Since 2022, October has been Digital Skills Month, a campaign that aims to promote these skills that are increasingly relevant to the exercise of rights and freedoms.
Find out which digital skills are most relevant in today's world.
#1 Information Literacy
It is estimated that, worldwide, each person spends an average of almost seven hours a day using a digital device to consume information. On the other hand, the production of content has never been higher, creating a great deal of information saturation.
In this context, it is essential to know how to interpret the information that reaches us through various channels, knowing how to assess its origin, purpose, relevance and veracity. This critical thinking is also essential in order to be able to deal with new forms of disinformation that can arise in various digital spaces and spheres.
#2 Cybersecurity
ENISA's most recent report is clear: "Between the end of 2023 and the first half of 2024 there was an increase in cybersecurity attacks, creating new records in terms of variety and number of incidents recorded." Therefore, up-to-date knowledge of threats and response procedures to an attack are increasingly essential for citizens and organizations. Staying safe is an essential skill for a cohesive cybersecurity strategy capable of responding to the latest threats.
#3 Communication
Every day, around 402 million terabytes are created worldwide. This is a figure that has grown considerably over the last few years.
In a context where all citizens and organizations are content producers, having communication skills is essential to ensure that our message is able to assert itself within a highly saturated media ecosystem. Over the last decade, we have seen how communication has become a key area in all sectors of activity.
#4 Programming
The profession of programmer is currently one of the most sought-after in Portugal and worldwide. The reason for this is simple: as digital solutions grow and become more complex, having programming skills is an undeniable asset. This knowledge is also a way of having an impact on various sectors of a company, since internal processes are now often mediated or driven by digital tools.
#5 Artificial Intelligence
2023 has become known as "the year of Artificial Intelligence" due to the rapid growth in the popularity and use of this type of technology. It is expected that, over the next six years, the market value of this industry will increase 13-fold.
On the other hand, 9 out of 10 organizations believe that Artificial Intelligence could give them a competitive edge over the competition. In this reality, it will be increasingly important to have basic skills in interpreting and using this type of tool in order to make the most of its potential.
