The use of digital technologies by the elderly is important for their consumer potential in purchasing a variety of goods and services. Fighting digital exclusion of seniors is therefore one of the factors in building in Poland so-called silver economy.
Technological acceleration
As Kamil Matuszczyk writes on this subject on the portal of the Senior Politics magazine – the time of the pandemic forced many people to acquire various skills in the field of remote contacts at an express pace. Certainly, in some cases, the broadening of these skills was necessitated by circumstances, and thus it may also have opened up seniors to new opportunities for socio-economic participation. which will remain with them even after the coronavirus is over. However, it should be remembered that there is a group of seniors who have not benefited from these changes. Some still remain outside the digital world or on its fringes, feeling even more lost and with barriers to accessing information and support. These people also need to be remembered, reached out to and offered support. Just as we rightly and anxiously talk about remote education and the risk of deepening the exclusion of the youngest, we should also carefully observe the impact of the new realities on the risk of exclusion of the oldest and counteract it accordingly.
The pandemic has also shown one more thing – that while various remote and mediated contacts through new technologies can be extremely helpful, they will not replace face-to-face relationships. However, digital technologies are certainly a very important – especially in difficult times – enhancement and sometimes the only way to enable contacts and means of support for a growing and diverse group of elderly people.
Thank you for reading this article to the end.
Source: https://www.myphone.pl/wykluczenie-cyfrowe-seniorow/
Read more: link to part 3