LANCASTER, Pa. Do you feel that technology is pushing into your daily life, and you resent some of it, or feel that society has thrown you into the deep without a life jacket? Well, many people, especially older citizens, and those whose careers didn’t require them to keep up with changing technology, definitely feel this way.
As society accelerates into an era dominated by technology, there is growing concern about whether this rapid progression is leaving behind segments of the population. Older adults, computer illiterates, and individuals with only basic technological skills are particularly vulnerable to being marginalized in this technologized society.
Technological abilities are divided by factors such as age, income, and education. New day-to-day use of technology has created a dichotomy between those who seamlessly navigate the digital landscape and those who struggle to keep up. Older people, often less exposed to technology during their formative years, face a significant learning curve. Computer illiterates and low-level tech-literate individuals also need help accessing essential services, information, and communication channels that are increasingly digitized and the functions they must perform daily.
This exclusion can lead to isolation and reduced access to typical social needs. Needs that were taken care of before by different methods are now done online. Governments, businesses, and service providers are transitioning to online platforms, Apps, and self-service. So now customers are scanning and bagging their groceries, and banking takes place from your phone.
Do we even trust these online systems? After so many issues with phishing, Identity theft, and scams aimed explicitly at seniors, do we feel comfortable using our credit cards online? Yet we, the unknowing, untrusting segment of the population, are expected to keep up because those left on the wrong side of the digital divide risk being sidelined in essential aspects of life.
The forward marching movement of technology will not stop. Therefore, it is up to us to find solutions, such as bridging this with digital literacy programs, simplified user interfaces, and accessible technology options. Generations within the family can take time to help each other learn about smartphones and computers.
In conclusion, the technologized society does present challenges in leaving behind certain groups as it hurtles forward. We can all learn about technology, regardless of how scary it seems. We can all remain connected to the solutions to our social needs. It will take all of us to find ways to diminish disparities with a multi-faceted approach that balances technological innovation with inclusivity, ensuring that the benefits of progress are accessible to all members of society.
