Many young people have embraced digital technologies such as online shopping, vehicle hailing, digital payments, and telemedicine because they are convenient. However, many elderly people who do not keep up with current events are at risk of being left behind.
How digital unawareness hampers modern life
Several news reports in China during the COVID-19 epidemic brought this issue to light: an elderly woman who wanted to pay for her medical insurance with cash was turned down owing to fears that her cash could be infected. The woman was left alone in the service centre since she had not set up mobile payment.
Around 2022, China is expected to become a “aged society,” with 14 percent of the population – or 200 million individuals – over 65 years old. Many countries would need nearly a century to reach this point, but China will have only taken 21 years.
What’s more astonishing is that by 2050, China’s old population is expected to exceed 380 million, accounting for about 30% of the country’s total population.
Dangers of issues caused due to a lack of digital awareness
The dangers of social isolation, especially for older persons, are significant. Loneliness has been linked to depression, cardiovascular illness, functional decline, and death in older persons. Technology may be a valuable aid in reducing these hazards, but only if we give older people the skills they need to navigate our digital environment.
However, this chasm can be bridged. Tech Allies enhances older persons’ use of technology and confidence in critical digital abilities, according to our research. Programs like these, which integrate technology training into existing community-based groups, should be extended, with more financing prioritized at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as greater participation from technology businesses and investors.
