Beyond digital natives - critical digital literacies for the AI generation

Abstract

How do we live, learn, and act in a world where every space can become content and every interaction might be shaped by algorithms? This fundamental question drives our need to rethink what digital literacy means in an age of artificial intelligence. This primer examines how digital saturation and the rise of generative AI are transforming the way we access information, perform identity, and exercise citizenship. It offers a framework for understanding our contemporary engagement with our connected world. For over two decades, policymakers and educators have leaned on the idea of the “digital native”: the belief that young people intuitively master digital technologies simply because they have grown up with them. This publication challenges that assumption head-on. Research shows that genuine digital competence is not a birthright and requires structured, ongoing development across cognitive, technical, and social dimensions. We live in a world where every space can become potential content and every moment a possible post. This means we are simultaneously participants and audience in our own digital theatre, shaped by algorithms and the screens we carry. The boundaries between living and documenting our lives have blurred. As generative AI becomes mainstream and transforms how we seek information, our relationship with these technologies is becoming increasingly intense and potentially compulsive. This new digital ecosystem demands an urgent reconsideration of what literacy means today. Beyond Digital Natives addresses the profound shifts occurring in our lives due to the omnipresence of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Comprehensive Framework for Digital Literacies Digital literacies as integrated cognitive, technical, and social capabilities that empower us to critically navigate, evaluate, and create content in digital environments, including those increasingly influenced by AI systems. Eight interconnected literacies – ranging from information evaluation and AI systems literacy to privacy management, digital citizenship, and ethical integration – are mapped out as essential capabilities for today’s socio-technical world. Debunking myths about young people online The myths we often tell about online behaviour frequently reflect our own anxieties about technological change rather than evidence-based understanding of how people truly engage with digital systems. Twelve common misconceptions – from “young people don’t care about privacy” to “AI will make them dependent” – are unpacked and reframed through evidence and practice. Practical tools for agency The primer introduces foundational questions to ask of any technology, alongside specialized critical frameworks for evaluating AI systems. These help readers develop the reflexes needed to retain control and accountability in a world mediated by opaque systems and increasingly shaped by business interests and algorithmic opacity. A call for systemic change Beyond individual skills, the text insists on collective action: reforming education, holding platforms accountable, and advocating for fairer digital infrastructures that serve democratic and human needs. It provides foundational questions to consider before adopting any new technology and encourages moving beyond individual responsibility to engage in collective action for systemic change. The goal is to foster critical digital citizens who can harness technology’s benefits while actively resisting its potential harms, enabling us all to inhabit our digital futures with intention, wisdom, and care for our shared humanity.