20+ youngsters
How the internet has changed lives: 21-year-old Rishabh Sarkar said technology and internet access have made education more accessible. Shriya Kaushal says she is grateful for the Internet because she was able to study for her civil services entrance exam online.
What aspects of the internet have been harmful? Increased screen time has become a nuisance for the under 20s. Oishani Chowdhury said that she is trying to cut down on social media consumption.
Apps needed: YouTube, Google, WhatsApp, official email, Wikipedia, Telegram
New skills: Sarkar picked a cybersecurity course during the pandemic. Kaushal started teaching at Unacademy.
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30+ entrepreneurs
Technology has changed everyone’s lives and tech entrepreneurs are seeing it daily. ET spoke to three founders of three different startups based in Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai. Here’s what they said:
Major changes due to tech: Zoom and other video-conferencing platforms have made the biggest difference as they have enabled them to raise capital through video calls.
New learnings: YouTube is clearly a go-to destination for new learnings for these founders.
Apps needed: WhatsApp, Google Docs, Zomato, Swiggy, Slack, Zoom, Salesforce
Can tech replace all? Across cities, founders are doing virtual meetings but they still feel the need to meet in person. “I still need to meet some people in person to convert a sale or transaction,” said Rameswar Misra, cofounder of Goat Brand Labs.
50/60+ homemakers
For Hasumati Mehta, life took an unexpected turn when the pandemic claimed her husband. Until then, the 68-year-old never had to bother about banking transactions. “Now, I have started paying my bills using my smartphone and debit card,” Mehta says.
How life has changed with tech: Scores of homemakers have taken to digital payments.
New skills: These people found it hard to entertain themselves and resorted to app-based entertainment and learning.
Apps needed: WhatsApp, Google Pay, YouTube, Amazon, BigBasket and Flipkart
Apps that don’t work for them: Many agreed that messaging apps expected them to be available online all the time. Others claimed they found being on Facebook or Instagram addictive.
40+ small business owners from Bharat
Internet and smartphone penetration in semi-urban and rural areas have helped Indians expand the avenue of their businesses through digital modes. We spoke to three small business owners to get some insights.
How tech has changed lives: Ease of digital payments has helped small business owners complete financial transactions. SME workers also rely heavily on Facebook and WhatsApp to increase hyperlocal reach.
Online skills picked up during the pandemic: There is almost a consensus about digital payments and financial services apps—Paytm and PhonePe—becoming ubiquitous for all basic transactional and banking activities.
Apps needed: WhatsApp, Facebook, Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, YouTube, Google Meet, Flipkart
What they don’t like: Online frauds, Internet addiction, complexity of some apps, etc.
Skills to learn next: Two people said they are active in local online clubs. One respondent said she would like to learn about ecommerce and food delivery services through apps.
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