Singapore, April 19, 2024 – The National University of Singapore’s Center for Trustworthy Internet and Community (CTIC) has recently introduced a groundbreaking new initiative called “Living Well Digitally.” The primary objective of this initiative, developed in collaboration with the DQ Institute and in support of the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s “Digital for Life” movement, is to equip individuals worldwide with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the complexities of the digital world and promote a balanced and informed digital lifestyle.
The “Living Well Digitally” initiative comprises three key components:
1. Digital Wellbeing Indicator Framework (DWIF): DWIF is the world’s first comprehensive framework that assesses digital wellbeing across various areas of everyday life. Built on the foundation of the IEEE DQ Global Standards, DWIF encompasses five dimensions of digital wellbeing, including digital social relationships, digital health, digital consumption, digital employment, and digital civic participation. It integrates the concept of digital citizenship to create a holistic framework for digital wellbeing.
2. Universal Digital Wellbeing Assessment Tool: Through the DQ-provided digital wellbeing assessment tool, individuals can now easily evaluate their digital wellbeing with just a click. The tool, developed based on the DWIF framework, guides users through a series of questions and provides instant feedback and personalized insights into their wellbeing, helping them identify strengths and areas for improvement to enhance their digital wellbeing.
3. Accessible Resources for the Community: The “Living Well Digitally” website serves as a platform that offers a range of free educational resources, tips, and information that anyone can access. From young adults to families, educators, and social workers, the website provides valuable resources to improve digital wellbeing for all.
The DWIF was developed over a two-year period by a NUS-CTIC research team led by Professor Audrey Yue, Professor Natalie Pang, and Professor Zhang Renwen, in collaboration with Professor Lim Ee-Peng from the Singapore Management University and Dr. Yuhyun Park from the DQ Institute. The development process involved consultations with 23 experts from Singapore, China, the USA, and the UK, followed by pilot studies involving over 1300 participants in Singapore and globally. A cross-country population survey was also conducted in Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, and London involving more than 4000 respondents.
In celebration of the official launch of the “Living Well Digitally” initiative, CTIC organized a kick-off event at NUS, which brought together representatives from ministries and organizations, including the Ministry of Communications and Information and IMDA, social service providers like TOUCH Community Services, and leading technology companies such as Meta and ByteDance (TikTok).
Emphasizing the importance of digital wellbeing and mindful technology use for people from all backgrounds, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mdm Rahayu Mahzam stated, “Whether you identify as parents, educators, or technologists, it is crucial that we cultivate a mindful approach to our interaction with technology.”
With the introduction of the Digital Wellbeing Indicator Framework and the “Living Well Digitally” platform, the initiative aims to provide individuals, social workers, educators, technology companies, and policymakers with a comprehensive tool to live well in the digital age.
The launch event showcased the “Living Well Digitally” website and featured the “Powered by DQ Digital Wellbeing Assessment” tool. The “Powered by DQ” seal acts as a trust mark for the credibility and effectiveness of digital competence initiatives, aligning with the NUS-CTIC framework and providing tools for alignment and impact measurement to identify strengths, weaknesses, and actionable insights for the further development of the initiative.
Stressing the significance of understanding and improving digital wellbeing amidst unprecedented advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), Dr. Yuhyun Park, the founder of the DQ Institute, expressed honor and eagerness to collaborate on this meaningful global initiative. She highlighted the critical role of the NUS-CTIC research team in generating actionable insights and driving positive change by equipping communities with essential tools and knowledge needed to navigate the risks and opportunities of AI and promote a more balanced approach to digital wellbeing.
For more information about NUS-CTIC, please visit their website: [https://ctic.nus.edu.sg/](https://ctic.nus.edu.sg/)
For media inquiries, please contact:
Wendy Poh Wan Li
[email protected]
About the DQ Institute:
The DQ Institute (DQI) is an international think-tank dedicated to setting global standards for digital intelligence and ensuring the safety, empowerment, and wellbeing of individuals, organizations, and nations in the digital age. The DQ framework is recognized as the global standard for digital competence, skills, and readiness (IEEE 3527.1-2020). DQI operates as a 501(c)(3) organization.
The “Living Well Digitally” initiative launched by the National University of Singapore’s Center for Trustworthy Internet and Community (CTIC) in collaboration with the DQ Institute aims to promote digital wellbeing and equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of the digital world. This initiative is developed in support of the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s “Digital for Life” movement.
The initiative comprises three key components. Firstly, the Digital Wellbeing Indicator Framework (DWIF) is the world’s first comprehensive framework that assesses digital wellbeing across various areas of everyday life. It encompasses five dimensions of digital wellbeing, including digital social relationships, digital health, digital consumption, digital employment, and digital civic participation. The framework integrates the concept of digital citizenship to create a holistic approach to digital wellbeing.
Secondly, a Universal Digital Wellbeing Assessment Tool has been developed based on the DWIF framework. The tool allows individuals to evaluate their digital wellbeing with a click of a button. It guides users through a series of questions and provides instant feedback and personalized insights to help them identify strengths and areas for improvement to enhance their digital wellbeing.
Lastly, the “Living Well Digitally” website serves as a platform that offers a range of free educational resources, tips, and information to improve digital wellbeing for all. The website caters to young adults, families, educators, and social workers, providing valuable resources for a balanced and informed digital lifestyle.
The DWIF was developed over a two-year period by a research team from NUS-CTIC in collaboration with Singapore Management University and the DQ Institute. The development process involved consultations with experts from various countries and pilot studies with over 1300 participants globally. To ensure representativeness, a cross-country population survey was conducted in Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, and London involving more than 4000 respondents.
The launch event of the “Living Well Digitally” initiative brought together representatives from ministries, organizations, social service providers, and technology companies. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mdm Rahayu Mahzam highlighted the importance of cultivating a mindful approach to technology interaction for people from all backgrounds.
The initiative aims to provide a comprehensive tool for individuals, social workers, educators, technology companies, and policymakers to live well in the digital age. The launch event showcased the “Living Well Digitally” website and the “Powered by DQ Digital Wellbeing Assessment” tool, which acts as a trust mark for the credibility and effectiveness of digital competence initiatives.
Dr. Yuhyun Park, the founder of the DQ Institute, stressed the significance of understanding and improving digital wellbeing in the face of advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). She expressed eagerness to collaborate on this global initiative and acknowledged the role of the NUS-CTIC research team in driving positive change by equipping communities with the essential tools and knowledge to navigate the risks and opportunities of AI.
Key advantages of the “Living Well Digitally” initiative include the comprehensive assessment framework, user-friendly assessment tool, and the availability of free educational resources. These resources can benefit individuals, families, educators, and social workers by promoting a balanced and informed approach to digital wellbeing.
However, key challenges or controversies associated with the initiative may include the need for widespread awareness and adoption of the framework and assessment tool. It may take time for individuals and organizations to recognize the importance of digital wellbeing and actively engage with the initiative. Ongoing research and evaluation may also be necessary to refine and improve the framework and assessment tool over time.
For more information about NUS-CTIC and their initiative, you can visit their website: https://ctic.nus.edu.sg/.
(Media inquiries: Wendy Poh Wan Li, [email protected])
The DQ Institute is an international think-tank dedicated to setting global standards for digital intelligence and ensuring the safety, empowerment, and wellbeing of individuals, organizations, and nations in the digital age. The DQ framework is recognized as the global standard for digital competence, skills, and readiness. The DQ Institute operates as a 501(c)(3) organization.