Tan Kiat How on building an inclusive and safe digital society

Make digital work for all so that every Singaporean can benefit, but digital for all does not mean digital only for all, said Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Tan Kiat How. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Jan 10), he said the Government recognises that some Singaporeans still prefer non-digital options for certain transactions. To support the drive towards digital literacy, the Government will launch Digital Skills for Life. It covers five competencies - setting up and using smart devices, exploring information online, communicating online with others, transacting online for greater convenience, and being safe, smart and kind online. Mr Tan said these are all practical skills which can make a “real difference” to Singaporeans. The Government is also working with partners to develop resources online to enable people to learn at their own pace and access videos and guidebooks on the Digital for Life portal. The digital resources in English will be rolled out progressively from this month, while the resources in Mandarin, Malay and Tamil will be available by the first half of this year. Mr Tan stressed the need to aspire to make the online space safe. “It is all up to us to keep our digital streets safe. Each one of us can play our part to build a safer, more inclusive and kinder digital society,” he said.