Mobiliar DigitalBarometer 2024: Lack of basic digital skills and ambivalent attitude towards cl
Although a large proportion of the Swiss population feels that they are keeping pace with digitalization, one in three people in Switzerland (31%) lack basic digital skills. In addition, the Swiss population sees great opportunities in the use of Kl-based technologies, but does not trust the state to regulate them appropriately. The fifth edition of the Mobiliar DigitalBarometer provides these and other results. The study has been conducted by the Risk Dialogue Foundation since 2019 and is supported by the Mobiliar Cooperative.
In the Mobiliar DigitalBarometer 2024, a representative survey for Switzerland, the Risk Dialogue Foundation measures the basic digital skills of the Swiss population. The results show that 31 % of respondents lack digital skills. "Three out of ten people in Switzerland have difficulties finding their way in an increasingly digitalized everyday life. They lack basic skills in using digital devices and applications," says Daniela Ramp, project team member and digital inclusion expert at the Risk Dialogue Foundation. For example, they have difficulties shopping online, buying tickets digitally, paying bills via e-banking or communicating digitally.
Digital inclusion: Röstigraben and risk factors
The proportion of people with a lack of basic digital skills is significantly higher among people with a low level of education, high age and low income: compared to the average figure of 31 %, almost twice as many people are affected among those with the lowest level of education (59%). The figure is 42% among the over 75s and 42% among those at risk of or affected by poverty. There are also clear differences between language regions. "These results contrast with the self-assessment of the Swiss, as 82% of all respondents generally feel that they can keep up with digital change. Regardless of whether they are older, poorer or less well educated," says Anna-Lena Köng, project manager and expert in risk psychology at Risiko-Dialog.
Loneliness as the greatest perceived risk of digital exclusion
The population perceives loneliness as the greatest social risk of digital exclusion (34%). At the same time, solidarity with older people is particularly pronounced: 43% state that they see the greatest need for support with digital inclusion among older people. This contrasts with the finding that people aged 75 and over in particular prefer to maintain their social contacts via digital channels (35%).
The higher the level of education, the more positive the basic attitude towards AI
The DigitalBarometer 2024 also shows that the general mood of the population is ambivalent with regard to applications based on artificial intelligence: almost the same number of people state that they have a positive (35%) or negative (34%) attitude towards artificial intelligence. 27% are neutral towards AI. The higher the level of education, the more positive the basic attitude towards AI. The Swiss population ascribes great opportunities to AI in the areas of ecology and climate protection, as well as in business management (e.g. increasing the efficiency of work processes or new working models).
Little trust in state AI regulation
59% of the population see the greatest danger of Kl in influencing the public debate, and almost half of those surveyed (49%) perceive Kl as a potential threat to humanity. This is consistent with the finding that the Swiss population is particularly concerned about the spread of misinformation in the digital information and communication space (85%). Around three quarters of the population also have little trust in the state to adequately regulate Kl-based technologies (72%). At the same time, however, the use of state surveillance technologies is widely accepted. There is particularly strong approval for the surveillance of the communications and internet of suspects (76% and 78%).
Solidarity and a shared digital culture are needed
The Risk Dialogue Foundation draws the following conclusion from the findings: "A holistic view of the complex challenges of our networked and digital world is more urgent than ever, as the speed and impact of change are increasing massively," says Anna-Lena Köng, project manager at Risk Dialogue. The promotion and development of basic digital skills and framework conditions require strong joint initiatives from the state, business, civil society and the population: "This requires personal responsibility and solidarity as well as a well-founded discourse for a common set of values," adds Anna-Lena Köng.
Source: www.risiko-dialog.ch
