China’s coronavirus status app shuts many citizens out of society, but there are ways to bridge digital divide

There needs to be a complementary system for people who have poor digital skills or no Internet access, say experts. Uneven tech distribution echoes gaps in age, wealth and education and, if not rectified, may lock many out of Chinese public life. — SCMP

Qian Binsheng, 68, has a smartphone. When he set off on a 100km journey alone from his home in Suzhou to Shanghai in May, he did not expect he would rely so heavily on the device.

Qian, a retired worker used to kill time with his smartphone by watching videos shared by friends. But it has become a lifeline since February when China made a health status app a necessity to access most public venues amid the coronavirus pandemic.