Digital Natives…Are they all they’re cracked up to be?

The Dilemma

Most grandparents will generally marvel at the technology skills of their grandkids, thinking they are so good with computers, tablets and mobile phones, and for many, a family get-together often has the obligatory young person helping out an older person with technology of some sort. For Gen X’ers, this can be likened back in the 1980s and 1990s to having to set up the VCR or set-top box on the old analog television for their elders. However…are the young people of today really digitally literate?

The answer to this question is the same as many other questions…it depends. There are many variables and this article will be generalising.

Myth #1 – Young People are Tech Savvy

Of course, there will be young people who are the next Mark Zuckerburg, Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk. However, there are many who find using technology a challenge, just the same as any other generation. We often make this assumption that young people are savvy just because they have had a smartphone or iPad in their hands since they were babies or toddlers, and know how to swipe through pictures, play their favourite game, or make an overseas phone call. True story – when my son was 5 years old he loved exploring on Google Maps and was obsessed with America. One day while he was playing on Maps, I hear a voice speaking…he made a phone call to an art gallery in New York 🤦🏻‍♀️

Young people know how to swipe, tap and get around, however, there is much more to digital literacy than these basic skills.

Myth #2 – Young People all Have Smartphones

The Australian Digital Inclusion Index highlights that approximately 25% of Australians are digitally excluded. This could be due to financial situation, location or level of skill and ability. The index does not provide data for people under the age of 18, however, it does highlight that in the age group of 18 – 34, only 75.3% of Australians have sufficient access to devices or data. Given people under the age of 18 will need to rely on parents or guardians to provide access, the level of access could be even worse in this age group as they are only able to access someone else’s device.

The assumption that all young people will have a smartphone can be exclusionary in their participation in education, training or work.

Myth #3 – Young People Can Spot Scams

Just like everyone else, young people are just as likely to be caught out by a scam as older people unless they are properly educated on what to look for, and how to behave in a safe manner online. This extends to cybersecurity in general, but also situations of cyberbullying, online harassment and exposure to inappropriate or damaging content.

Myth #4 – Young People Know the Best Digital Tools to Use for the Job

Often, young people are focused on using technology for entertainment such as social media, streaming programs or listening to music. They may be using it to create content such as videos and reels, but can they organise an efficient file structure and naming conventions to ensure the integrity of files? Can they ensure password security across all accounts? Or are they using the same password for all their accounts? Do they know the right tone of voice to use in a work email as opposed to a personal text message? Can they choose the best channel to communicate in a given situation? These are a few of the many questions about the selection of appropriate digital tools.

Myth #5 – Young People Just Know How to do Stuff

Young people may on occasion be able to work things out technically, but they still need supervision and guidance to learn the appropriate methods of communication, understand privacy and their digital footprint, digital citizenship, evaluate the information they find online and understand their overall responsibility and place in an online world.

Conclusion

Digital Literacy has become a core skill in the modern world, as important as reading, writing and arithmetic. Why then do we often assume that young people are all set to be launched into the big bad world without being sufficiently taught, coached and guided in how to make the best of such a powerful medium as the internet, tools such as laptops, tablets and smartphones, and the software that brings it all together. Developing the digital literacy of young people is an underlying foundational step in future-proofing the economy.