Sunday, October 23, 2011

Digital Natives and Immigrants. Hogwash!!!

I know this is not the first time you have heard this opinion expressed by me but...The existence of the Digital Native is a myth. That's right, they don't exist. This has been my opinion since I was first exposed to the term nearly three years past and current research is backing up my belief.

Much like the debunking of multitasking, the belief that Millennials are somehow inherently better at using and understanding digital technologies has been examined and found lacking. In a recent post in his blog trainingwreck, Dan Ponterfract provides information regarding how the myth of the digital native started, why the belief is a myth, and recent research findings.

Results from the research seem to indicate that because technology is such an integral part of the lives of so many, the use of technology by all individuals follows a bell curve model. A small percentage of individuals use new technologies immediately, most eventually choose to use successful technologies, and some will never incorporate the technology into their lives.

So rejoice all non-Millennials, you are not doomed to obsolescence simply because you were born after a certain date. You can and very likely do use many technologies more efficiently, with greater purpose, and with greater frequency than many of those Digital Native creatures of mythology.

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