The increasing dependence on digital technology has left many people feeling left out and vulnerable. While some see it as a convenience, others struggle with having to master computer tools in their daily lives. According to a King Baudouin Foundation survey, almost half of Belgians (aged 16-74) feel vulnerable to digital technology.
Digital vulnerability is a state where people have difficulty accessing a range of services due to society’s rapid shift towards being digital. The consequences of this vulnerability include difficulty accessing certain rights, which can have a severe impact on people’s daily lives.
Vincent, a public computer scientist, highlighted the consequences of digitization by stating that citizens are now expected to become their own administrative managers and bankers. This trend eliminates the human element from services. Vincent volunteers at neighborhood associations several times a week to help people with online payments, administrative document downloads, e-mailing, and research – all of which require digital skills that many people struggle with.
People excluded from digital technology see counters close one after the other and having to master computer tools has become an obligation in their daily lives. What simplifies the life of some, becomes an ordeal for others. In a survey conducted by the King Baudouin Foundation, 46% of Belgians respondents (aged 16 to 74) admitted to feeling vulnerable to digital !
To define it, digital vulnerability is a state/situation which, in a society which has rapidly become digital, means that one can quickly find oneself in difficulty in accessing a whole series of services. And this vulnerability can have direct consequences, such as the difficulty in accessing certain rights.
“We ask the citizen to become his own administrative manager, his own banker. We are in the process of removing the human in all that. This is the conclusion drawn Vincentpublic computer scientist, at the microphone of Vews in 2022.
Several times a week, this volunteer goes to neighborhood associations to help make an online payment, download an administrative document, send an e-mail, do research. Services that no one can do without but that increasingly require digital skills.
As digital technology continues to dominate our daily lives, it is important to acknowledge the growing number of individuals who feel excluded and vulnerable. The King Baudouin Foundation’s survey revealed that almost half of Belgians feel this way. Digital vulnerability is a serious issue, one that can directly affect access to certain rights and services. Vincent, a public computer scientist, highlights the concerning trend of removing the human element in administrative and banking functions, leaving many individuals struggling to navigate these systems. It is crucial to recognize the importance of digital literacy and offer support and resources to those who need it. As Vincent does in his community, let us all work towards closing the digital divide and ensuring that everyone has access to the tools and services they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.