ERIA experts highlight digital disparities in ASEAN and urgent need to enhance digital literacy and skills.
With a population of over 670 million people within the ASEAN region, a significant portion are online Internet users at almost 70 per cent in 2022. Although the number of online users in ASEAN, quantitatively speaking, is substantial, the resulting productivity gains have not been in proportion.
While ASEAN has been making progress in advancing its vision of a digitally integrated regional economy, the rapid pace of digital transformation is widening the digital divide among ASEAN member states.
This divide is characterised by disparities in digital adoption, with some countries having sufficient digital capabilities and infrastructure while others face constraints and are less fortunate in terms of accessing digital technologies.
Research Associates at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in Jakarta, Indonesia Livia Feliciani Nazara and Ivana Markus expressed these views in their opinion article titled Bridging Disparities to Bolster Digital Transformation in ASEAN.
According to the authors, ASEAN must pay greater attention toward its human capital in order to ensure a seamless transition to digitalisation, which means focusing on the quality rather than looking only at the quantity of the ASEAN population.
They shared that many still primarily use the Internet for one-way consumption of social media, gaming and communication purposes, having yet to grasp how technology can play a significant role in productivity gains and creation.
Explore three key digital disparities within ASEAN that may impede its digital transformation in their article, Livia and Ivana highlighted digital access, digital literacy, as well as the capability and ability to utilise technology.
In aspects of digital access within ASEAN, significant disparities have been demonstrated, evident in the varying levels of digital adoption throughout the region.
While some countries have rapidly embraced digitalisation and experienced substantial growth, others continue to struggle with limited access to digital technologies. These disparities are especially pronounced when comparing rural and urban areas.
The concern here lies in the potential for developed urban areas to advance rapidly, while rural regions remain stagnant, exacerbating the gap between those with access and those without.
To promote equitable access and development, the primary approach is to invest in both physical and digital infrastructure.
The authors noted that establishing robust infrastructure is essential for narrowing development disparities and ensuring that digital technology is accessible to all.
Access to digital resources is a fundamental prerequisite for unlocking the untapped potential of digital technologies across ASEAN.
Addressing the second critical digital disparity, Livia and Ivana argued that nurturing digital literacy represents the second crucial step in propelling digital transformation forward, paralleling the ASEAN region’s escalating digitalisation.
They noted that – looking through a magnifying glass – the Digital Literacy in Education Systems across ASEAN Report by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) found that while most young individuals in ASEAN possess moderate levels of digital literacy, there are significant disparities between individual countries.
Over half of young individuals aged 10-24, specifically 61 per cent, were not being taught digital skills as part of their school curriculum, making it imperative for countries in ASEAN to further bolster digital literacy through initiatives such as the ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) to equip individuals with the necessary skills to navigate the digitalised ASEAN environment.
Lastly, within ASEAN, as well as across its member states, there exists a significant disparity in skills between individuals with digital expertise and those lacking it.
As per the ASEAN Digital Integration Index, which evaluates six key digital integration pillars – digital trade and logistics, data protection and cybersecurity, digital payments and identities, digital skills and talent, innovation and entrepreneurship, and institutional and infrastructural readiness – it is the fourth pillar, encompassing digital skills and talent, that has received the lowest score.
This underscores the pressing need to support initiatives aimed at enhancing digital skills levels across the region.
As ASEAN enters its era of digital transformation, the Research Associates believes that the lives of young people in education, personal pursuits, and the workforce have undergone significant changes, especially in the wake of the post-COVID-19 world.
While digital technologies continually reshape societies and industries across ASEAN, schools are grappling with the challenge of integrating comprehensive digital literacy into their curriculum to equip students with essential digital skills.
The deficiency in digital literacy and skills has the potential to impede both students and society from acquiring the vital competencies necessary for the digital age.
Digital skills offer substantial benefits, including enhanced access to job opportunities, increased income potential, and improved social outcomes.
Digitally adept individuals play a pivotal role in the successful digital transformation of ASEAN.
Given the growing importance of this factor, it is imperative that the eagerly awaited negotiations surrounding the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework (DEFA) include initiatives aimed at nurturing a digitally skilled ASEAN population.
Investments in bolstering digital capabilities are crucial to ensure that the people of ASEAN can effectively navigate the intricacies of a digitalised community. – Izah Azahari
