Across China: China endeavors to build elderly-inclusive digital society

HANGZHOU -- Thanks to the assistance of community volunteers, Zhou Caiyun, a 94-year-old Hangzhou resident, has finally been able to experience the joy of using a smartphone, which included having a video chat with her grandchildren.

"Despite several attempts, we were unsuccessful in teaching my mother how to use a smartphone, leaving it to simply serve as a decoration. Now she finally learned to use it, making it much more convenient for us to reach her," said Jin Qiaolian, Zhou's daughter, in East China's Zhejiang province.

The digital sector is reshuffling almost every aspect of society, as more services are moving online and technologies are becoming smarter. This shift is being driven by a desire for greater efficiency, reduced labor requirements and lower operating costs.

While most people have benefitted from the transformation, the elderly may find themselves struggle with the rapid change brought about by smartphones, as few cell phone features are specifically designed for seniors.

Yet, mastering the operation of basic functions on smartphones is also salutary for seniors, helping them stay connected, sharpen their minds and relieve boredom.

China has 264 million people aged 60 and above, accounting for 18.7 percent of its 1.4 billion population, according to the seventh population census conducted in 2020.

In response, since 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has been working hard to build an elderly-friendly digital society, with a slew of measures introduced to help senior citizens cross the digital divide.

In order to improve the digital literacy of seniors, authorities and relevant departments have also encouraged tech companies to launch easy-to-use interfaces and recruited volunteers to provide training on the use of intelligent equipment.

In Hangzhou, staff from China Mobile provide door-to-door service and on-site demonstrations to teach elderly people how to navigate the wired world, such as making online reservations, checking bus routes, and using ride-hailing services, enabling the elderly to better access digital technology.

In Lishui city, a list of difficulties encountered by the elderly while using smart technology has been drafted, with targeted measures rolled out to lower tech barriers for seniors.

Now, a growing number of the seniors have become tech-savvy. Mr Chen, 73, has garnered nearly 100,000 followers on his short-video account. His favorite pastime is filming his daily life, from shopping, ride-hailing, to appreciating different landscapes. He is also adept at editing videos.

"I can't live without the smartphone," he grinned.