DIGI CITIZEN

Kela and European Health Incurance Card

Several different Kela services have become familiar to me over the years. Most of the time, using the services has been easy and getting information about benefits has been effortless. A few times over the years, I have had to call to Kela’s phone service to ensure I understood things correctly or to correct decisions made by Kela.

I have had a European Health Insurance Card for a few years now.

Oma Kanta

We have become accustomed to certain systems, and logging into My Kanta happens in much the same way as many other services. For me, logging into such services is not a problem. I understand that it can be challenging for older people to get used to using services that require a smartphone and bank credentials. I have always found it strange that I need my bank credentials to log into public administration services.

My future pension

I laughed in advance at the thought of my future pension amount before I even checked it. I have spent my time on everything but paid work, so I haven’t accumulated significant pension amounts.

Digital Marketplaces

I have not used the marketplaces mentioned in the task before, and I do not intend to use them afterward. I try to favor local brick-and-mortar stores or small Finnish online shops. Price is not the primary determining factor for me; I prefer to ensure the sustainability of products and to support small businesses, for example. I compared the prices of barefoot shoes across different marketplaces. Frankly, I found it incredible that I could get shoes for as low as €20, when in a brick-and-mortar store I would pay at least a hundred euros for them. It also seemed absurd how extensive the selection is at these large marketplaces.

Signal App

At my workplace, employees are no longer allowed to use WhatsApp on work phones, so the Signal app has been adopted for communication. From a user perspective, the app is similar to WhatsApp. Signal states on its website that the app has no ads or tracking cookies. According to Signal, all messages and calls sent through the app should be secure. I understand the employer’s perspective that communication needs to be protected, and it is good that there is concern for data security. On the other hand, I find it inconvenient to use multiple similar apps.

Digitalization and Digital gap

In today’s society, it is challenging to function if you do not own a smartphone, do not have bank credentials, or do not have the skills to use digital services. I believe that we should still ensure that everyone has access to services, including people living in more remote areas. I remember how a few years ago, when my 15-year-old child moved out of the house, making a change of address almost became a challenge. Without bank credentials, it would have been nearly impossible. I am particularly concerned about older people who do not have the resources or understanding to use digital services. The problem is either that the risks are not understood or that everything is feared to some extent.

Few Thoughts

Before participating in this course, I imagined that I had fallen behind in digitalization. While doing these tasks, I have realized that I manage existing services quite well; it may be more about whether I want to use these services. The Digital Competence Test also indicated the same. The highest scores were in critical thinking.

These tasks have made my critical attitude towards digitalization even stronger. I use a lot of digital services myself and understand that many of them are beneficial to us. What I find problematic is that we are often forced to use certain services. We give away a huge amount of information about ourselves voluntarily and for free. For example, in the Digital Competence Test included in the course, why were questions asked about your gender, age, and occupational group?

I commented on these blogs:

DIGI CITIZEN – Laura´s site (savonia.fi)

Digi citizen – Minni´s site (savonia.fi)

DIGI CITIZEN – Katja Simanainen (savonia.fi)