"Too Afraid to Read the Text"... This Country Overhauls Public Platforms for the Aging Population

Major Overhaul in Response to an Aging Society
Tailored Service Guidelines Announced
to Address the Inconveniences Faced by Elderly Citizens Less Proficient with Digital Technology

China's mobile and online government public service platforms are undergoing a major overhaul. The government has announced tailored service guidelines, based on a nationwide standard, to address the inconveniences faced by elderly citizens who are less adept at using digital technology.

On July 8, China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the State Administration for Market Regulation had issued the “Guidelines for Building Elderly-Friendly Services on Government Service Platforms.” This marks the first time the Chinese government has released guidelines specifying the construction and standards of platforms for the elderly in the public service sector.

China's mobile and online government public service platforms are undergoing a major overhaul. AI-generated image.

Platform Use for the Elderly Upgraded to 'Extremely User-Friendly'

The purpose of these guidelines is to resolve the discomfort experienced by the elderly who are not proficient in digital operations, with a focus on accessibility, inclusivity, barrier-free design, and stability. The guidelines summarize the elderly-friendly digital service experiences that local governments across China have been implementing.

As a result, all public platforms in China will now be required to provide a “designated section for the elderly.” Font sizes must be increased, and screen layouts must be greatly simplified. A “one-stop service” has also been introduced to gather frequently used administrative services in one place. Service processing methods have become more flexible. In addition to allowing the elderly to handle tasks online themselves, a new feature enables children or guardians to submit applications on their behalf. If online operations are difficult, users can turn to offline counters or live consultation windows instead.

Furthermore, the guidelines aim to upgrade the user experience for the elderly to an “extremely user-friendly” level by setting standards for interaction methods and the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

China's mobile and online government public service platforms are undergoing a major overhaul. Photo to aid article understanding. Pixabay.

Significant Enhancement of Data Security... Strict Regulations Implemented

Data security will be significantly strengthened, especially to prevent digital financial fraud and the leakage of personal information targeting the elderly. Strict regulations will be applied throughout all stages of personal information collection, storage, usage, and sharing.

The Chinese authorities expect that this initiative will help resolve the inconvenience and sense of exclusion that elderly citizens have experienced when using digital public services, such as “not being able to read the text,” “not being able to find the menu,” and “being afraid of pressing the wrong button.”

An official from the State Administration for Market Regulation stated that they aim to ensure the elderly are not marginalized in the digital age and can share in the benefits of social development.

According to a May analysis by the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) of recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of China, as of November last year, the proportion of the Chinese population aged 65 and older stood at 15.87%, surpassing the proportion of those aged 0 to 14 (15.25%). This is the first time since related statistics were first compiled in 1949 that the elderly population has overtaken the child population. It is also projected that China will become the world's most aged nation over the next 20 to 30 years. The aging population has emerged as a serious social issue for China, leading to challenges such as slower economic growth due to a shrinking workforce and increased pension burdens.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.