Digital Natives or Naivetes?

For instance, are teens better with technology than older adults? Perhaps, but they also "tend to use much simpler applications and fewer facilities than many imagine."

Another common trope is that respect for authority on the Web is dead (with Wikipedia usually cited as an example) and that there are no more "experts" on the Internet; it's all about peer knowledge. The report calls this a "myth" as well, saying that "research in the specific context of the information resources that children prefer and value in a secondary school setting shows that teachers, relatives, and textbooks are consistently valued above the Internet."
I'd go along with this as well - it's just that they will double check you against the internet so you better know your stuff

On social networking etc......

The numbers are those who say they are extremely likely or very likely to do so (general public responses in brackets).
•
self-publish creative work: 7% (6%)
•
share ideas with about library services: 10% (7%)
•
share your photos / videos: 7% (6%)
•
participate in online discussion groups: 6% (6%)
•
meet others with similar interests: 6% (7%)
•
describe your own personal collections: 9% (6%)
•
view others’ personal collections: 12% (6%)

Thus, most college students say they are not interested. Clearly it is very early days, but these survey findings do not provide much confidence that social software, yet, has much to contribute to the rebuilding of relationships with users in an increasingly dis-intermediated environment.

My observation - my "Google Generation use Social Networks that "do something" - the current buzzphrase is that they have a "social objective" - so World of Warcraft functions as social net, VoIP and game in one.

Some other thoughts from the report that are pertinent to some of the assertions of some of our Noo Media Gurus - some myths exploded:

They have shifted decisively to digital forms of communication: texting rather than talking

Our verdict: Open. it is very difficult to see messaging as a fundamental trend, its current popularity is certainly influenced by its relatively low cost compared with voice.

My observation - the minute the kids get near broadband, the texting disappears and IM, VoIP et al take over.

They multitask in all areas of their lives*

Our verdict: Open. There is no hard evidence. However, it is likely that being exposed to online media early in life may help to develop good parallel processing skills. The wider question is whether sequential processing abilities, necessary for ordinary reading [ and complex problem solving ], are being similarly developed.

I don't see continuous Continual Partial Attention - I see them use it as one mode of behaviour, typically in relaxation time. If anything I see more adults who are in this mode.