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The inspiration for this digital distress metric came from well-known economic distress metrics that typically look at unemployment and income levels. However, a similar metric for digital distress was not available. Existing variables look primarily at broadband access and speed tests. While these have advantages and disadvantages, digital distress paints a different picture of the digital inclusion landscape.

Four variables from the U.S. Census American Community Survey were used: 1) the percent of homes with no internet access, 2) using only cellular data, as well as 3) the percent of homes relying on mobile devices only, or 4) having no computing devices. Data was obtained for all U.S. census tracts and categorized into low, moderate, and high digital distress.

We know that homes relying solely on cellular data or not subscribing to the internet are not benefiting from digital applications due to limited data plans and restricting internet access to mostly outside the home. In addition, homes relying on mobile devices only or not owning computing devices make it harder to leverage digital applications due to smaller screens or no screens at all placing the home in digital distress.

For more information on digital distress, please read the introductory news article.