Debated in Parliament on 7 Jan 2025.
Mr Mohd Fahmi Bin Aliman asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) what steps is the Ministry taking to improve digital literacy among elderly citizens to reduce feelings of isolation; (b) whether the Ministry has assessed the success of existing digital literacy programmes, and what metrics are used to measure their impact on elderly well-being and connectivity; and (c) what policies or programmes are in place to facilitate in-person social connections for elderly residents who may not be able to engage digitally.
The Government supports seniors to age actively, stay socially connected and be cared for within their communities through Age Well SG. For example, the Silver Generation Office conducts outreach to all seniors aged 60 and above to identify their needs and refers them to relevant support or services. This includes the Active Ageing Centres, where seniors can participate in active ageing programmes and receive buddying and befriending services.
Meaningful engagement with technology is one of the ways that can help to improve social connectivity. A study by the DUKE-NUS Centre for Ageing Research and Education found that the regular use of digital technology among local seniors is associated with a lower likelihood of being at-risk of social isolation1.
In this regard, Singapore has made good progress in helping seniors participate in an increasingly digital environment and levelling up digital literacy. This is achieved through efforts led by the Infocomm and Media Development Authority (IMDA).
The Mobile Access for Seniors scheme was launched in 2020 to support lower-income seniors with subsidised smartphone and mobile plans. More than 13,000 lower-income seniors2 have benefited from the scheme. The SG Digital Office (SDO) and the Seniors Go Digital programme were established in 2020 to accelerate efforts to equip less-digitally-savvy individuals, including seniors, with basic digital tools and skills for daily living.
Building on this, the Digital Skills for Life framework was launched in January 2024 as a nationwide effort to equip Singaporeans with essential digital competencies, including the use of smartphones to communicate, transact and find information online as well as how to stay safe while connecting with others online.
SDO also collaborates with different partners to organise learning journeys and workshops for seniors. Seniors may join digital interest groups, known as Digital for Life: Digital Clubs, to learn digital skills alongside their peers at Community Clubs and community spaces. More than 340,000 seniors3 have been trained through these initiatives.
Based on IMDA's Annual Survey on Infocomm Usage by Individuals, 96% of seniors are communicating online in 2023, up from 87% in 2017, suggesting improvements in connectivity with seniors using technology to connect with one another online since the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the IMDA, the Government will continue its efforts to strengthen digital literacy among seniors to help them age actively and remain socially connected.
PAPERCUTS