The ageing of society and digital progress are two phenomena that will only increase in the future. Unfortunately, the strengthening of both also opens up stark differences between different groups in society. Today, more than 700 million people over the age of sixty around the world are struggling as a result of rapid digitisation. By mid-century, it is estimated that this number will double to 1.5 billion people.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Head of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), who was in Vilnius, outlined three lines of action that countries should take in order to involve the older population in digitisation processes.
Bogdan-Martin believes that age is not a barrier to developing new skills and that healthy ageing is an issue that will affect everyone in the digital age.
“We need to take care of a sustainable digital transformation. This means that in digitising society, we must not only conserve natural resources, but also take care of the environment and people,” said D. Bogdan-Martin, who took part in the presentation of a project by the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) on digital skills development for seniors at the Presidential Palace of Lithuania.
According to the Head of the International Telecommunication Union, it is very important to realise that the digital divide is not only a problem of underdeveloped countries, but it also exists in European countries, including in Lithuania. “According to “Eurostat” data, more than 60% of Lithuanians aged 65-74 have never used a computer and only 35% of this age group use a smartphone.
Thus, according to D. Bogdan-Martin, there are a number of key elements that are important in creating a digitally inclusive society, where people from different backgrounds and groups have equal opportunities.
Reducing the digital divide
First and foremost, she believes that meaningful connectivity is essential, defined by the accessibility of services, the affordability of equipment and services, and the security of users.
“Lithuania is very advanced and has a well-developed digital infrastructure – for example, almost the entire territory of your country is covered by at least a 4G network and 88% of households have access to the internet. Unfortunately, there is still a divide between the infrastructure and its users, as a part of society does not have access to this infrastructure,” said D. Bogdan-Martin, who called on the players in the electronic communications market to ensure accessible and reliable services to the widest possible range of society.
The second important aspect is the skills and knowledge that users need to feel confident in the digital society. In other words, it is equally important that people who are able to afford devices and use new technologies do not suffer from the dark side of digitalisation, where they may face loss of personal data, bullying or financial losses.
“You should start with basic skills, but as technology evolves, skills need to be continuously developed. They must move with the times. This can change the quality of life in ageing societies. Of course, you have to take into account that older people, for example, have unique needs – not only do they need to learn how to use technology, but they also need to be able to protect themselves from cyber-attacks and create secure passwords. It is important to give older people the confidence and skills they need to adapt in a world where everyone is connected by technology,” says the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union.
Finally, she identifies cooperation between civil society, academics, policy makers and business as a third focus. When we innovate, we need to ensure that it does not discriminate against people on the basis of their age.
Jūratė Šovienė, Chair of the CRA Council.
“We all need to work together to find solutions on how to use technology to improve the quality of life of older people,” stresses D. Bogdan-Martin, recalling that back in 2003, the words the Internet and digitalisation were not common words in our vocabulary, but things have changed dramatically in just 20 years, which is why we need to work together as one and that the project initiated by the CRA in Lithuania is extremely timely.
Jūratė Šovienė, Chair of the CRA Council, who presented the project “Digital Decade: No One is Forgotten” at the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Lithuania, also stressed that this project should become a nationwide project: “But we won’t be able to do it without the involvement of other public institutions, businesses and communities. We therefore invite all those who feel an obligation to tackle the digital divide to join us.”
Caring about digital health
The International Telecommunication Union identifies digital health as a key aspect of a sustainable digital transformation worldwide – internet access for everyone, especially where there is no wired or fibre connection.
During the event in Vilnius, D. Bogdan-Martin reminded the audience that digital technologies contribute to healthy ageing in many ways.
“One of them is daily disease prevention and health monitoring through a range of devices and mobile apps that anyone can use, even when they are not in a health care facility. In addition, technology empowers patients with reliable information about their health, and gives healthcare workers and policy makers the tools to design and manage more resilient health systems, deliver better care, and improve the quality of treatments and survival rates,” explained the Head of the International Telecommunications Union.
Updated on 2024-03-15