Letters to the Editor: Young people must reap benefits of digital age

While it feels like second nature for the majority of people to trawl through the web for that next career move, lots of young people across the UK simply do not have the digital skills that so many of us take for granted. Without our support, they risk being left behind.

These are the same young people who grow up in poverty, rely on free school meals, fall short academically and struggle to find work. A new report, Slipping through the Net by The Prince's Trust, the London School of Economics and Samsung, has exposed clear links between socio-economic issues and digital disadvantage.

Underprivileged young people who lack traditional literacy skills often experience difficulties navigating the web, leaving them frustrated and leading to them seeking offline solutions, further narrowing their access to the jobs market.

According to the study, 40 per cent of these young people also struggled with "netiquette", which is decisions about their own behaviours and dealing with the negative behaviour of others online.

As well as helping young people advance their technical abilities, we need to increase training around softer skills to enable the next generation to use the internet effectively and ensure their wellbeing online.

Without putting these measures in place, we risk young people from disadvantaged backgrounds refusing to see the digital world as a source for educational and career development.

There needs to be a collaborative approach between government, businesses and organisations to train young people and provide them with an environment where they feel comfortable and confident online. We must work together to ensure every young person reaps the benefits of the digital age.

Martina Milburn, chief executive, The Prince's Trust