KELA

The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, also known as KELA, is responsible for providing social security benefits to residents of Finland. It offers services such as student financial aid, health insurance, unemployment benefits, housing allowance, and parental allowances, among others.
Personally, I have mostly used parental leave services, such as the child allowance. I have also occasionally and when I was studying my Bachelors degree – used student financial aid, which is monthly financial support provided by KELA. I already have the European health care card, it comes every year by mail to my home. I keep it with me especially when leaving abroad.

Omakanta

Omakanta is an online service where you can access your personal health information and also act on behalf of someone else, for example, your child. It is very useful, for instance, for reading your own laboratory test results and checking your healthcare visit history.
I accessed Omakanta quickly using the Suomi.fi identification service, and I only needed my online banking credentials to log in.

Keva

I also logged into Keva to view my pension information. Keva is Finland’s largest pension provider for the public sector. It manages pension and work ability services, such as administering pensions, investing pension funds, supporting work ability, and providing digital services.
Personally, I view the future of the pension system critically and cautiously. My retirement age will be close to 70. Finland is likely to change a lot by then, and I have prepared by saving my own money for the future.

Digital Shopping

In today’s world, digitalisation plays a major role in both working and studying. Online platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Booking.com, and Trivago offer convenient services for shopping and travel. Compared to local shops in Finland, online prices are often lower due to global competition. However, shipping fees and delivery times can make some purchases less practical.
These platforms usually provide sufficient product or service information, including reviews and ratings, which help consumers make informed decisions.
In my experience, services like Booking.com are reliable, but users should still read the small print carefully to avoid misunderstandings. Usually if it´s possible, I prefer to buy local or use European online shopping sites.

My Use of Digital Apps

From my own field, I have chosen a few local digital applications.
Lunna is a new digital platform in Western Uusimaa where you can book appointments—for example, with a dentist or child/maternity clinic—or ask for help with health-related issues. It also replaces the need to wait in a phone queue, as you can leave a question in the chat or send a non-urgent message to a healthcare professional.
I have used it a few times already, and I think it has worked well.
A similar app is also used in Helsinki: the Maisa app. It is part of the healthcare system and can be used to book appointments, view test results, and communicate with healthcare professionals. I am very familiar with it through my job and also as a citizen. It is generally very easy to use and saves time.

Digitalisation and the Digital Gap

Despite the benefits of digitalisation, it creates a digital gap between those who can use virtual services and those who cannot. Older adults, people with disabilities, or those with limited access to technology may struggle with digital services. This can lead to exclusion from basic services like healthcare, banking, or education.
It is important for society to support these groups through training, simplified interfaces, and alternative non-digital options.
In conclusion, working and studying in a digitalised environment offers many advantages, but also presents challenges. Balancing efficiency with inclusiveness is key to ensuring everyone can benefit from digital tools.

The Digital Competence Test

I took the digital competence test. My results ranged from 70% to 90%. The highest scores were in the Safety and Communication categories.
In recent years, I think I have learned more about this topic through my work and just reading and come to understand how important it is to be critical of the information found on the internet and to recognize phishing messages, for example those sent via email.
I am also quite careful about what I write and publish on social media. I enjoy following people, topics, and discussions on social media platforms, but I am not very active nowadays in posting content myself.

Self-reflection

Throughout this course, I have gained a deeper understanding of how digitalisation affects various aspects of our everyday lives, including healthcare, public services, education, and online shopping. I consider myself quite competent using everyday digital services, but I now better understand the importance of secure identification methods and how digital tools can save time and improve accessibility to services.

I have also become more aware of the digital divide and the challenges it poses to certain groups in society. It has highlighted the need for inclusive digital solutions and support for those who may struggle with technology.

Taking the Digital Competence Test helped me reflect on my strengths in online safety and communication, as well as areas for improvement. Overall, this course has strengthened my critical thinking about the role of technology in modern life.

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