Literacy is no longer just about knowing how to read and write

Commonly literacy is known as the ability to read and write but it can also be defined as having competence or knowledge in a specified area. Digital literacy involves "digital" technology which includes everything from computers and the internet to devices like cell phones and smart systems or apps. "Literacy" in this context, refers to the ability not only to use these technologies but also to use them effectively.

This is one of the key skills needed in our fast-paced world filled with constant technological advances. It is essential to know how to use technology safely, effectively and responsibly. As technology continues to become more and more ingrained in daily life, the importance of obtaining digital literacy skills is becoming increasingly apparent.

Uses of Digital Literacy in Everyday Life

As technology becomes increasingly prominent in our everyday activities it is more important than ever, that digital literacy be included as a fundamental life skill. Whether we are conscious of it or not, most people engage in digital systems multiple times a day. For instance, the following daily activities require some amount of digital literacy to perform or interact with:

Efficiency

In the workplace digital technology has increased the employee’s ability to become more efficient in their work processes. Utilising the ‘cloud’ means that information can be stored and accessed from anywhere using any device. Using applications like SharePoint means that more than one person can work on a document at any given time and changes are done in real time. This leads to better collaboration, online productivity and the development of collective data bases.

This efficiency carries through to our personal lives too. Alarm systems can be activated remotely and security cameras can be checked on cell phones. A patient’s medical records can be accessed online by different doctors alleviating the need for hard copy reports, x-rays or the patients file history. Banking and shopping can be done online to allocate payments and arrange deliveries. Social media allows people to ‘be involved’ in their friends and families lives albeit at a distance, while news and information is at our fingertips on the internet and social media platforms.

All of this makes our lives easier and more efficient, essentially we can get more done in less time – a perfect world?

The Challenges

Communication, perception and etiquette can become a challenge with online platforms. Often online communication can be misinterpreted as the receiver does not necessarily have the full context or tone and visual ques they would with an ‘in person’ encounter. The receiver is left to create their own interpretation of tone and context, which may be different from the intended meaning of the sender. This causes confusion and frustration and may even cause conflicts.  With children and even some adults there has been an increase in online bullying as people are ‘safe’ behind a screen and do not have to face the person in reality.

Digital platforms leave an online footprint and technically once something is sent out digitally it will be out there forever. Images and documents from both workplace and social settings can have significant consequences. Additionally, numerous types of cybercrime exists including account hacking, theft and fraud, among others.

Become digitally savvy

Making yourself aware of the dangers of digital platforms and various security applications or multi-factor authentication can greatly reduce the risk of cybercrime.

Understanding the communication process and how people interpret information can be useful to become more emotionally aware of how people interpret information differently and how miscommunication can occur. Understanding these principles can make one more effective when they communicate with others online or electronically, to ensure they get the right message and information across and prevent miscommunication.

Developing the skill of being able to interpret information and decipher fact from fiction can be a very useful tool when there is so much digital information out there and not all information is accurate or true. It is important to be able to navigate your way through sources of information and to know if the content is credible and accurate. This not only applies to the workplace, but also to social media because sharing false information can cause panic as posts go viral.

It is also important to be aware of the legal implications of information shared via online platforms. The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) notes that it is mandatory for data subjects to give written consent to the responsible party before the data is published on social media or distributed to others on email or messaging platforms. As silly as this may seem to some, it includes the sharing of a photograph one took with other people in it. The Copyright Act governs all published content including written works and images. To utilise someone else's words or images you must obtain consent from the creator unless you properly reference the material or if the images are licensed under Creative Commons.

So, remember…

Protect your personal information with strong passwords and keep personal information private.  Make sure your devices are secure and pay attention to software updates and popups that may appear on your screen. Be careful of what you click on. Be careful of Wifi connections and set up Two-Factor Authentication when logging into different applications or accounts. And lastly, always back up your personal data. If you remember these few precautions and with a bit of caution, the world will be at your fingertips.

Heidi Kilian

Head: Training