Digital for Life movement empowers parents to guide children in navigating online space

1. The Digital for Life (DfL) movement, which aims to leave no one behind in the digital age, continues to make significant strides in empowering Singaporeans to thrive in an increasingly digital world. As part of efforts to bring the movement to the community, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) organised the DfL Festival featuring 100 partners from the people, private, and public (3P) sectors. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Patron of the DfL movement, graced the event today, hosted by Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information.

2. The DfL Festival 2024, which made its way to VivoCity for the first time this year, is held across three venues¹ over three weekends. The Festival offers interactive experiences for Singaporeans – children, youths, adults, seniors and families. Everyone has the opportunity to try out emerging technology, including Generative AI (GenAI). Parents and their children can also learn how to navigate the online space safely.

Empowering and equipping parents to raise children in a digital age

3. One of the key focus areas of this year’s Festival is raising children in a digital age, which aims to empower parents who play a crucial role in helping their children navigate an increasingly complex online world. With more children and youths accessing technology and AI's growing influence, they need guidance to develop critical thinking and digital literacy skills. Among the activities which promote healthy habits for parenting in a digital age is UOB My Digital Space, in collaboration with Cyberlite, Hatch, and SpedGrow. Families who engage with these interactive activities will pick up online safety tips, learn to discern between real images and AI-generated ones, and develop financial literacy in a fun and hands-on way. Families can also explore digital safety and well-being through games and brick-building activities by the LEGO Group.

4. Beyond the Festival, IMDA also worked with 3P partners under the national DfL movement to provide practical digital usage tips on how to stay safe, discerning and kind online, on the DfL portal. For example, parents can tap on guides to help their children manage their digital footprints, using the "THINK" acronym (True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind) for evaluating online posts. They can also access resources on the portal to learn how to set parental controls, review privacy settings and use strong passwords to protect and guide their children to navigate the online space safely.

New AI modules to develop the younger generation's digital capabilities

5. As part of Smart Nation 2.0, IMDA is strengthening students' digital proficiencies through its new AI modules, "AI for Fun", under the Code for Fun programme², jointly offered by IMDA and the Ministry of Education. To be introduced in 2025, these AI modules will help primary and secondary students to learn what AI and GenAI are; understand the nuances, limitations, and abilities of AI and GenAI tools; and learn how to use these tools for digital making or content creation.

6. The new AI modules build upon the existing Code for Fun programme at primary and secondary schools. Under the Code for Fun programme, students gain exposure to computational thinking through coding (such as basic coding concepts including variables, loops and functions in a block-based coding platform), and inventive thinking through digital making (such as applying design-thinking and digital technology to create solutions for real-world problems).

Growing the DfL movement, in support of Singapore’s Smart Nation vision

7. Together, the DfL Festival, DfL portal, and AI for Fun are among various initiatives under the DfL movement's continual efforts. The movement supports the Smart Nation 2.0 goals of Trust, Growth, and Community, with a focus on online safety and exposure to emerging technology, including GenAI.

8. Since the launch of the DfL movement in 2021, over 300 partners from the public, people and private sectors have collaborated on projects and initiatives to collectively help over 400,000 beneficiaries gain access to digital connectivity, learn digital skills, and have exposure to emerging technology.

9. The DfL movement invites more partners to join us in building a digitally inclusive future for all Singaporeans, in support of the Smart Nation 2.0 vision. For more information on the national DfL movement and resources, visit the portal at www.digitalforlife.gov.sg.