Jun 08 07
Those Pesky Natives
By Jordan Bailey
Its okay, you don’t have to be afraid. This isn’t another episode of LOST. The faction of humans roaming around the streets aged 0 to 25 aren’t here to hurt you. We’re your friends, we just speak another language.
We’re digital natives: individuals who’ve grown up immersed in technology.
When it comes to communicating, I think most people would agree that there is a pretty huge divide between digital natives and digital immigrants. (Immigrants being those individuals who’ve incorporated technology into their lives rather than being born into it.) It’s not so much a reflection of what’s being said, but more about how things are being said. So, it’s a question of the medium not the message.
Is the application of technology for communications purposes the source of the divide? Does one group have an advantage over the other?
I find it difficult to assume that I, at 25, have an advantage over the digital immigrants of the world. Why would my experience with technology be that much different than that of my parents’ generation? I certainly haven’t used it longer than anyone else. I don’t have access to more or less technology than the average baby boomer. I’ve noticed that most people, regardless of age, embrace technology as much as they can. Even my 90 year old grandma had an email account. As a society, there seems to be an acceptance of the value that technology adds, the simplification it brings, and the potential it has.
So if it’s not experience, access, or acceptance what is it?
I see a very simple concept driving the divergence. Most digital immigrants, while recognizing the power of technology, still view it as an external tool—something that aides them through consciously applied use. It is in this concept of “tool” where I find an answer. Digital natives incorporate technology in a much more symbiotic way; there is little or no separation of self and tool. For the native, Myspace isn’t just a social networking platform; it’s a public self portrait. Consequently, the internet is not just a source of information and communication, but a virtual extension of identity, and most importantly, ability. This relationship with technology, as it pertains to communications, may give natives an advantage. Those less familiar with new mediums may not be able to communicate as well or keep up with the ways that developing technology can aide them.
Going forward, it will be interesting to see if the gap widens or whether the two groups achieve some kind of techno-communication harmony. We’ll see.
Tags: millennials
[...] For me, the answer is extremely simple. Yes, I will eat technology use technology that is appealing to me. A better question is whether or not the majority of people would do the same. Going back to the same ideas I talked about in Those Pesky Natives, I think digital natives are inherently more trusting of the benefit that technology will add to their lives. The leap of faith, so to speak, is minimal. [...]