Health and insurance providers have traditionally focused on physical and mental health, but now there’s a new dimension of wellbeing emerging that requires their attention.
Digital exhaustion has become a staple of modern life. This is in no small part due to remote and hybrid working, social media, a general addiction to devices, and a combination of all three.
According to a 2024 study, almost half of the global workforce is suffering from burnout. Screen fatigue and cyber stress are not only commonplace; they’re some of the most influential factors impacting peoples’ wellbeing.
Thankfully, the realisation is starting to dawn: no longer can you put off looking after your (digital self) People across the globe are becoming increasingly aware of the need to protect their online privacy and are willing to take action to make this a reality.
Digital wellbeing an increasing health concern
Trying to keep up with our digital lives as well as our physical ones is starting to take its toll, with “doomscrolling” on social media frequently being cited as a symptom of fatigue and digital exhaustion. This has been linked to increased levels of anxiety and self-esteem issues, especially among younger generations.
But it’s not just the TikTok generation that’s susceptible here, as working professionals are also among the high-risk category. While enabling greater flexibility, the disconnect brought about by remote and hybrid working can be a stepping stone to chronic stress and even physical illness.
While both the mental and physical aspect of our health are typically covered in insurance and healthcare plans, there’s a noticeable gap when it comes to our digital selves. We have health insurance and life insurance to cover us physically and mentally, but why do we stop there?
An increase in cyber threats can be accompanied by significant emotional distress. Digital threats – whether privacy concerns, phishing attempts or social media pressures – also impact people’s mental health and can be a leading contributor to burnout and anxiety.
How insurers and health providers can help
With our physical, mental and digital forms increasingly merging, it makes sense for insurance and health providers to broaden their coverage to include online wellbeing. This means offering solutions that address factors such as digital fatigue, cybersecurity and privacy.
While many providers include things such as physio sessions, therapy and wellness coaching, consumers also need help in protecting their online selves. Cybersecurity and digital safety have become top priorities in safeguarding people against potential risk as well as allowing them to take better control over their data and personal information.
As people become much more privacy-centric and aware of the security concerns when online, they are also actively seeking ways in which they can protect themselves. This is an opportunity for health and insurance providers to support their customers further by providing them with the knowledge and tools to protect their digital health.
Loyalty schemes are often part and parcel of a health insurer’s offering, and there’s no reason why these can’t expand to include digital privacy and other digital wellbeing tools. Not only could this help to add real value to customer’s lives, but it also shows a deeper level of understanding from these providers that they’re willing to modernise their offerings. In such a competitive space, this could win a lot of new people over.
Protecting our digital selves
The boundaries between physical, mental, and digital health will continue to blur as our world continues to become digital-first. Nobody’s life is solely offline these days, and we need to recognise that true wellbeing requires protecting individuals across all aspects of their lives.
By integrating digital wellbeing into their customer offer, insurers and healthcare providers can add greater value and convenience to their customers – whilst ultimately helping them to lead healthier, happier lives.
