

Many people will not have seen family, friends or co-workers for a month or longer, with the internet flooded with pictures of people getting together from different areas of the country via video chat, friends enjoying virtual pub quizzes and fundraisers taking part in challenges for charity.

But Office for National Statistics data shows that tens of thousands of people aged 16 and over in Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire were not using the internet in 2019 – meaning many people in the community could be missing out on interactive catch ups with loved ones.

The majority were likely to be older people, according to the ONS.

The Campaign to End Loneliness says there is a still a “big digital divide”, with around a fifth of people in the UK not owning a smartphone – leaving some adults without access to the technology that would enable them to connect with others via social media or messaging apps.

Last year, the ONS asked people in Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire whether they had used the internet in the last three months.

Of those surveyed, 11 per cent said they had not recently been online, or had never used the internet – amounting to an estimated 33,000 residents.

That was ​higher than across the rest of the UK, where an average of nine per cent of adults were not online.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, warned that keeping in touch digitally is not an option for many older people, with over-75s making up more than half of the four million people in the UK last year who had never used the internet.

She said: “While some of us are thanking our lucky stars for Face Time, Zoom, Skype and the rest, millions of older people are at risk of feeling completely isolated because they are not online.

“It’s really important we factor this in and ensure different arrangements are in place for this group, so they do not miss out.

“The telephone still has a crucial role to play and we must not allow it to be entirely eclipsed as everyone searches for the best way of keeping in touch at this incredibly abnormal time.”

Kate Shurety, executive director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, added that although technology won’t replace the feeling of chatting with someone in real life, it can help.

“Staying in touch with friends, family and neighbours can ease feelings of loneliness,” she said.

“It’s not just about checking in, it’s about connecting. Call your friends and family every day. Talk about how you’re passing your time in isolation, reminisce about old memories and plan for the future.”