Communicating Online

  I’m someone who checks my phone first thing in the morning and probably scrolls more than I should and I totally get why Marc Prensky coined the term “digital native” back in 2001. It captures something true about how comfortable we are with technology. But after reading more especially from Paul Kirschner’s side of the debate, I think we’ve been overly romanticizing this idea. Prensky argued that today’s students think and process information differently because we’ve grown up with tech. He painted a picture of a generational divide between tech-savvy natives and outdated immigrants. But Kirschner—along with a lot of recent research, completely busts this myth wide open. Comfort with tech doesn’t equal competence. Just because I can upload a TikTok or troubleshoot Wi-Fi doesn’t mean I instinctively know how to critically read online sources or manage my time across five browser tabs. One of the most damaging myths Prensky promoted, according to Kirschner, is that we’re all expe...

 As a college student navigating the very “digitally native” world we’re said to thrive in, I find Marc Prensky’s digital native vs. digital immigrant divide to be both insightful and limiting. In his 2001 theory, Prensky argued that those born into the digital age “digital natives” have fundamentally different brain wiring and learning styles than older generations, or “digital immigrants.” At first glance, this seemed like a useful framework to explain why my generation is so comfortable with smartphones, social media, and online tools. But looking deeper—and especially through Paul Kirschner’s critiques—it’s clear the theory may be doing more harm than good. Kirschner, in The Myths of the Digital Native and the Multitasker , directly challenges Prensky’s claims. He argues that the idea of “digital natives” being naturally adept at technology and multitasking is a myth. Research supports this: just because we grew up with tech doesn’t mean we inherently know how to use it for eff...

       I believe social networking sites don’t have direct responsibility for the mental health of their users, but they should be transparent about the content and potential effects that media can have. Many people engage with social media, and “Though most social media platforms have a required minimum age of 13, almost 40% of children between the ages of 8 and 12 use social media” (Vidal & Katzenstein, 2024). This statistic shows that many young people are active on social media and are more susceptible to harmful content.      I'm very anti-censorship and don’t think platforms should enforce it—but I do feel it’s extremely important that both parents and users are informed about the mental health effects that social media can have. Since anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues can arise from engagement with these platforms, users should be aware of those potential consequences before participating.      I don’t think this inf...

  Controversial attitudes surrounding social media hold some level of validity, no matter the position taken. I believe some social media sites are far more beneficial than others. For example, I typically favor Pinterest, Snapchat, and Letterboxd the most. For me, Pinterest serves as an inspiration board. It forces me to be intentional and reflective of who I am and who I want to be while interacting with art. Though there is often negativity surrounding the ambition for a “Pinterest-worthy” life, I believe the way in which you interact with an app is far more influential than the app itself. I use Pinterest for quotes to hang on my wall, ways to style pieces of clothing I’ve had forever, ideas for how I want my hairstylist to cut or dye my hair, pictures of cute homes I aspire to own one day, and so much more. Snapchat, I barely use at all, but it serves as the main communication channel for my friends and me. I never post, but every group I’m a part of specifically uses Snap to ...

Hi everyone! My name is Seraphina Naefke. I am a sophomore studying English and Education with a minor in History at Oregon State University. I am originally from Redondo Beach, California but currently reside in Corvallis for school. I took public speaking my freshman year and while I can't say I loved it I did learn a lot. When communicating I primarily use Snapchat and Instagram. In my free time I love to go to the beach and surf. An interesting fact about me is that I have three older brothers and recently became an auntie!