4. Demographic Differences
Proving who we are is a profoundly human activity, so it makes sense that different people want to do it in different ways.
This research shows that different demographic groups have different needs, interests, and motivations for engaging with digital identity services. As such, what looks like a fairly coherent story at a general population level — one that shows reasonably broad public approval — breaks down into a number of very different narratives.
4.1 Compulsory or voluntary? Digital or not?
57% of people think there should be a single form of ID in the UK.
Fig. 6: Q2 — There is not currently a single form of identification in the UK.
Different demographic groups want this single identity solution to take different formats and meet different needs, but overall, the identity solution with the highest level of approval across all demographics is a single, voluntary form of digital ID.
The two charts below compare people’s level of comfort and interest in:
The UK adopting a single form of ID
This form of ID being compulsory
The UK adopting a single digital form of ID
This form of digital ID being compulsory
Together, these data points offer a high-level indication of the different preferences of a number of demographic groups.
Fig. 7: Showing data compiled from Qs 2, 3, 14, and 15.
Fig. 8: Showing data compiled from Qs 2, 3, 14, and 15. White includes English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, or Other. Asian includes Asian British, or Asian Welsh. Black includes Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean, or African.
There is a consistent pattern of interest from all adults aged 35+ in some form of compulsory identification, but it is notable that compulsory digital ID is less popular across the board. Adults aged 65 and above are very keen advocates for all forms of ID and are significantly more likely than other groups to advocate for compulsory ID measures.
Across people from all ethnicities, nationalities and identities, the support for a single form of ID is consistently above 50%.
However, at a general public level, slightly more people agree than disagree with the statement “it is a good part of our culture in Britain that we do not require members of the general public to hold digital ID cards”.
Fig. 9: Q19—Many other countries have a single form of identification in the UK and the UK does not.
Across age groups these patterns play out in a similar pattern to those relating to compulsory ID, with older respondents (aged over 55) being more highly in favour. Consistently high levels of “don’t know” for these general approval questions point to the fact that many members of the public have little engagement with the topic of digital ID.
Fig. 10: Q19—Many other countries have a single form of identification in the UK and the UK does not (by age).
4.2 Low use and awareness of digital ID
Awareness of digital ID and digital ID verification is low at a general population level.
57% of people say they are “not aware” of digital ID, one-fifth of people do not have an opinion on whether the UK should have a single digital ID, and only 3% of people aged over
65 are very aware of digital verification services. Uptake is also low: 36% of those surveyed hold a digital ID and 20% of people do not know whether they hold one or not.
People over 65, who have very low use and adoption levels of digital ID, are also the most likely to be in favour of both digital ID and digital compulsory ID; this may suggest a supposition that these tools should be used by other people.
Early adopters—who are more likely to be younger people and people from Black, Asian, and mixed/multiple ethnic groups —have some quite complex and conflicting opinions about how digital ID might be useful, perhaps because each group
is balancing different trade-offs, juggling the administration of day-to-day work and life, concerns about safety, efficiency, and convenience with differing levels of awareness of their expectations of fairness, for themselves and others. These existing users also have a higher awareness of the current and potential societal ripples of identity verification.