The Digital Natives — Connected? Or Addicted?

Wireless signs of the times—like the one you see here—are cropping up all over the country, but nowhere are they more prevalent than at our college campuses. This one from Rutgers University lets students know they can escape the confines of their dorm room and tap into the internet anytime, almost anywhere.

The term “digital natives” has been around for a number of years and is credited to Marc Prensky from his article “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants” written in 2001. It defines “digital natives” as the first generation of people who “perceive technology as their friend and rely on it to study, work, play, relax and communicate.” The fact is, more of our young people under 25 can’t get along without technology, and if they can’t have a wireless connection, they feel deprived.

In an October ’06 USA TODAY article by Sharon Jayon, she quotes A.J. Hunter, a Ball State University student, as saying, “I can’t even think of when I use it and when I don’t. It’s such a part of life.” This second nature quality to wireless technology is making it not only a part of life, but also something students simply cannot live without.

In her article, Jayon describes the extent to which Ball State University has “connected” student life. “Even doing laundry is web-based: Five of the seven residence halls have an internet-linked laundry system to reserve washers and dryers, monitor the wash online and get an email alert when it’s done.”

Unlimited access to the world’s information would seem to be the reason students want connectivity, but there’s more to it than that. As another student puts it, “Even if I’m just bored, I’m looking at random websites. It’s what I do. Sometimes I’m up until 4 in the morning looking at the internet. Your time kind of flies.” 

My generation had other ways to waste our time, and I remember a few times getting in around 4 in the morning when I was that age. But I can’t help but wonder if all this connectedness doesn’t have an addictive quality. We used to have to get up, get out and look for diversions from studying. Now MySpace, Facebook and YouTube are only a click away—even in the lecture hall.

Certainly technology is helping our young people connect with the world in ways never before imagined. Let’s hope the learning keeps pace.

That’s it, from the edge of the world.

Bob