Digital Literacy

Sam scrolls through their feed on the way to school: one post says climate change is a hoax, and the next tells them their data has been stolen. Another promises a get-rich-quick crypto scheme. Out of curiosity, Sam clicks on the crypto link, only to end up deep into a fringe, echo-chamber ridden forum where there are mismatches between confidence and credibility. Just being able to navigate digital platforms doesn’t mean knowing how to think critically online. This isn’t just a research failure for Sam. It’s a digital literacy problem.

Digital literacy is increasingly recognized as a foundational skill that may be just as essential as reading or numeracy. According to UNESCO, it’s “the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate and create information safely and appropriately through digital technologies.”¹ It’s about how we interact with technology, not just whether we're able to or not. Some frameworks highlight the need for students to use digital tools to work on problems, finish tasks, and create new content.² In this sense, digital literacy is less about the tools themselves and more about their thoughtful application in our omnipresent online world.

One way we can reflect on our own digital literacy is by considering our multiple digital selves.³ We all use different technologies, from an iPad to Alexa, from Google Maps to ChatGPT, and numerous platforms and devices in between. Our digital selves are both distinct and interconnected across contexts, between your personal life, in the workplace, and when you learn something new. We can see the overlap and independence of digital selves as follows:

It's not all about the digital: Four types of literacy in online worlds

Let’s rewind to the 1960s when computers were first introduced to education, and we can trace the roots of four primary concepts that have since continuously spread in the literature. Alongside digital literacy, other types of literacies remain relevant to online domains: information, media, and computer literacy. These literacies are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they are complementary as skillsets of how we consume data in the 21st century:³

Digital literacy in practice

What do digital literacy skills look like out in the world? It can be challenging to keep up with the latest technologies during a time of rapid online acceleration, especially with more recent technology such as ChatGPT and countless other iterations of AI-powered tools. Let’s break this down for the digitally literate learner:¹

Online decisions in a clickbait world

Sam didn’t mean to spread misinformation, yet without digital literacy, Sam was missing the critical lens required to question what he found, or how he even found it in the first place. Digital literacy enables learners to use technology in ways that are purposeful and discerning, not merely convenient.³ But what happens when digital literacy is lacking? 

Here, we are at risk of being enticed by alluring hooks and clickbait headlines in a digital landscape where engagement is prioritized over truth. Algorithms are designed to keep us hooked, not necessarily informed. Without the skills to question what we see online, misinformation can spread rapidly, and people can be manipulated with subtle nudges. Research shows that digital illiteracy fuels polarization and erodes trust in democratic institutions.⁴ In this type of treacherous online environment, being digitally literate means being able to recognize emotional appeals, being aware of your algorithmic bias, and knowing when a source isn’t credible.

For learners of all ages, digital literacy is a bridge to information and participation alike in today’s world. It enables us to think critically and communicate effectively online while keeping ethics in mind. It is digital literacy that empowers people to navigate daily life in the modern age with confidence, from applying for jobs to accessing healthcare.⁵ For a kid like Sam, this means more than avoiding scams or spotting fake news; it’s about learning to express themselves confidently and protect their own privacy. In other words, digital literacy is a key function in preparing for what we have come to know as digital citizenship in today’s online age.