digital divide in singapore
Digital divide is the gap that exists between those who can effectively use new information and communication tools (ICT), such as the Internet, and those who cannot. Elderly and low-income people have been identified as two major digitally disconnected groups (Rowena Cullen 2002). Traditional family relations may be strained as Inter-generational communication is hampered and older members of the household find themselves increasingly alienated. The divide may also limit the low income group’s choices of career and ability to learn new skills. In this way, much human and hence economic potential is undermined (Asian development Bank, 2002).
However, generic labels like “elderly” and “low-income group” fail to capture much of the distinctiveness of these two groups in Singapore resulting from wide income gap, highly proliferated job sectors and distinctive educational and cultural background between older and younger generations. Singapore economy boomed with an average annual growth rate of 6.1% (the world bank 2012) over the past 20 years. The older generation once lived in a Singapore where literacy rate was only 60% in 1960 as opposed to 96% today (Statistics Singapore 2013). Many worked as laborers in the shipping, food and low-end commodity retail industry for their entire life. Without even the most basic skills like reading and writing, much stood between them and the digital world. Their early lifestyles which are simpler and more personal also reduce the need for digital connectedness.
For younger generations, the wide income gap indicated by the Gini-Coefficient of 4.2 and the highly specialised and segmented jobs deprive the lower-income group of both the capability and the need to be digitally connected. For the 236,300 people in Singapore earning less than S$ 1000/month in 2012 (MOM, 2012), staying digitally connected meant spending at least 10% of their monthly income on top of housing and food. In the work place, unlike white-collar workers
However, generic labels like “elderly” and “low-income group” fail to capture much of the distinctiveness of these two groups in Singapore resulting from wide income gap, highly proliferated job sectors and distinctive educational and cultural background between older and younger generations. Singapore economy boomed with an average annual growth rate of 6.1% (the world bank 2012) over the past 20 years. The older generation once lived in a Singapore where literacy rate was only 60% in 1960 as opposed to 96% today (Statistics Singapore 2013). Many worked as laborers in the shipping, food and low-end commodity retail industry for their entire life. Without even the most basic skills like reading and writing, much stood between them and the digital world. Their early lifestyles which are simpler and more personal also reduce the need for digital connectedness.
For younger generations, the wide income gap indicated by the Gini-Coefficient of 4.2 and the highly specialised and segmented jobs deprive the lower-income group of both the capability and the need to be digitally connected. For the 236,300 people in Singapore earning less than S$ 1000/month in 2012 (MOM, 2012), staying digitally connected meant spending at least 10% of their monthly income on top of housing and food. In the work place, unlike white-collar workers