Digital literacy covers the proficiencies needed to carry out fundamental digital tasks, such as using a computer keyboard or smartphone touchscreen, managing privacy settings, sending emails, searching the web or filling out an online form. These skills allow users to communicate with others and access online commerce and public and financial services.xv Digital literacy also encompasses important security skills, such as protecting privacy, minimising the digital trail left on social media and elsewhere and distinguishing between fact and misinformation.
Without digital literacy, many people are unable to use digital technologies. This predominantly impacts women, people with no or little level of education, the elderly and low-income groups. The lack of digital literacy among vulnerable and marginalised groups is a missed opportunity for digital companies. It is in companies’ interest to support programmes that build the digital skills of these potential customers.


Research Guidance:

The company discloses a programme that actively contributes to improve the digital skills of vulnerable groups so that they can become proficient in carrying out fundamental digital tasks such as using a keyboard or touchscreen, managing privacy settings, sending emails, searching the web, etc. The scope of this element includes interventions that address basic digital skills needs, security skills, such as protecting privacy, minimising the digital trail left on social media and elsewhere and distinguishing between fact and misinformation, as well as digital technology skills for primary or middleschool-aged children (e.g. robotics, AI, coding). To meet the requirements of this element, the programme must be explicitly designed to serve vulnerable groups, such as children, youth, women, older persons, rural, persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees, indigenous people, people living in poverty, LGBTQIA+ people, people of African descent, Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The company must demonstrate that the programme is part of a strategic effort and aligns with the company‚s core business, social investment strategy or long-term sustainability goals. In addition, the company must collaborate with relevant partners‚Äîsuch as NGOs, community groups, government bodies, or other companies‚Äîin the implementation or scaling of the programme. The nature of collaboration should be described. To be considered, the programme must have been running in the reporting period of interest of the assessment in question.
Note: programmes from the company‚s Foundation are accepted. If this element is not met, elements c to e can‚t be met.