Digital technology has revolutionised our society over the last 20 years, yet almost a third of the world's population still does not have access to the internet. In fact, nearly 3 billion people are "digitally excluded" according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). This digital divide particularly affects poor countries and women. However, it is becoming essential for everyone to master digital tools. Indeed, it is a lever for employment, a tool to facilitate your administrative procedures, a real opening to the world.
Digital technology in companies
Today, digital technology represents a real growth lever for businesses, allowing them to increase productivity, improve productivity, save time and also money! It is therefore in the interest of managers to use the internet more than ever since new technologies have invaded the entire professional world, from the smallest company to the largest multinational. Until a few years ago, going digital for an organisation meant getting ahead of the competition, but now digital only prevents you from falling behind.
Facilitating the return to employment
While 9 out of 10 jobseekers use the Internet to search for work, a digital divide persists and penalises people who are already far from employment. Mastering digital tools does not only allow you to add another line to your skills on your CV, it is a real lever that will help you in your everyday life as well as in your job search. Indeed, it has now become essential to master the digital world in order to apply for the majority of job offers. For some employers, it has even become normal.
Promoting digital inclusion
Today, every individual needs to master certain digital skills if only to renew personal administrative procedures or to renew certain online rights.
To this end, the French state has put in place a number of measures to promote digital learning and develop its uses.
What is the state of digital technology in France?
Nowadays, in France, nearly 14 million people have real difficulties with digital technology. This divide is linked to several factors. These include
- Age: 66% of non-Internet users are over 65
- Family situation: 17% of 12-17 year olds are not very or not at all competent to use a computer; these are generally isolated young people
- Level of education and income: only 30% of non-graduates use e-government compared to 90% of graduates
To address this, the French government has set up the APTIC scheme.
The APTIC system
The APTIC scheme works towards digital inclusion. It is a €150 pass designed on the model of meal vouchers that brings every citizen closer to the digital world. It has been set up to act on 3 levels:
- Digital inclusion to renew one's rights online, carry out administrative procedures
- Digital mediation following the introduction of teleworking and maintaining social relations
- Digital culture for conscious and controlled use, and to detect fake news.
APTIC is present in nearly 1,500 locations in France and this voucher is distributed in a targeted manner to beneficiaries.
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