It is generally assumed that once people have access to the digital devices and to the Internet, and can use those devices, they are digitally literate. However, being able to browse the Internet, check your emails, access social media, and shop online, does not automatically mean an individual is digitally literate.
The American Library Association (ALA) defines digital literacy as “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.”
Digital literacy spans areas including computer literacy, network literacy, information literacy and social media literacy.
It involved practical computer skills, both hardware skills and software skills.
Digital literacy also encompass the possessing the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours with respect to networked devices, and understanding and practising the sociological, political, cultural, economic and behavioural aspects of digital technologies.
An person that digitally literate have the understanding of basics Internet safety such as creating strong passwords, understanding and using privacy settings, and knowing what to share or not on social media. That person understand the perils of cyberbullying and seek to stop current bullies and prevent others from cyberbullying.
Digital literacy is really important now and in the future. At our workplace we will be required to interact with people in digital environments, use information in appropriate ways, and create new ideas and products collaboratively.
With digital literacy skills we learn to become responsible content creators in addition to content consumers.
We move beyond finding, evaluating, and consuming digital content to creating it, including both writing in digital formats and creating other forms of media such as tweets, podcasts, videos, emails, and blogs.
Above all, we will need to maintain our digital identity and well-being as the digital landscape continues to change at a fast pace.
