Digital Literacy Training Towards Healthy Ageing Initiated by Social Enterprise in Thailand vs. Academic Institution in Malaysia 

Myat Yadana Kyaw, Thet Htoo Pan, Varissara Klipbua, Mohd Nazim Bin Mohtar, Myo Nyein Aung and Roxana Widmer-Iliescu

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Digitally Inclusive Healthy Ageing Communities (DIHAC) is a cross-cultural study primarily based in Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand and now extending to India, Vietnam and Malaysia and planning to involve European countries through interested networks and collaborations. Bimonthly, we organize cross-cultural meetings to exhibit innovations as well as local practices in healthy ageing and digital inclusion from different parts of the world. Organized on 18th June 2025, the 29th DIHAC cross-cultural meeting hosted speakers from Southeast Asia−Thailand and Malaysia, bringing examples of healthy ageing in digitally advanced worlds. 

Associate Professor Dr. Myo Nyein Aung, Principal Investigator of DIHAC study, began the meeting by welcoming the participants and socializing. The meeting was joined by over 50 participants of public and private stakeholders, UN officials, faculties from universities,  NGO executives, researchers and graduate undergraduate students in the fields of healthy ageing, global health, public health, social gerontology and Gerontechnology from Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China, India, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Europe and the United States.

The 29th DIHAC meeting has the privileged to have Ms. Roxana Widmer-Iliescu, Head and Senior Program Officer, Digital Inclusion Division, Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Switzerland as the meeting chair. Ms. Widmer-Iliescu is an expert in digital inclusion and with over two decades of experience, she is now a strategic person in actively promoting digital accessibility and applying universal design principles to ensure older adults’ effective participation in digital society and economy. Her opening remark addressed that digital literacy of older adults is a life necessity, not merely a luxury. She advocated the concept of digital inclusion as a human right tied to civic, economic and social participation. Therefore, holistic, intersectional and intergenerational approaches are needed to address barriers faced by older adults and by marginalized groups such as women, illiterate individuals and those in remote areas. Finally, she called for sharing strategic initiatives and good practices globally to inspire inclusive digital transformation.

Figure: Chairperson Ms. Roxana Widmer-Iliescu, speakers, international audience and DIHAC study team at the 29th DIHAC meeting

Presentation 1: Building Digitally Connected Active and Inclusive Communities for Generation in Thailand

The first presentation was brought by Ms. Varissara Klipbua, MSc, co-CEO of Young Happy Thailand. Ms. Klipbua started the presentation with the importance of supporting older people and the role of YoungHappy. In Thailand, internet usage and smartphone ownership had sharply increased after Covid-19 pandemic. After their 60th birthday, older people tended to retreat themselves from their original social circles. Loneliness becomes a serious health problem with remarkable economic disadvantages. The Thailand Health Promotion Foundation sets health, environment, social, economics and technology as five essential dimensions of quality of life for the older population. From Young Happy’s perspective, technology can improve the other 4 dimensions by integrating digital technology for income generation, health promotion, social connections and assisting daily livings.

Young Happy has created an online community called YH+, hosting 10,000 older users (1). The community offers opportunities for learning, physical activities and social connections through various online classes. These classes include language learning, dancing, and digital literacy. The classes create a new routine for older adults and frequent attendees have shown the highest boost in self-motivation and daily goal setting. Recently, an online job board was launched to sustain the economic productivity of older Thai adults. The discussion covered financing and the sustainability of the model, as well as online safety measures. Membership of YH+ online membership includes a free one-month trial, followed by a monthly fee of around 200 bhat (approximately 7 USD), which is relatively affordable. Cybersecurity is also addressed by administrators and facilitators to prevent scams and ensure safe digital environments. 

• Online communities for older adults have the potential in bonding older adults and increasing social participation.
• Digitally delivered group activities targeted for older adults foster self-motivation, and daily goal setting, leading to purposeful healthy ageing.
  
• YoungHappy is an example of a social enterprise that promotes digital inclusion and healthy aging through the valuable resources of young entrepreneurs.

Presentation 2: Enhancing Digital Inclusion for Older Adults through Targeted Training and Implementation in Malaysia 

The second speaker was Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Nazim Bin Mohtar, PhD, Deputy Director of Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing®), Universiti Putra Malaysia. His presentation focused on population ageing in Malaysia and digital literacy initiatives for Malaysian older adults. Malaysia is undergoing population ageing, with 10.3% of the total population being over 60 years old in 2020 (2). Perak has the highest percentage of older adults (15.4%), and one out of every five Malaysian Chinese is an older person. The average life expectancy (LE) of Malaysians was 74.7 years and the healthy life expectancy (HLE) was 65.7 years in 2019. The uneven geographical and ethnic distribution of the ageing population, and the years difference in LE and HLE pose challenges to the Malaysia health system. However, by addressing these challenges as opportunities and responsibilities, digital technology is utilized as a feasible solution.

Digital literacy programs implemented by MyAgeing® enable older adults to adopt lifelong learning. Founded in 2002, MyAgeing® is a national research institute mandated to conduct research in support of active and productive ageing (3). Several digital literacy pilot programs were implemented in collaboration with the United Nations population Fund (UNFPA), the Malaysian government, and universities in Malaysia. These programs equipped older adults with digital device knowledge, basic digital skills and digital communication skills. During the Covid-19 pandemic, a self-learning digital literacy program was developed to promote digital inclusion of older adults. Five educational modules have been developed thus far. The learning modules cover digital devices, navigation, communication, online shopping, digital financial services and security. However, gaps in digital device ownership and internet usage still exist among older populations. Barriers include the complexity of apps user interfaces, low confidence, and a lack of interest among older adults. Finally, Professor Mohtar highlighted the need to create a platform to shape healthy, active and productive older people, as well as intergenerational collaboration for mutual learning and support. Materials regarding digital literacy modules are available here.

• Digital Literacy Programs are timely and equip older adults with the skills needed to navigate digital health, social and financial services.
• User-friendliness, tailored design of applications, and older people’ motivation to engage in digital environments, are critical to closing the digital divide in Malaysia

As the conclusion, the chair highlighted that digital inclusion for older people is both a social imperative and a business opportunity. With their wisdom and experience, older adults can be the active players of digital communities rather than passive recipients. Additionally, collaboration across sectors and generations is essential for digitally inclusive societies. Dr. Myo concluded the meeting, and the next 30th DIHAC meeting is scheduled for August 2025.

References

1. YoungHappy Thailand. 2025 [Available from: https://younghappy.com/.

2. data.gov.my. Population Table: Malaysia. 2025 . Available from: https://data.gov.my/data-catalogue/population_malaysia.

3. Universiti Putra Malaysia. Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing®) 2025 [Available from: https://myageing.upm.edu.my/.

Authors

Myat Yadana Kyaw, M.D., is Ph.D. student at the Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan

Thet Htoo Pan, M.D., is Ph.D. student at the Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan

Varissara Klipbua, MSc, is co-CEO of YoungHappy, Thailand

Mohd Nazim Bin Mohtar, PhD, is Deputy Director at Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing®), Universiti Putra Malaysia

Myo Nyein Aung, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D., is Associate Professor at the Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan

Roxana Widmer-Iliescu, is Senior Programme Officer at the Digital Inclusion Division, Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Switzerland