The document discusses generational differences in attitudes towards technology and work. It notes that digital natives, born after 1982, have grown up with technologies like the internet and smartphones. However, others argue this view overgeneralizes and most young people globally do not have access to digital technologies. The document concludes by asking whether organizations should change practices to suit digital natives or focus on improving digital literacy for all.

1. The ‘Facebook Generation’ A round table discussion Paul Coyne, VP Innovation, Emerald Group Publishing BITS Foundation, November 12 th 2009

2. what is a Generation ? “ in addition to coincidence of birth, a generation is also defined by common tastes, attitudes and experiences…Those times encompass a myriad of circumstances – economic, social, sociological and, of course, demographic.” Source: Generations at work, Zenke, Raines & Filipczak (2000)

3. some sweeping Generalisations… Source: Educating the Net generation, Oblinger & Oblinger (2005) Silent Generation Baby Boomers Gen X Net Gen 1900 - 1946 1946 - 1964 1965 - 1982 1982 - 1991 Attributes Command and control Self sacrifice Optimistic workaholic Independent Sceptical Hopeful Determined Likes Respect for authority Family Community involvement Responsibility Work ethic Can-do attitude Freedom Multitasking Work life balance Latest technology Activism Parents Dislikes Waste Technology Laziness Turning 50 Red tape Hype Anything slow Negativity

4. some sweeping Generalisations… Technologies Cinema Telegraph Biro Pen Radio extended family Technologies Television Telephone Telex Vinyl nuclear family Technologies Video games Email Walkie Talkie CD individual Technologies Internet Mobile Phone I. M. MP3 online community Source: Educating the Net generation, Oblinger & Oblinger (2005) Silent Generation Baby Boomers Gen X Net Gen 1900 - 1946 1946 - 1964 1965 - 1982 1982 - 1991 Attributes Command and control Self sacrifice Optimistic workaholic Independent Sceptical Hopeful Determined Likes Respect for authority Family Community involvement Responsibility Work ethic Can-do attitude Freedom Multitasking Work life balance Latest technology Activism Parents Dislikes Waste Technology Laziness Turning 50 Red tape Hype Anything slow Negativity

6. A digital Divide ? Digital Immigrant Digital native Source: Educating the Net generation, Oblinger & Oblinger (2005) Silent Generation Baby Boomers Gen X Net Gen 1900 - 1946 1946 - 1964 1965 - 1982 1982 - 1991 Attributes Command and control Self sacrifice Optimistic workaholic Independent Sceptical Hopeful Determined Likes Respect for authority Family Community involvement Responsibility Work ethic Can-do attitude Freedom Multitasking Work life balance Latest technology Activism Parents Dislikes Waste Technology Laziness Turning 50 Red tape Hype Anything slow Negativity

12. A typical 21 year old has, on average: Sent and received 250,000 emails, instant messages and SMS texts, used a mobile phone for 10,000 hours, played video games for 5000 hours, and spent 3,500 hours social networking online… always on

13. net Generation norms

14. 1 & 2 They value FREEDOM and CUSTOMIZATION

21. As Digital Natives enter your workforce they bring with them their norms of sharing, collaboration and processing . These norms differ significantly from traditional corporate environments.

22. Not everyone agrees

23. Moral PANIC? “ proponents arguing that the workplace and education must change dramatically to cater for the needs of Digital Natives have sparked a form of ‘ moral panic ’ using extreme arguments that have lacked empiral evidence” Source: Bennet, Maton & Kervin (2008) “The digital natives debate: A critical review of the evidence”. British Journal of Educational Technology

24. Where’s the smoking gun? Digital Population “ Rather than calling Digital Natives a generation – an overstatement in light of the fact that only 1 billion of the 6 billion even have access to digital technologies – think of them as a population … The vast majority of young people born in the world today are not growing up as digital natives” Source: Palfrey & Gasser (2008) “Born Digital: Understanding the first generation of digital natives”. New York. Basic Books

25. Where’s the smoking gun? Digital Illiterates? Low web literacy skills 51% believe “most or all” of web can be trusted Little sense of online “privacy” No understanding of digital or intellectual property rights Weak Search and Evaluation skills

26. Some reflections Are terms like ‘digital native’ and ‘digital immigrant’ useful or appropriate – do they simply reinforce sterotypes ? If “digital competence” is determined by individual/personality/background and other contributing factors…can we really call this a generational divide? Could employers, managers, governments, educators and parents do better by understanding the digital world and seek to influence the Net generation through Digital Literacy

27. Discuss

28. The ‘Facebook Generation’ Question: “ Should organisations re-organise in order to exploit the creative and innovative properties of Digital Natives? Or, should we encourage digital literacy in the younger generation and in return insist they conform to our working practices?