9 in 10 seniors continue to benefit from digital skills

The respondents took part in training sessions held by the SG Digital Office. 

Nine out of 10 seniors continue to apply the digital skills taught to them, Infocomm Media Development Authority said in a report released 3 September.

The skills that covered daily tasks such as video calls, making e-payments, and accessing government digital services, were taught by  the SG Digital Office (SDO)

SDO has held more than 250,000 training sessions and partnered with 18,000 stallholders to push towards digital tools. An estimated 60% have adopted the solution, with the number of transactions from July 2020 to July 2021 reaching 1.8m, compared to 270,000 from the same period. Transaction value jumped to $17.3m from $2.9m from the same period. 

According to Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, the results are an effect of both the SDO sessions and the launching of the Digital for Live movement this year. 

“With the experience gained, we will broaden and deepen the work of SDO. Through the Mobile Access for Seniors scheme, lower-income seniors will enjoy two, instead of one-year of subsidised mobile plan. From seniors in the community, we will expand outreach to seniors at workplaces and other vulnerable groups, such as the hearing impaired. From digital literacy, we are striving for digital competency. We are roping in more corporate and community partners, so that Singapore’s digital future can be truly inclusive.”

SDO’s efforts are currently focused on enhanced mobile access for seniors, the expansion of efforts to reach out to seniors and other vulnerable groups and going beyond basic digital literacy.