Response to Marc Prensky and Paul Kirschner

 I think the biggest effect on students thinking patterns today is caused by phone usage; primarily, social media. From personal and from my friend's experience, we'll use our phones for around four hours (give or take depending on the day). If I get rid of social media apps such as Instagram, Reddit, TikTok, and Snapchat, that number drops down to thirty minutes or so. My peers and I have a tendency to use social media as a means to escape even the slightest feelings of boredom and anxiety. I can really only speak from my experience but I'd guess almost everyone my age is guilty of this too. For example, say I'm standing in line for something. It's difficult to resist the urge to pull out my phone. I forget how to just stand still and just be comfortable, and I feel awkward that I'm the only one whose attention isn't invested in something else. These short moments of boredom are easy to avoid with a phone. Instantly, you can see what your friends are saying, read an article, or watch a video, just in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately because of this reason, I think it's easy to lose touch with yourself. If you're constantly stimulated, you have no time to deal with certain thoughts and feelings. Eventually, these things can build up until you're unable to avoid them through your phone. But boredom and anxiety are healthy in small amounts. Boredom can lead to curiosity, and anxiety can lead to mindfulness. But since the vast majority of people my age (including myself) avoid these things instantly with the push of a button, we never exercise these qualities.

    In the article, "The myths of the digital native and the multitasker, Kirschner explains that just because a generation grew up using the internet, does not mean that they are digitally literate. He goes on to say that just because students use a "large quantity and variety of technologies for communication," they are not using it in ways that would be beneficial as opposed to digital immigrants. For the most part, students are using technology to be entertained. I agree with what Kirschner says, but in the article, he compares students to adults. Adults may use technology as a means of productivity more than students will, but I think it's the age gap that explains why adults would be more digitally literate than students. When Students mature, they will certainly have more knowledge of the components that go into being "digitally literate" than the digital natives, since they grew up using these platforms.