KELA

I no longer use the services provided by Kela, as I am fully employed. However, as a student, they were very helpful. At that time, I utilized student support and housing allowance. With these, I was able to manage by working about 20 hours a week. I also took advantage of student loans, but perhaps differently than others; I invested it instead of using it for living expenses. I already have the European Health Insurance Card just in case.

Omakanta

OmaKanta is a useful service. It is one positive example of the changes brought about by digitalization. I logged in with my bank’s online banking credentials, which is another good example of digitalization.

Pension

I used Ilmarinen’s online service since it is my pension company. My earliest retirement age is 68 years and 7 months. I am satisfied with my pension estimate. I will certainly manage well with it if I have successfully handled my finances. One of the most important things related to this would be that I have paid off all my debts by the time I retire. More than the amount of my pension, I am concerned about the sustainability of the Finnish pension system. Will there be money in the future to pay for this pension estimate of mine?

Online shopping

I occasionally utilize online stores. Just like with digitalization, there are both advantages and disadvantages to them. For example, Booking and Trivago make comparing and booking accommodations really easy. Through these platforms, one can find a huge number of lodging options and it’s simple to choose the preferred one. I have used these services and my experiences have been solely positive. The services have been reliable and I have been informed of all necessary details. I also use online stores from time to time for ordering clothes, as it is fast and effortless. Sometimes I just don’t feel like going to a brick-and-mortar store to search for an item that I might not even find there. Online stores like Zalando have become familiar to me. The service has been quick and reliable. You can also make the payment only after you have received the products. The biggest problem with ordering items online is their ethicality, and there are many scam websites nowadays. For instance, online stores like Temu and eBay can be irresponsible. You cannot be sure that the goods come from a cheap country like China, where labor conditions may not exist or may not even be followed. For example, Temu’s responsibility has been a hot topic lately.

Service/application from my own field

I work in the finance industry, so an application that is familiar and that I use frequently is my own bank’s online application. With the help of digitalization, managing banking matters can be done very quickly from the comfort of your own sofa. From online banking, you can manage your payments, view your loans, make investments, or acquire new insurance policies. There are differences between banks in the usability of their online banking systems, but the application of the bank I represent is very clear and user-friendly. My experiences with it have been very positive. It’s important to use the app on your phone rather than the website, as scammers have created fraud websites that look like your bank’s online site. When you log in there, criminals can gain access to your banking credentials.

Digitalization and digital gap

Digitalization has divided people into many parts. Some people utilize online services more than others. This is especially new for older individuals, and their skills may not be as developed. For example, older people are accustomed to handling banking services at branches. Nowadays, not all banks may keep their doors open, making it significantly more difficult to conduct transactions. By using online banking, older individuals would find it easier to manage their banking matters. However, due to their lack of skills, they are indeed more easily susceptible to scams. Additionally, renewing prescriptions or meeting with a doctor online can also make it easier for people to handle their affairs.

Digital Competence Test 

Comments for my fellow students

“Hey Petri! Thank you for your comments. The amount of pension divides people’s opinions, as does the retirement age. You are right that the age of retirement has a significant impact on the amount of pension. It would be interesting to know how you prepare for the possibility that your pension might be too small. It is good to prepare for retirement. For example, investing is a good way to prepare for it. We have had similar experiences booking trips through Trivago or Booking.com. Your test results also seem interesting; information is clearly your strength in these matters. DIGI CITIZEN | Living in Selkäsaari (savonia.fi)“

“Hey Jari! Thank you for your comments. It’s great to hear that you have a positive attitude towards the amount of your pension. Pensions are small, but it sounds like you are preparing for it. It also seems that you have a suitably skeptical view towards buying online. As you said, if something seems too good to be true, it is probably false. It was also interesting to read about the introduction of a website called Thomann; this was new information for me. Based on your reflections and testing, it seems that digitalization is not new to you and you’re doing well with it. DIGI CITIZEN | Jari´s site (savonia.fi)“

“Hey Juha! Thank you for your comments. Your page is really well done; I can immediately see that digitalization is not a problem for you, as you mentioned yourself. Your thoughts on retirement are diverse and interesting; many are likely pondering whether to continue working longer for a better pension. Your reflections on skill gaps regarding digitalization are good. It is true that, for example, older people have fallen behind in this development. It’s nice to hear that you also support brick-and-mortar stores. Digi Citizen – Juha’s DigiBlog (savonia.fi)“

Thoughts and experiences

There are many different perspectives on digitalization that should be considered and reflected upon. In this section, what particularly stood out to me was the responsibility and security of online services. Consumers must conduct their own research before making a purchase decision and compare different sites. It is easy to sell things irresponsibly online, such as cheap goods from China. The significant disparities in digital skills among people also emerged as a noteworthy point. Particularly, older individuals’ digital skills have lagged behind, with some exceptions. However, in my professional capacity, I would dare to claim that younger people generally possess better skills to operate online. The test I took to assess my own skills was also very interesting as it revealed where my focus lies and where it does not. Based on the questions and results of the test, I would say that my digital skills are really good, although there is definitely room for improvement. I manage very well with technology, but it is not my main area of interest.