STEPHAN GEYER | Helping oldies bridge the digital divide is something we can all do

The Covid-19-induced state of emergency, and the resultant precautionary measures, have put the social wellbeing and mental health of many older people (60 years and older) at risk. Social isolation, emotional loneliness, lack of social support and the avoidance of routine daily activities, such as going out to buy groceries, are the reality for many older pe ople. Access to digital devices could address many of these challenges. Unfortunately, digital inequality impedes many of the 727-million older people across the world from maintaining both close and peripheral social contacts, obtaining social support and attending to routine activities.

Since 1991, the International Day of Older Persons has been celebrated on October 1. The theme of the 2021 commemoration is “Digital Equity for All Ages”. In a recent report, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) indicated that access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) plays “a fundamental role in creating environments that are suitable to promote healthy conditions and tackle the challenges that come with ageing by empowering older generations”.

SA has about 6-million older people, of whom an estimated 3,1-million live in poverty and rely on a grant (R1,890-R1,910 per month) to make ends meet. The most basic of digital devices — a smartphone — is unaffordable for most grant holders. Data costs in SA are exorbitant in comparison to many other developing countries. One gigabyte of data costs between R80 and R99 per month. Without data, numerous smartphone functionalities are inaccessible.

Smartphones enable older persons to counteract loneliness, keep in contact with family and friends, request and obtain social support, build social networks, have a sense of connectedness, and reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.

In 2021, one of the objectives of the UN is that older people should have access to digital devices and be capacitated with technological literacy. It is within SA’s reach to achieve this objective with three initiatives targeted at the poor older citizens who are beneficiaries of the older person’s grant. First, citizens could donate unused smartphones to major cellphone companies who can redistribute devices, with a SIM card, to older people. Second, cellphone network operators could donate a free 1 GB data bundle to each older person per month, as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes. Alternatively, they could launch innovative campaigns, like “adopt an older person”, through which each month 1 GB of data could be sponsored by benevolent subscribers and then administered by the provider networks. Finally, intergenerational community networks could be established in which the younger generation equips older people with technological skills.

Research has shown that the major barriers to using ICTs among older people include the cost of cellphones, computers and tablets, high data costs, low technological skills, and perceived worthlessness thereof. During Covid-19, the use of ICTs became essential for older people to maintain their wellbeing. The three initiatives proposed have the potential to overcome these challenges and enable older people to bridge the digital divide.

The South African population is about 60-million, yet cellphone penetration exceeds 90-million. There are, therefore, millions of unused cellphones that could be donated to older people. Despite economic vulnerability, the government affords to pay out Social Relief of Distress grants to the amount of R350 per month. Surely, cellphone companies with huge profits can support 3,1-million older people with 1 GB of data per month? Intergenerational connections have a reciprocal benefit for both younger and older generations. Therefore, training in the use of technology is not the only benefit of intergenerational outreach. Added benefits include the exchange of cultural goods and the transfer of indigenous knowledge.

Community-dwelling older people often reside alone in rural areas, while their families live in the cities or have emigrated to greener pastures. At present, residential settings prohibit older people from leaving the premises or receiving guests in an effort to prevent Covid-19 infection. Smartphones enable older people to counteract loneliness, keep in contact with family and friends, request and obtain social support, build social networks, have a sense of connectedness and reduce anxiety and depression symptoms. Overall, the potential of ICTs to improve the social wellbeing and mental health of older people is apparent.

Local research by Prof Vera Roos (North West University), Prof Jennifer Chipps (University of the Western Cape) and Dr Mary-Anne Jarvis (University of KwaZulu-Natal) has shown that older people prefer to use cellphones for calls, to send and receive instant messages, to obtain information, to use social media in addressing their social and psychological needs, and to promote healthy interpersonal relationships. During lockdown and in the changing world of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, older people could benefit from a plethora of other smartphone functions, such as video chats with significant others, emails, playing games, staying abreast of the latest news, online shopping, tele-health via online consultations with healthcare and social-service professionals, maintaining spiritual and religious practices, tracking wellness and motivating activity, age-appropriate online workout sessions, watching television series and movies, and improving their knowledge and skills through massive open online courses (MOOCs).

Sadly, these benefits are beyond the reach of too many poor older South Africans. In the spirit of ubuntu, let us make Digital Equity for All Ages a reality for all the older people of our Rainbow Nation. Donate your unused smartphone collecting dust in a cupboard. Sponsor someone by donating data. Put on your mask, sanitise your hands and teach an older person to use a smartphone proficiently. Together, we can bridge the digital divide for all older people.

Prof Stephan Geyer is associate professor in social work, department of social work and criminology, University of Pretoria.