Quick Summary
In a recent perusal of the Chronicle of Higher Education, I ran across the article, “Confronting the Myth of the ‘Digital Native.’” The title immediately grabbed my attenti
In a recent perusal of the Chronicle of Higher Education, I ran across the article, “Confronting the Myth of the ‘Digital Native.’” The title immediately grabbed my attention as the “Digital Native” has been and continues to be a part of professional conversations among librarians. Eszter Hargittai, a sociologist and Northwestern University professor in the Communication Studies Department, leads a research group called Web Use Project whose goal is “to learn about how people use the Web in their everyday lives and in particular, how differences in Internet use may contribute to social inequality.”
Through years of research focusing on the online skills of millennials, Hargittai asserts that the findings don’t describe a group of tech savvy and experienced young people but rather depicts “a stratified landscape in which some, mostly privileged, young people use their skills constructively, while others lack even basic Internet knowledge.” Furthermore, Hargittai argues that when we assume that millennials inherently understand all they need to know about technology and its applications, we limit their opportunities for learning and asking questions.
Out of their research findings, Hargittai and her colleague, Brayden King, associate professor of management and organization at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, developed a 10-week course called “Managing Your Online Reputation.” In that course, which has now become so popular that it has garnered a waiting list, students learn searching skills using a variety of search engines (and uncover the differences in results); how to create profiles on platforms such as Google Plus, Tumblr, and Twitter; and researching and presenting case studies of individuals who have been successful in managing a positive and fruitful online reputation.
Spending some time reading and considering Hargittai’s research would likely develop and deepen our current discussions in the library profession. Visit Web Use Project and the list of publications to take a closer look.