Digital Native – Digital Who??

A digital native is a person who was born during or after the general introduction of digital technology, and through interacting with digital technology from an early age, has a greater understanding of its concepts. Alternatively, this term can describe people born in the latter 1980s or later, as the digital age began at that time; but in most cases the term focuses on people who grew up with 21st century modern technology.

Digital native for Dutch Government Voorlichtingsraad (VoRa)

Other popular discourse identifies a digital native as a person who understands the value of digital technology and uses this to seek out opportunities for implementing it with a view to make an impact.

A digital immigrant is an individual who was born before the existence of digital technology and adopted it to some extent later in life.

As Dr. Ofer Zur and Azzia Zur discuss (in 2009), not all digital immigrants are technologically inept, as they fall into a number of categories; Avoiders, Reluctant Adopters and Eager Adopters. Avoiders may only have a minimal amount of technology involved in their lives and households (e.g., a landline phone and a television set). Reluctant Adopters often see ways that technology might be needed in their lives, but they try to avoid it when possible (e.g., letters instead of emails, rotary telephones). Eager Adopters have enthusiasm or a talent for technology that makes them very similar to Digital Natives. Similarly, not all digital natives are comfortable with technology.

What is a “Digital Native”? by Sunil Abraham door SocialterTV

Guidelines of a digital native:

• No digital failure allowed – a digital native just can’t stand the idea of  a technological to not work
  f.i. No internet, No webmail, No network connection … all due to a faillure – Are you up for it?
  Do you allow the network provider to shut down the Interner for 1 day?
• Good enough beats perfection, enspecially when good enough is cheap, fast and easy.
  f.i. Skype, MP3
• No absolute control, a digital native wants to be heard (and share his ideas and opinions)
• Nothing is forever – project driven, instead of job security
• Want to be heard – full of ideas they want to share (now)

Digital Demographs

Sources:

• Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_native
• Sunil Abraham – http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdoktp_what-is-a-digital-native-by-sunil-a_news
• Polle De Maagt – http://www.slideshare.net/polledemaagt/digital-native-for-dutch-government-voorlichtingsraad-vora
• Penn-Olson – http://www.penn-olson.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Understanding-the-millennials.png
• The New Normal - Peter Hinssen (2010), Mach Media NV, 202p.