A few decades ago, computer use was mostly relegated to a handful of professions. Not many people owned their own computers, and most computers were used as a tool on the job. These days, there is at least one computer in every household, and most people have active accounts on Facebook or Twitter or at least an email address. Computers are ubiquitous in our society, so it stands to reason that more importance has been placed on computer literacy.
Being computer literate is important as it opens up more job opportunities, helps in staying up to date, it is a cheap way to communicate, it enhances professionalism, helps in better record keeping and makes transactions more convenient. Almost all workplaces and businesses have embraced the use of computers in one way or another meaning it is almost impossible not to encounter a computer in everyday life.