People who grew up during the rise of home computers, cell phones, and the internet.
Digital natives, or Millenials are very comfortable with technology.
by talk2me-JCH2 April 13, 2023
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Mistaken belief that young folks who were born immersed in things digital are somehow in a state of grace and older folks are cursed by their age and lack of digital conditioning. Arrogant and insulting division of generations into different camps first proposed by Marc Prensky but unfounded on any survey data.
With an insulting tone worthy of the original American nativists who hated immigrants (especially Catholic ones), Marc Prensky speaks of pre-iPod humans (digital immigrants) contemptuously. This is simply digital nativism, a kind of generational prejudice that is ill founded and unsubstantiated.
by Songpoet October 16, 2007
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digitalnative is a person who was born just before during or after the general introduction of digital technologies and through interacting with digital technology from an early age, has a greater understanding of its concepts. Not all agree with the language and underlying connotations of the digital native. The term suggests a familiarity with technology that not all children and young adults who would be considered digital natives have, though some instead have an awkwardness with technology that not all digital immigrants have. This is depending on the location of the school and whether or not the students have access to these endless technologies. In its application, the concept of the digital native preferences those who grow up with technology as having a special status, ignoring the significant difference between familiarity and creative application. Like animals to their natural habitat, those who were raised in a digital world naturally develop a keen perception and understanding of their surroundings. Many children in this generation are empowered through technology because of this.Thus we should be able to use and teach using these technologies or examples of these technologies that the students have grown up with. “Digital natives or the net generation, these young people are said to have been immersed in technology all their lives, imbuing them with sophisticated technical skills.”
e.g. Jarith Rosazza a british italian scientist born in 1984(the beginning of the 8-bit video game era) who by 1994 was building sound and computer information systems from parts.
Alternatively, this term can describe people born before during or after the 2000s, as the Digital Age began at that time; but in most cases, the term focuses on people who grew up with the technology that became prevalent in the latter part of the 20th century and continues to evolve today. Other 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
by 80110 January 3, 2014
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A person who grew up with ICTs.

Antonym: digital immigrant
See also: digital immigrant accent

These terms were coined by Marc Prensky in his book Digital Game Based Learning
"A big part of our education problems stems directly from the fact that Digital Immigrants - who comprise most of our teachers - are not very fluent in the language that Digital Natives speak." Marc Prensky in an elearningpost interview
by Oingodeboingo November 11, 2004
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