Insight into Trending Issues

Citing van Deursen and van Dijk (2019), an analysis is carried out to compare the three levels of the digital divide. First, it was found that the first and second levels of the digital divide are mostly found among Taiwanese people who were aged 70 and older, who only had elementary school education or less, and who lived in the Yunlin, Chiayi and Nantou region; they did not have the ability to access the Internet or the ability to use applications and services. Secondly, from the perspective of digital literacy, the issue of whether a third level of the digital divide existed among Taiwanese people was examined, and it was found that Taiwanese people are generally insufficiently digitally literate; therefore, the third level of the digital divide is a universal problem. Thus, the government has suggested that, as digital construction is being promoted, attention should also be paid to the digitally disadvantaged who lack the ability to access the Internet and apply it, so that they understand that a digital life is the face of Taiwan’s future, and that they are provided with necessary Internet consultation services or assistance through “digital helpers” policies to reduce the decrease in their quality of life due to their lack of Internet access and capability in using applications. Secondly, to address the problem of low digital literacy in the overall population, it is suggested that the relevant government agencies should promote digital literacy education policies through both the education system and the social system so as to enhance the digital literacy of Taiwan as a whole.

As new communication technologies continue to emerge, the definition and connotation of digital literacy are constantly changing. Especially with the proliferation of fake news, fake information and misinformation as well as the rise of personal data protection awareness, the items (breadth) and contents (depth) of digital literacy need to be re-examined. In terms of breadth, it is no longer enough to only include digital media literacy, especially the ability to detect fake news. Given the convenience of sharing information on social media and communication software now, it is recommended to consider what people should think about when sharing information, i.e., sharing literacy. In addition, with the popularity of various digital devices, especially cell phones, people’s digital footprints and real-world footprints are being recorded without their knowledge. It is also recommended that the awareness of personal data protection, that is, privacy literacy, be taken into consideration as well. In terms of depth, it is important to go beyond the skills that have been emphasized in the past and expand the scope to include relevant knowledge. In addition, it is important to note that it is not easy to verify the authenticity of a news report, which is why the news media exists. Creating an environment that is conducive to the development of a news media outlet that emphasizes quality and credibility, so that the public can have access to quality news, is also an aspect that cannot be ignored.

The users of the four AI products or services in this survey were mostly under the age of 50 and had an education level of junior college or above, so they should have a high level of acceptance and usage of digital technology. Therefore, if artificial intelligence were to be promoted to a group of mature age, we should pay more attention to the ease of understanding and the convenience of operating the technology for the elderly. At the same time, the study found that the older and less educated people are, the less likely they will feel that AI products and services benefit their own lives; therefore, if AI products and services are to take root in Taiwan’s market, their compatibility with traditional services should be enhanced so that users can connect with them seamlessly when trying them and their advantages can be put to use. In addition, an analysis of the level of trust that Taiwanese people have in AI products and services shows that less than half of them agree with the two indicators of “comprehensive supervision and management” and “protection of personal property”, reflecting the public’s concern and anxiety about AI in protecting their personal welfare. It is suggested that the government should think about various aspects such as policy, law and education to improve the ability to regulate AI technology in terms of ethics and accountability, so as to facilitate the mutual benefit and prosperity of technology and human beings in the age of AI.

The usage rate of instant messaging software in Taiwan is 83.98%, much higher than other Internet applications. The high penetration rate highlights the fact that instant messaging software has become an important interpersonal communication channel for people in Taiwan. At the same time, this survey has found that instant messaging software may have formed echo chambers in which biases can be reinforced in people, so they would choose to ignore opinions different from theirs when they encounter them, resulting in a lack of good communication, the inability to understand multiple facets of public issues, and difficulty in driving rational communication and democratic deliberation. This phenomenon deserves the attention of government agencies while they are implementing public policies. In addition, there have been many cases of fake news or messages in instant messaging software in Taiwan, which seriously interfere with the normal operation of a democratic society. Most of the people arrested by the police said they did not know they sent fake messages; they were only sharing what they thought was important information with their friends and relatives with good intentions, but inadvertently caused the fake messages to spread. In particular, instant messaging software is mostly encrypted, making it difficult for the government or academia to understand the problems that may arise from instant messaging software. It is suggested that the government should establish regulations for important interpersonal communication channels and promote the concept of media literacy to reduce the negative effects of the spread of fake information and the echo chamber effect.