SINGAPORE – Even as 99 per cent of households in Singapore have Internet access, and 92 per cent have computer access, not everyone will feel digitally included, Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo said at a community event on Sunday.

Mrs Teo was at Nee Soon East Seniors’ Hub in Yishun to attend the E-Payment Learning Journey and Data for All Roadshow, organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s SG Digital Office.

She said that if an individual, particularly a senior, does not have a certain level of digital proficiency, either he will not be able to participate in Singapore’s push to be digital first, or his participation will be shallow.

“Perhaps even more importantly, we need to pay some attention to digital proficiency,” she added. 

Mrs Teo said that there are many digital services that seniors need to access, but time should also be given for them to pick up those skills. 

“So the idea of digital first but not digital-only should be a central organising principle,” she pointed out. 

While Singapore wants to be digital first because of the innovation potential and productivity angle, a digital-only mindset would exclude a lot of people, added the minister.

“I think we have to accept that the right and proper thing to do is not to be digital-only,” she said, adding that it is a kinder and more tenable position for Singapore to take.

This is why, for example, there is a non-digital option for Community Development Council vouchers, even while most of the redemption is through digital means.

Sunday’s event was part of a series of engagements conducted as part of the Forward Singapore movement, where the Government seeks to refresh the nation’s social compact by listening to and addressing the concerns of Singaporeans.

Mrs Teo described a social compact as being about what each individual needs to contribute to the broader society; and at the same time, what each one of us can expect in the form of support from society so that we can be our best selves.

On the digital front, the Ministry for Communications and Information’s (MCI) Digital Readiness Survey in 2022 showed that 84 per cent of the 2,000 Singaporean respondents said digital technologies made their lives easier, she noted.

Among seniors in their 60s, 70 per cent of them agreed that digital technologies made their lives easier, while 62 per cent of those aged 70 and above agreed with the statement. 

The numbers start to fall, however, when it comes to applying the technologies in their lives. 

Asked if they are keen to try out new digital technologies, only 49 per cent of those in their 60s were keen, while only 41 per cent among those above 70 years old would do so.

Common challenges that seniors face include using smartphones for contactless payments.

The MCI survey showed that 34 per cent of those in their 60s do not know how to pay using their smartphones. Among those aged 70 and above, the proportion rises to 60 per cent. 

Seniors also have difficulty spotting scams. 

Nearly half of those in their 60s, and about 62 per cent of those 70 and above, say they do not know how to cross-check news and information.

“So that is probably another area of intervention that we could devote some attention,” said Mrs Teo.

But seniors have shown some progress: Basic or higher digital proficiency is at 44 per cent among those in their 60s, compared with 28 per cent in 2020.

Among those aged 70 and above, proficiency is at 17 per cent today, compared with 14 per cent in 2020. 

Mrs Teo said: “They may not be as proficient as the general population, but the direction of change is very encouraging.”

Urging community support for seniors in their digital journey, Mrs Teo said: “When you meet them where they are, help them with design, help them with skills, then gradually they will get the hang of it.

“With the support of the community, I think they can become even more proficient and confident.”