Digital Nativity

The Wikipedia definition of a digital native: A digital native is a person who was born during or after the general introduction of digital technologies and through interacting with digital technology from an early age, has a greater understanding of its concepts. Alternatively, this term can describe people born during or after the 2000's, as the Digital Age began at that time; but in most cases, the term focuses on people who grew up with the technology that became prevalent in the latter part of the 20th century and continues to evolve today. In our readings, Boyd acknowledges the fact that this is, in fact, not an accurate means of stereotyping our generation. In reality, many children that have grown up in this period of time are just as technologically illiterate as the generation before us. While many youth do have a much more developed understanding and proficiency with technology, it does not mean that each and every single member of this generation shares in that knowledge. Technology has been implemented in various aspects of our daily lives, which has allowed someone who grows up utilizing it their entire lives to become more familiar with it, and therefore more proficient with it. Without a doubt there are many members of the previous generation that are much more knowledgeable and experienced with technology compared to those of the digital native generation. It is unfair to assume that just because of a person's generational disposition, that they are associated with this expectation of knowledge and familiarity. Technology and its various means and sources is not for everyone, and by placing individuals into this category due to their age is almost prejudicial to them. You make them feel as if they should know these things and are odd or out of place if they do not. The idea of the digital native is false, just as Boyd points out, and it is an unfortunate stereotype that all youth will likely have to deal with as the times move on.