census response rate under 75%

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Lots of comment on Twitter about why the response rate in Scotland is lower than it was in England/Wales/N Ireland last year. As someone who looks at old census returns every day of the week, this is very bad news for people 100 years in the future who want to investigate their family history.

Reluctance to complete census is not new, every census there are people who avoid being recorded for whatever reason. But not 25% of the population! 35% in Glasgow city haven't filled it in.

My take on what has gone wrong:

1. 10 years ago we were all watching terrestrial TV more, seeing the adverts. Now we're all streaming on netflix and not seeing the reminders.


2. Politicisation - older censuses asked things like "where were you born" which most of us can answer. Now it's all about how you define your national identity which is a woolly concept and linked to your politics.


3. Intrusive questions about sexual orientation and trans history.


4. General lack of trust in the government and doubts over what they are going to do with the information.


5. Difficulties getting hold of hard copies for people who don't do the census online.

I remember I got sent a physical form in the post (England) and a link to do it online if I preferred. Why didn't Scotland do that?

Ah that may explain the difference.
Scotland's was online as default position.

Intrusive data gathering was my issue with it and that of all my autistic friends and family as well. We are all perhaps a bit hyper 'aware' and also paranoid about data harvesting and where said data goes.
I think that might not just be the hyper aware autist take either. Data gathering and how it less than optimally might be used to affect us personally is an issue a lot of regular people are starting to feel concerned about.
I think via media pieces on nefarious use of data, it is easier to assume data gathering is being used for bad reasons more than good currently.
Obviously this does not mean it is true of the census, but negative shit tends to stick in people's minds more than positive shit regarding data and intrusive and very personal questions.
The Paterfamilias of Governmental data collection, is being seen as less good guy and more Norman Domesday currently I think.

totally agree with the data security points…I don’t trust the Scottish government not to leak it accidentally or find a way to monetise that all that lovely personal data.

If you own a smartphone and use social media, then it's a bit odd to be worrying about what might happen to the rather generalised data you submit on a national census form.

My social media doesn't contain my employers details, work address or what I consider myself to be though!

Depends what you use your phone for precisely, and the companies tracking your data are perfectly capable of determining far more specific things about you about you than those.

I think England’s rate may be higher than it would have been because of lockdowns.

People watched more tv and listened to more radio as they were home more so more aware of it.

even though things were opening by then there was still less going on so more time at home and more chance of remembering

But it’s not “generalised data” though is it? It’s very specific identifiable personal data. And what I use my smartphone and social media for is entirely optional and I take responsibility for what I access….Census is not optional and I have little faith in the governments ability to keep it secure. So no, I don’t think it is “odd to be worrying about it” but thanks for your minimisation of my concern.

Completed online but was pondering my answers to couple of questions, so didn't submit at the time. Now can't access what I've already done as the format of my internet access isn't correct - despite being exactly as it should be. Anyone else had problems with this?

my neighbours had someone at their door yesterday chasing them up because it hadn't been submitted!!