Youth-Elder Tech Chasm in Kazakhstan: Closing the Digital Disparity Among Generations
Article Rewrite:
A Digitally Divided Nation: Bridging the E-Gov Generation Gap
Hey there, folks! Fair warning, this piece is gonna be all about Kazakhstan's digital divide, particularly in e-government services. Buckle up!
Kazakhstan continues to climb ranks, snagging the 24th spot in the global e-government development index - a four-spot jump from the previous report. But peek into a tiny Baikonur district apartment, home to a retired couple, and a different story unfolds. They struggle with applying for certificates online via the Egov platform, despite my best efforts to guide them through the process. Frustration rings loud as my grandmother lamented, "We won't learn anyways, it's too hard."
Confusing, isn't it? I mean, I'm just a kid born in the early 2000s who picked up the internet in my tweens. Shouldn't these platforms be straightforward? And yet, glancing at the long queues at Public Service Centers makes it abundantly clear—we're dealing with a massive generational digital gap.
Younger folks are irrefutably thrilled by the government's modernization efforts and digital reforms. But older folks are lagging behind.
Reports and studies corroborate this disparity, with the rise of online scams and fraud preying on the uneducated (read: older) populace. And if there's one thing that pandemic-era taught us, it's that essential services were moved online, leaving many seniors unfamiliar with the new system or unable to navigate it.
Time for some good news, though! Closing the digital divide requires intentional steps. Let's talk about government-funded programs for older adults to boost their digital literacy. These could be collaborative endeavors with the private sector, with a focus on engaging younger people to share their skills. And where do older adults typically gather? Libraries, sports centers, theaters—these centers should be our starting point for such courses.
What's more, telecommunication companies, like Kazakhtelecom, should offer on-demand tutorials for new digital users. Simple as that!
Another strategy is to modify national digitalization service indicators to capture the digital divide between generations. Sure, this might negatively impact the overall global ranking, but it would encourage increased learning opportunities and more adaptable digital platforms for seniors.
Equitable access to the internet is crucial, regardless of whether you're in a bustling city or rural area. Fortunately, private companies and regional partnerships are working diligently to close this gap, particularly in education and rural empowerment. But let's not forget about our seniors—it's high time for tailored, targeted approaches to upgrade their digital world.
So, let's strive for a country where e-government advancements benefit everyone, regardless of age. And as for me, I'll be here, advocating for an inclusive tech future for Kazakhstan. Peace!
By the way, the author of this piece is Dinara Shokayeva, a Ph.D. candidate at the Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University. Keep in mind, views expressed here don't reflect The Astana Times' official stance.
Disclaimer: The occurrence and specifics of online scams are an estimate, as no direct data was provided in the original article.
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Enrichment Data:
- Specific Solutions for a Digitally Inclusive Kazakhstan:
- Age-specific digital literacy programs: Expand existing free digital skills training (reach 2,729 institutions) to cater to e-government services tailored for older users, such as understanding the national e-government portal and digital IDs.
- Collaboration with the private sector: Telecom providers like Kazakhtelecom could offer on-demand tutorials for older adults, including in-person support in local languages.
- Design Considerations for Older Users:
- Simplified interfaces: Adapt e-government platforms with larger fonts, logical navigation, and voice-assisted features to accommodate older users.
- AI customization: Utilize AI technology to personalize service delivery, providing reminders via preferred channels (SMS, email, or app notifications) for older users.
- Policy and Infrastructure Adjustments:
- Revised digitalization metrics: Introduce generational-specific indicators in national assessments to track and address disparities between generations.
- Rural-urban digital divide parity: Strengthen internet access in rural areas, ensuring equal digital access for older citizens in both urban and rural areas.
- International Collaboration:
- South Korea knowledge exchange: Collaborate with South Korea to discuss ethical AI frameworks and accessible tech solutions designed for elderly users.
- UNDP alignment: Adopt recommendations like prioritizing "last-mile digitalization" at local levels and South-South cooperation to share best practices in inclusive design.
By combining these strategies, Kazakhstan can ensure its e-government advancements, including AI-driven services and the national data lake, benefit all age groups equally.
- Policymakers in Kazakhstan should consider age-specific digital literacy programs to improve the digital skills of older adults, such as understanding the national e-government portal and digital IDs.
- Collaboration with the private sector, like telecom providers such as Kazakhtelecom, could offer on-demand tutorials for older adults, including in-person support in local languages.
- Simplified interfaces for e-government platforms could be developed, featuring larger fonts, logical navigation, and voice-assisted features to accommodate older users.
- Utilizing AI technology to personalize service delivery could help provide reminders via preferred channels (SMS, email, or app notifications) for older users.
- Revised digitalization metrics should be introduced in national assessments to track and address disparities between generations.
- Kazakhstan should aim for rural-urban digital divide parity by strengthening internet access in rural areas, ensuring equal digital access for older citizens in both urban and rural areas.
- Collaboration with South Korea could be sought to discuss ethical AI frameworks and accessible tech solutions designed for elderly users.
- Adopting recommendations like prioritizing "last-mile digitalization" at local levels and South-South cooperation to share best practices in inclusive design could help Kazakhstan improve its e-government services for older users.
- The implementation of these solutions and adjustments could help Kazakhstan ensure its e-government advancements, including AI-driven services and the national data lake, benefit all age groups equally.
- As Kazakhstan moves towards digitalization, it's essential to consider intergenerational aspects, ensuring that the digital divide does not perpetuate inequality in industries such as finance, business, careers, education-and-self-development, lifestyle, family-dynamics, home-and-garden, diversity-and-inclusion, technology, relationships, policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, and more.
