The world is undergoing demographic transition at an unprecedented pace. In the Asia-Pacific region specifically, it is estimated that one in four people will be over the age of 60 by 2050. Concurrently, digital technologies are becoming essential infrastructure for accessing healthcare, participating in economic life, and engaging in civic activities. For older persons, this digital transformation presents both transformative opportunities and structural challenges.

Despite progress in expanding digital access across the region, a persistent age-based digital divide between generations continues to exclude many older persons from full participation in the digital age. Indeed, in most countries with available data, Internet use among young people is near universal, whereas the share of older persons—especially those aged 75 and above—who are online remains low or very low in all but one economy in the region[1].

However, limited Internet access represents only the first layer of exclusion. Even in digitally advanced contexts such as South Korea, where connectivity and device ownership have become nearly universal, older persons continue to face a second, deeper divide related to digital literacy and effective use. According to 2024 data, the digital literacy level among older persons stands at only 55.9 per cent[2], markedly lower than other digitally vulnerable groups[3]. This capability wall arises because digital environments are primarily designed for younger, digitally fluent users, with interfaces and navigation patterns that assume prior familiarity. Older persons must contend with unclear instructions, overwhelming options, and heightened concerns around online security and privacy. Without age-appropriate training and support, this mismatch generates anxiety and fear of making costly mistakes, ultimately reinforcing exclusion from essential services such as e-governance, digital banking, and telehealth.

Beyond moral imperatives, addressing digital inclusion for older persons directly advances the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). It requires comprehensive strategies that combine infrastructure development, accessible design, digital literacy programs, and collaborative partnerships across sectors.

This workshop brings together policymakers, technologists, educators, and civil society from across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen responses to digital exclusion affecting older persons through collaborative learning and evidence-based exchange. Participants will build practical understanding of the structural, policy, and skills-related barriers that limit older persons’ digital participation, examine solutions that have proven effective across diverse contexts, and explore how partnerships and resources can be mobilized to sustain progress. Through this process, the workshop aims to equip participants with actionable strategies to advance digital equity for older persons at the regional and organizational levels, ensuring that digital transformation benefits all generations.