"Digital Natives" Prensky vs. Boyd

 The idea of "digital natives" and "digital immigrants" is new terminology to me, but not necessarily a new concept. With the pandemic, and the rising need to be technologically savvy, many jobs moved to working remotely. For some, this was a relatively easy transition, as they were already comfortable with the different platforms they would be expected to use. In many cases, these are the people that would be considered "digital natives." For others, this was a nightmare that resulted in uncertainty and a sense of panic. These are the people that would be considered "digital immigrants." Prensky's idea of "natives" and "immigrants" stems from the idea that youth know and are comfortable with technology, while adults may be more uncomfortable and struggle with using technology. In her book, It's Complicated, Danah Boyd challenges this idea. 

In the chapter, "Are today's youth digital natives?" Boyd discusses how youth are not automatically able to consume technology and social media in appropriate ways. It is important to teach them how to identify a reputable source, how much information should be shared on social media, and how to identify bias and inaccuracies online. Censoring websites and sources, specifically in schools, is not going to help students learn to identify biases and inaccuracies. "Censorship of inaccurate or problematic content does not provide youth the skills they will one day need to evaluate information independently" (Boyd 181). One example of censorship of sources is the negative reputation that teachers voice to students regarding Wikipedia. In many schools, teachers do not allow Wikipedia to be used as a source for assignments. My own personal experiences mirror this. I was taught that Wikipedia was not reputable because anyone could go in and edit the information, resulting in inaccurate information. Boyd challenges and refutes this idea by noting that Wikipedia is reviewed by moderators and volunteers who check the sites to ensure accurate information is being shared and appropriate protocols are being followed. Students need to be taught how to review a source for accurate information, rather than be censored from it. In the real world, they will not be censored from inaccurate sites and resources. It will be up to them to determine what should or should not be used. 

Prensky and Boyd view youth in different ways. In Prensky's view, youth are the "digital natives" that know everything about technology because this is the world they grew up in. Boyd views youth as clay that needs to be molded and given opportunities to interact with the technological world. They were not born with the capacity to interact with social media, but rather to learn appropriate ways to do so. 

I think that the "digital native" and "digital immigrant" terms do not encompass the true identity of technology users in today's society. Youth are not born with the notion of how to use technology and engage in social media. Adults are not destined to struggle with engaging online in meaningful ways. There is a learning element for all people that use technology. Youth need to learn and be taught how to use online resources in meaningful and appropriate ways. Adults, or those that are not as comfortable using technology, need to learn and be taught how to use different elements of technology to their full potential and to fit their needs. All of us can be identified as "digital learners," working to use online elements in ways that are most beneficial for the needs of ourselves and others.