By Ella-Betty Chapoto
Digital Literacy is a term often used to describe the ability to navigate the digital space using a wide array of technological tools. It encompasses basic skills set and the ability to access, understand, evaluate, interpret and communicate information meaningfully for decision making and problem solving. These skills are beneficial for use in our personal, academic and professional lives.
Although digital space and technology provides numerous opportunities and benefits such as employment; career advancement; independence from dependency; business; networking and partnerships; accessibility to health records and reports; the ease of conducting financial transactions; online study programmes; communication with family and friends regardless of their location; a sense of belonging to a digital community and cost savings of traveling to perform various tasks, it poses serious risks to the adult population.
Recent local media reports have indicated a surge in the number of heavy financial losses suffered by the adult population, often falling victim to online fraudsters and telephone scams. Thus, hesitance if not resistance by the adult population to utilise and explore the digital space. This reluctance can also be attributed to barriers such as fear or lack of trust; health related issues; visual limitations or hearing impairments; financial barriers and a lack of digital proficiency. This population’s vulnerability to attacks is further compounded by the difficulty in assessing the credibility of online information and the legitimacy of the caller at the end of the telephone line or cellular phone.
The Namibia Population and Housing Census 2023, designates the group 35-59 years as 22.0% and the elderly 60 years and above as making up 6.8% of the population, totaling 28.8% of the population. However, significant efforts have been directed towards digital literacy for the youth, with very little focus towards senior citizens.
This calls for safeguards and protocols to be put in place to increase confidence, trust and eliminate barriers that often impede the adult population from confidently utilising and enjoying the full benefits of the digital space in a safe and secure manner.
Approaches that might empower and increase digital proficiency in adults are community-based literacy programmes in rural and urban areas; enabling peer-to-peer education; providing access to affordable technological devices and awareness campaigns that may dispel misconceptions regarding online safety.
The digital space offers various platforms for information sharing and dissemination, nevertheless these are only effective communication vehicles when the target audience have access to such platforms.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is dedicated to consumer advocacy and empowering Namibian citizens through education, awareness efforts and collaboration with stakeholders. Thus, the barriers to digital literacy should not deter adult populations from participating in digital activities.
The Authority believes that a digitally proficient population gives rise to a knowledge-based society that will derive the full socio-economic benefits of ICTs, which is core to CRAN’s vision.
Ella-Betty Chapoto is a Practitioner: Consumer Relations and Advocacy at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN)