Pandemic boosts tech receptiveness
More people using new tools to learn skills and monitor health, study finds
A global study has revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in people experiencing a more positive relationship with technology.
People in emerging markets are leading the way, especially in terms of using technology to upskill and monitor their health during lockdown.
The Digital Society Index (DSI) study, conducted by global marketing agency Dentsu Aegis Network, surveyed 32,000 people across 22 markets between March and April.
The study highlighted how, during the pandemic, we entered a new period of “techlove”, interacting with technology in a more positive way.
One-third (29%) of respondents believe technology enabled them to connect with friends, family and the world around them during lockdown, while a similar proportion (29%) globally believe tech has enabled them to relax at a time of stress.
The study revealed people in emerging markets were learning new skills and improving their knowledge, fuelled by the rise in digital solutions and online courses.
Almost half of people surveyed in SA (46%), Mexico (44%) and Brazil (43%) have been using tech in this way.
That compares to one-fifth of people in the UK (18%) and a quarter in the US (24%).
There are, however, concerns over the longer-term effects of tech — more than half (57%) worldwide believe the pace of tech change is too fast.
South Africans are using technology to monitor physical and mental health more than any other country, with a third (29%) of respondents saying they check health apps or use wearable devices.
A growing share of people globally believe in tech’s ability to solve societal challenges such as Covid-19 — 42% in 2018, 45% in 2019 and 54% in 2020.
When it comes to providing new services to help people mentally and physically, 66% of people globally say they expect organisations to use tech in a way that has a wider positive societal impact in the next 5-10 years.
“The pandemic has forced us to become more conscious of the role technology can play in meeting our fundamental human needs,” Dentsu CEO of global solutions Masaya Nakamura said.
“There has been a period of ‘techlove’ during the Covid-19 crisis, with brands using technology to pivot their relationship with consumers to support and empower their wellbeing.” The survey also indicates a longer-term trend of a “techlash ”— a negativity towards technology.
Across the globe, 57% of people believe the pace of tech change is too fast.
Nearly half of all respondents also believe digital technologies are increasing the inequality gap. —