Digital users in Singapore have been estimated to increase by roughly 11 per cent in the next three years, from 5.18 million to 5.74 million users.

With many Singaporeans going digital, the older generation faces challenges bridging the communication gaps with the younger generation.

Roughly 45 per cent of older people mentioned having no confidence in learning a new digital application independently, with numbers dropping by almost 24 per cent when being helped by a trusted individual.

Senior citizens who lack a mentor to teach them about technology can opt for other means of learning.

Many digital workshops and events have been made available for them to pick up digital skills.

Figure 1: The Digital for Life 2023 event held last weekend used innovative methods to attract the older generation and gave out incentives to encourage crowd participation. (Photo by: Carin Chua)

The Digital for Life 2023 event, held last weekend, exposes senior citizens to being tech-savvy.

Schools, transportation companies, and local supermarkets set up booths at the event to create awareness of how technology can be integrated into different aspects of life.

Loo Hock Choon, 62, a sales manager who participated in the event, said, “In my job, it is important for me to be relatively good with using technology, so I would go for all these workshops that teach me that.”

He added that it is essential for companies to provide older workers with digital training, as they need more patience and guidance when learning digital skills.

Figure 2: The Housing Development Board (HDB) has been rolling out the Parking@HDB App, reducing the need for barriers at parking gantries and making parking digital. (Photo by: Carin Chua)

In 2024, Singapore’s most highly-anticipated innovative district will open in Punggol.

Technology will open more doors for communication between people of all ages and backgrounds.

Vishnupriya Nadarajan, 23, a teacher at a local Primary school, said, “Extending digital education to the older generation will allow them to build digital literacy skills and stay connected with the younger generation through their fingertips.”

View the slideshow below:

View the PDF version of the news article below: