4-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) Singapore has achieved a remarkable level of digital connectivity, with 99 percent of resident households having access to the internet and local smartphone ownership reaching a record high of 97 percent. These figures were unveiled by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in its inaugural Singapore Digital Society Report, which assesses digital access, essential digital skills, and attitudes towards digital technologies in Singapore.
In senior-only households, the percentage with internet access has surged from 55 percent in 2017 to an impressive 93 percent in 2022. However, IMDA noted that seniors’ perceived lack of necessity, skills, knowledge, and confidence to use the internet remain key factors contributing to the remaining gap.
Since 2018, all households with children attending school full-time have had internet access. Nevertheless, 2 percent of such households still lack access to a computer due to affordability constraints. To address this issue, IMDA will continue to subsidize digital access for lower-income households through DigitalAccess@Home, complementing the efforts of the Education Ministry to support home-based learning.
IMDA is also extending support to lower-income seniors through the Mobile Access for Seniors scheme.
The report further revealed that almost all residents aged 18 to 59 own a smartphone. Notably, smartphone ownership has become increasingly prevalent among seniors, rising from 74 percent in 2017 to 89 percent in 2022.
The report identified five areas of essential digital skills, which include setting up and maintaining hardware and software, seeking information online, communicating online, transacting online with the government and other service providers, and navigating online risks and harms. These digital skills have generally seen improvement across the population, particularly among seniors.
The use of mobile payments among seniors has risen to 66 percent, a significant increase from 17 percent in 2018. Furthermore, the percentage of seniors using the internet to find information has jumped to 86 percent, up from 61 percent in 2017. The report also highlighted that 81 percent of seniors check the accuracy of information from online news articles, indicating an increasing critical approach to online information.
IMDA emphasized that the government follows a “digital first” strategy, ensuring that essential government services remain accessible through non-digital means for those unable to adopt digital channels.
The report noted that over eight in 10 Singaporeans agree that digital technologies have made their lives more convenient, with nearly two in three expressing eagerness to explore new technologies. However, Singaporeans remain cautious about the risks associated with digitalization, such as misinformation and online scams, with only about half of the population willing to accept the risks linked to technology use.
Moving forward, IMDA believes that more can be done to assist parents in supporting their children to navigate online spaces in a safe, discerning, and responsible manner. Other areas for improvement include building trust and confidence in the safety and security of digital platforms and generating excitement for new digital technologies and their potential.
