Digital Native

What exactly is a digital native? A digital native is defined as a person born after 1980 who, consequently, grew up in the new era of digital technology. Digital natives are people who are considered "fluent" in the language of technology. You know the type, like the elementary school - aged kids who already possess iPhones, or the teenagers who do their reading assignments on their Kindles. Those who haven't had constant exposure to digital technology, or have become exposed to it later in life, are considered to be digital immigrants. Now knowing what these terms mean, we must determine which of the two we are. 

Having been born in 1993, I suppose that I would be considered a "digital native." (According to Born Digital.) I was born into this technologically advanced era, often to my dismay, and was exposed to things like computers, digital cameras, and Nintendo's throughout the majority of my childhood. I have since, however, struggled with it somewhat. 

Both my parents grew up in the time period of the 1960's-70's and, by definition, would be considered "digital immigrants". That being said, I had to teach myself most of what I know about these various digital technologies. My family bought our first computer in the summer of 1998. It sat in my bedroom and was purchased mostly for my use. At the age of five I began tinkering with this shiny new toy and ultimately taught myself certain skills that would, later on, be required in school. 

Over the years I learned more advanced computer skills. From there, I went on to use many other types of digital technologies including: digital cameras, cell phones, MP3 players, iPods, and gaming devices. For someone who had to teach myself basically all of my technological skills, I think I've faired pretty well over time. There are still certain advanced skills that I struggle with from time to time, but I do my best to ask for help and learn from it. However, I do still find myself completing certain tasks the "old fashioned way". For instance, I tend to call people rather than text them. I'd rather read a paperback novel rather than read one off of a Kindle or E-Reader. And, often times, I still complete assignments on paper before I do so with a computer. 

So, in response to the question, "To what degree do I consider myself a digital native?" I would say that I don't consider myself to be a digital native to a very high degree. It is true that I use technology in my schoolwork. It's also true that, for a quicker answer, I will search for information on the internet before going to do so in the library. I also spend a large amount of my time surfing the internet on my iPhone and listening to my iPod while walking to class. Maybe you're now wondering just why it is that I don't consider myself to be a digital native to a high degree. Well, if you are, I would tell you that it's because digital technology isn't always my first instinct. Just because I was born during a certain era doesn't necessarily mean that I turn to technology for everything or that I'm technologically savvy in all cases. ("Are all youth digital natives? Simply put, no," says Harvard's Digital Natives Project.)  While I have grown up in this technological era, it's not really how I grew up at home. My parents are digital immigrants and I do believe that, to some degree, their attitudes about and towards digital technology have been passed on to me. 

While I love what modern digital technology has done for our generation in many ways, it also comes with downsides that sometimes makes me resent it.