Résumé
De plus en plus d’activités financières se font par le biais d’Internet. Selon nombre d’études, les jeunes, les femmes et les plus précaires y recourent moins, ce qui peut conduire à de nouvelles formes d’inégalité. Ces études ne permettent toutefois pas de vérifier si les jeunes qui réunissent plusieurs facteurs de risque sont, comparativement aux autres, plus concernés par ces inégalités, car elles examinent les caractéristiques sociodémographiques de manière indépendante. L’approche du risque cumulé que nous mobilisons pour analyser les données 2019 de l’enquête Omnibus de l’Office fédéral de la statistique suisse remédie à cette lacune. Elle nuance le constat d’une fracture numérique. Certes, il existe des inégalités en matière d’inclusion financière numérique et de pratiques économiques numériques effectuées, les 18-29 ans les plus vulnérables étant moins susceptibles de mobiliser Internet pour gérer et dépenser leur argent. Cependant, il n’y a pas de liens statistiquement significatifs entre le fait de cumuler les risques et les activités de recherche de gains en ligne, ce qui laisse supposer que le numérique est aussi une ressource pour les plus vulnérables. On n’observe également pas de différence dans les problèmes rencontrés sur Internet et, le cas échéant, les pertes financières en découlant, ce qui semble indiquer des stratégies d’autocontrôle et des compétences dans l’évaluation des risques chez les plus vulnérables qu’il reste à explorer.
At a time when people increasingly conduct financial transactions online, several studies have shown that youth, women, and individuals in precarious situations are less likely to do so. This has the potential to produce new forms of inequality. However, the studies in question analyzed socio-demographic characteristics independently, making it impossible to determine whether young people with multiple risk factors are more vulnerable than their peers. We sought to address this gap in the literature by undertaking a cumulative risk analysis of data from the 2019 Omnibus Survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Our approach provided a nuanced perspective on the digital divide. On the one hand, we found disparities in terms of digital financial inclusion and digital economic practices, with highly vulnerable individuals aged 18 to 29 being less likely to manage and spend their money online. On the other hand, we observed no statistically significant connection between accumulated risk and online profit-seeking activities, suggesting that even the most vulnerable young people benefit from digital technology. Furthermore, we saw no differences in terms of issues encountered online and, where relevant, resulting financial losses. This suggests that highly vulnerable youth draw on self-control strategies and risk assessment skills that have yet to be explored.
At a time when people increasingly conduct financial transactions online, several studies have shown that youth, women, and individuals in precarious situations are less likely to do so. This has the potential to produce new forms of inequality. However, the studies in question analyzed socio-demographic characteristics independently, making it impossible to determine whether young people with multiple risk factors are more vulnerable than their peers. We sought to address this gap in the literature by undertaking a cumulative risk analysis of data from the 2019 Omnibus Survey conducted by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office. Our approach provided a nuanced perspective on the digital divide. On the one hand, we found disparities in terms of digital financial inclusion and digital economic practices, with highly vulnerable individuals aged 18 to 29 being less likely to manage and spend their money online. On the other hand, we observed no statistically significant connection between accumulated risk and online profit-seeking activities, suggesting that even the most vulnerable young people benefit from digital technology. Furthermore, we saw no differences in terms of issues encountered online and, where relevant, resulting financial losses. This suggests that highly vulnerable youth draw on self-control strategies and risk assessment skills that have yet to be explored.