One of the biggest barriers to solving financial exclusion—the inaccessibility of financial services—is that many financially vulnerable groups have limited access to technology and data. Many financial technologies that are designed to help the most vulnerable members of society can’t be used by those same people. To mitigate this, fintech companies must make tech solutions that use as little data as possible (so that people in rural areas can use them) and work on older hardware (as many vulnerable people can’t afford the latest phones or have access to computers). Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
