Pitch
I believe everyone knows this situation: you go home to visit your family and within the first five minutes someone says, “I deleted the internet,” “Can you fix my phone,” or “I got this email from the ÖGK again, I don’t understand it.” And before you know it, you’ve spent the next five hours solving technical problems instead of actually spending time with your loved ones.
Many people over the age of 50 today do not have sufficient digital literacy for basic everyday tasks. This includes using common communication tools, identifying misleading information or scams and independently accessing information to form their own opinions about what is happening in the world. As a result, they often depend on others for support and miss the opportunity to fully participate in digital society.
This raises an important question: how can we support this generation in becoming more confident and independent in the digital world?
My idea is a dedicated learning platform that teaches digital literacy to older adults in an accessible and supportive way. Instead of overwhelming users with complex interfaces, it focuses on small, everyday learning steps that are easy to understand and immediately applicable. The platform could combine short guided lessons, interactive exercises and real-life scenarios, such as recognizing scams, using messaging apps or navigating government services online. It also provides on-demand help when users get stuck, so learning becomes part of daily life rather than a separate, intimidating process.
This platform would not only improve individual confidence and independence, but also reduce the constant need for family members to provide technical support. This allows families to shift their time and energy from troubleshooting problems to spending more meaningful time together. Ultimately, the goal is not just to teach technology, but to enable participation, confidence and connection in a digital society.
