Digital gap: A quarter of the seniors are fighting for survival!

Digital gap: A quarter of the seniors are fighting for survival!

In today's world, in which digital life penetrates everyday life more than ever, there is a worrying trend: a quarter of the over 65-year-olds in Austria is excluded from the digital world. This is not only a challenge, but also a serious social question. MeinDzirk.at reports that the chairman of the Styrian Senior Council, Federal Councilor Ernest Schwindsackl, urgently warns of the consequences of this digital division. The situation for over 80 year olds is particularly alarming, where the proportion of non-users is even higher.

Many older people not only feel frustration, but also disappointment with digital development. They often lack previous knowledge, they have to fight with physical restrictions or they are simply afraid of mistakes. "The digital split is a new form of social exclusion that we must not ignore," explains Schwindsackl. In order to counteract this inequality, the senior citizens' association calls for a package of measures for digital justice without coercion.

measures to overcome the digital gap

To combat this exclusion, the Styrian senior citizens' association proposes a number of initiatives. These include:

• comprehensive digital learning offers in senior centers, libraries and municipal offices.
• the preservation of analog ways, so that nobody is disadvantaged due to a lack of internet connection.
• Free, practical training for all generations on site.
• trainer from their own ranks to train senior citizens.

In addition, there should be support for buying equipment, free WLAN hotspots and simply accessible loan models for beginners. Barrier -free digital offers and safe analogous alternatives, especially for authorities, banks and healthcare, are also essential.

The digital gap not only shows itself in older people, but also runs along education, income and gender. According to bpb.de in particular benefit from the options of the internet. These inequalities are questionable because they lead to a growing social division and disadvantage those who are already in a weaker position.

social effects

The digital split has profound effects on social participation. Anyone who remains excluded from the Internet not only misses opportunities to increase knowledge, but are also suspended politically and socially. The so -called "elevator effect" describes that old inequalities are continued at a higher level. This phenomenon not only affects Austria, but is a global problem that is also visible in the digital gap between different countries and regions researched. wikipedia shows that access to the latest communication technology is severely restricted in developing countries and social and economic opportunities are reduced.

Schwindsackl's appeal to society is clear: digitization must be designed in such a way that nobody is left behind - especially the older generations must be included in this process. A fair society should ensure that digital offers are accessible to everyone and that nobody is excluded from the digital world due to age or other factors.

In these times, when the digital is becoming the foreground more than ever, it is up to all of us to take responsibility when overcoming the digital gap and to ensure an inclusive digital future.