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Are Today’s Youth Digital Natives?

With the rapid development of technology, people of twenty first century can no longer

imagine their lives without mobile phones, computers, and the Internet. While the adults had to

adapt and get used to the changes, the youth, as the representatives of new generation, were born

when the technology was already blooming. Some people believe that teenagers are digital

natives, meaning that they automatically understand all technological issues. However, there are

other people who argue that being born in the modern era does not guarantee an in-depth

knowledge of technological side of life. Even though the majority of teenagers actively use the

gifts of technology, they are more naïve in certain aspects of it than the adults. The stereotypes

that exist in regard to the relationship between the youth and digital technology lead to various

misunderstandings, complicating the teenagers’ lives and placing them in a situation where they

will inevitably fail to meet the expectations of others.

The digital revolution has irrevocably changed everyone’s lives, transforming the way the

youth perceive the reality. In our days, it is surprising to see a young person without smartphone

or other fancy gadgets. It is even more surprising if a teenager does not have an account on one

of social media platforms. Adolescents communicate, find out the latest news, and even study

with the help of technology, which made some people label them as digital natives. They know

how to watch movies through iPhones while being stuck in a long queue, how to buy books,
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music, and other things without leaving their room, and how to keep in touch with everyone

without actually talking to them. The adults have gotten so used to seeing teenagers with gadgets

in hands that they are often surprised when it becomes clear that being able to log in does not

mean the youth know how to “interpret, evaluate, and participate in various systems and streams

of information” (Soyka). On the contrary, the adults sometimes know much more about the

technical side of digital life than the supposed digital natives, because they are forced to learn

about the intricacies of technology during the working process, while the teenagers mainly

dominate the world of social media.

The stereotypes that surround the youth and label them as digital natives often lead to

misunderstandings. According to a researcher Danah Boyd, some teenagers do not even “know

the difference between a web browser and the Internet” (177). The reality, no matter how

surprising it might be, shows that in many aspects, teenagers are clueless in regard to the

technical side of the digital life. Being able to create an account or use Google is not enough in

order to be considered a digital native, since there are many other skills that need to be acquired,

such as “understanding, empowerment, interpretation, participation, critical approach” (Pace). Of

course, there are teenagers who are genuinely curious about all sides of digital life and who long

for additional knowledge, so they learn all possible information and shock the adults with their

extensive understanding of the world of technologies. However, when teachers expect all of their

students to immediately know how to find and evaluate information and to understand how

various systems function, they subject them to uncomfortable and stressful situations. A lot of

teenagers do not automatically know these things, because they lack both knowledge and

experience (Boyd 176). They might feel inadequate and miserable while facing the unrealistic

expectations of other people.

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Assuming that the teenagers are aware of all aspects of digital life can be not simply

damaging, but also extremely dangerous. As Boyd stated in her work, “there is no magical

relation between skills and age” (177). The birth date does not define the youth and it does mean

they immediately acquire digital citizenship. Some teenagers may know nothing about the

dangers the Internet is hiding, including spam, viruses, or the liars who might use the teen’s

naivety in their purposes. When parents or teachers mistakenly believe that the children under

their care are digital natives, they endanger them by not informing them of the risks they might

face. To develop a range of certain digital competencies, it is necessary to work hard, to

constantly improve skills and gain new knowledge. Adults have a lot to offer, considering the

experience they have already had. They should share their knowledge with young generations,

contributing to their development and helping them familiarize themselves with the world of

digital technologies. It is also essential to warn teenagers about the threats they could encounter,

regardless of their age. It might prevent them from getting into situations that could endanger

their computers, information stored on them, and even their lives.

The belief that the youth know all digital intricacies is erroneous in its nature, since age

does not affect the general understanding of the digital language. While teenagers have a good

head start, they still have to learn how to use and understand digital media in order to be able to

function in our modern world. The adults should be ready to help them instead of assuming that

their knowledge comes naturally. By doing this, they will lessen the pressure on teenagers and

contribute to their safety, at the same time enriching their knowledge.

Works Cited
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Boyd, Danah. It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens. Yale University Press,

2014.

Pace, Rosaria. “Review of Chapter 7: Literacy - Are today's youth digital natives?” Hastac,

https://www.hastac.org/blogs/rosaria-pace/2014/06/17/chapter-7-literacy-are-todays-

youth-digital-natives-review-rosaria Accessed 4 November 2016.

Soyka, Heather. “Review of Chapter 7: Literacy - Are today's youth digital natives?” Hastac,

https://www.hastac.org/blogs/heathers/2014/06/16/chapter-7-literacy-are-todays-youth-

digital-natives-review-heather-soyka Accessed 4 November 2016.