When we read about young people they are frequently defined with terms such as “digital natives”. As discussed in this article by UNESCO the implication is that growing up in a world far more technically advanced each day gives them a built-in sensitivity and awareness to technology, as well as a preference for the visual. This superficial view has been investigated for the last fifteen years with conclusions providing more insight into the reality: “very diverse in the ways they use and think about digital technology”. Additionally there are socio-economic factors that influence whether a child will have the opportunity to develop the appropriate technical skills. A digital divide does exist and there are “important contextual differences that influence our development and shape our life chances”. The bottom line is that we need to create a more digitally inclusive society that fosters increased availability of technology to all and harnesses the learning potential that technology can provide. However, one should never overlook the access that the Internet can provide for inappropriate content and children need to be protected at school and home. At Escudo Web we provide software solutions that help a teacher manage a class, protect children online and enable parents to manage this at home.
https://en.unesco.org/courier/2021-2/are-all-young-people-digital-whiz-kids