Images of older people dancing, weightlifting or modelling are frequently shared online in China and hint that not all of the nation’s “digital natives” are youngsters.
However, the vast majority of elderly people struggle because they are unfamiliar with use of smartphones that have become essential for accessing many services.
Younger family members frequently must handle banking or bookings for medical care, public transport and recreational activities. Many ageing societies, including in Hong Kong, struggle with the problem, which is a particular challenge on the mainland where advanced applications are widely used.
It is encouraging that policymakers are taking steps to understand and address the growing digital divide. Questions about digital literacy among people aged 60 and above were added to a survey on population changes and the labour force conducted at the end of 2022.
Results recently published by the National Bureau of Statistics showed researchers looked into just how difficult it was for older citizens to use smartphones to handle certain tasks, including chats, payments, shopping and reading the news.
In late December, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology rolled out a plan to promote age-friendly digital technologies, pledging a more comprehensive regulatory framework, a larger and more integrated digital technology penetration and better services by the end of 2025.
The work plan includes expanding and diversifying products, with firms set to be encouraged to develop and launch age-friendly features on more than 100 devices.
Yuan Xin, vice-president of the China Population Association, said accurate understanding of the reality was essential for decision-making and “a prerequisite for businesses to design intelligent products”.
He also said intelligent devices would continue to evolve, posing new challenges. As of last year, China was home to an estimated 209.78 million people aged over 65, accounting for 14.9 per cent of the total population.
Digital apps will only expand in use given the convenience and efficiency they offer. Respect and care for the elderly means society must ensure they are not denied the advantages of a digital future.
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