Digital Natives and Their Customs

By Matthew N. O. Sadiku, Janet O. Sadiku and Bishop Juliana King

Our society relies heavily on technology. Technology is everywhere. It surrounds every aspect of 21st-century life. It is in the cell phones we use, the cars we drive, and even the food we eat. Technology connects and brings us together to share id

• Language: English
• Publisher: Authors' Tranquility Press
• Release date: Apr 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781960675910

Matthew N. O. Sadiku

Matthew N. O. Sadiku is a professor emeritus at Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas. He is a Life fellow of IEEE. He is the author of over 1,000 professional articles and over 100 books including “Elements of Electromagnetics” (Oxford University Press, 7th ed., 2018), “Fundamentals of Electric Circuits” (McGraw-Hill, 7 ed.,2021, with C. Alexander), “Computational Electromagnetics with MATLAB” (CRC Press, 4th ed., 2019), and “Emerging Internet-based Technologies” (CRC Press, 2019). In addition to the engineering books, he has written Christian books including “Secrets of Successful Marriages,” “How to Discover God’s Will for Your Life,” and commentaries on all the books of the New Testament Bible. Some of his books have been translated into French, Korean, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. He can be reached via email at [e-mail]

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PREFACE

Our society relies heavily on technology. Technology is everywhere. It surrounds every aspect of 21st-century life. It is in the cell phones we use, the cars we drive, and even the food we eat. Technology connects and brings us together to share ideas across borders and cultures. Today, we live in a digital world where everything is digital, and data is king. Digitization has developed and impacted our society in ways that were not anticipated. It has transformed home, work, shopping, music, movies, television, photography, travel, transportation, manufacturing, and communications. It has brought us autonomous systems, self-driving cars, Internet of things, social networking, mass surveillance, etc. Perhaps the greatest impact of digitalization on the world will be universal access to all human beings to the global computer network known as Internet. The Internet, also referred to as Cyberspace, is everywhere, enabling people to be strongly tied to digital media such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones. It allows them to chat with friends, exchange emails, play games, read the news, or buy and sell.

These days, youths are bombarded daily by endless media messages. They are expected to learn and apply skills that differ greatly from those of previous generations. Those who were born after 1980 are called digital natives. Digital natives are assumed to be inherently technology-savvy. They have some peculiar characteristics which have attracted the attention of researchers. Digital natives live in the digital world and navigate it with their digital skills. They live differently from their predecessors. This book is about digital natives and their customs.

The book is organized into 9 chapters. The first chapter provides an introduction to the book. It explains what digital technology and digital transformation are all about. It describes the digital world. It addresses the global impact of digital technologies. Chapter 2 provides a general familiarity with digital natives and their characteristics or personality traits. Their exposure to technologies (such Internet, computers and mobile devices) in their early years is believed to give digital natives a greater familiarity with and understanding of technology than people who were born before technologies became widespread. They have personal goals, priorities, values, and roles that differ greatly from previous generations. In chapter 3, we consider some ways educators can understand digital natives and change their teaching styles accordingly. The chapter also intends to encourage students, teachers, school administrators, and families to collaborate in developing learning environments best suited for 21st-century learners. Forward-thinking educators are integrating various digital technologies into the classroom to capture students’ attention and make learning more interactive and participatory.

Chapter 4 explores the attitudes of digital natives toward relationships and marriage. Marriage is an integral foundation of a society that binds people together. The landscape of marriage in particular, has shifted dramatically in recent decades in America. Digital natives question the institution of marriage. They generally take a longer time to tie the knot in marriage and resist being parents. Chapter 5 explores how digital natives behave and work in the workplace. Digital natives are tech-savvy and tech lovers. They will soon make up the majority of your workforce. The workplace is no longer a location. Digital natives work anywhere, at any time, and on any device. A digital workplace may be regarded as a virtual, modern version of a traditional workplace, which is simply a workplace without digital tools. Digital natives are not just employees; they may be employers, suppliers, partners, and customers. In chapter 6, we explore the behavior of digital natives in the business environment. Digital natives are changing the future of work. They are already making a significant impact on business and are helping to create a new business culture and norms that lead to greater efficiency and productivity. They will be the product designers, customer service providers, and business managers of tomorrow.

In chapter 7, we consider the behavior of digital natives in healthcare. Healthcare is an indispensable part of life. The pace of change in healthcare technology is unprecedented. Understanding the worldview and attitudes of digital natives can help healthcare organizations create a productive and nurturing environment for everyone. Your healthcare facility will soon be managed by digital natives. Chapter 8 examines the attitude of digital natives toward religion. A religion is an institutionalized body of believers who accept a common set of beliefs, practices, and rituals. Most of the world believes in a religion, and popular world religions include Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Church leaders should not be afraid to take advantage of new technologies as weapons to reach the lost. They have the responsibility to reach to digital natives within their world and minister to their unique needs. Chapter 9 addresses the future of digital natives. The future of digital is mainly dictated by the future of technology, the future of education, the future of work/workplace, the future of technology, etc. The future is digital, and the future of digital technology lies with digital natives. Digital natives are evidently the future leaders. They determine the future of work and workplace.

In a nutshell, this book provides an easy-to-read overview of various customs and behavior of digital natives across the world. It is a valuable source of guidance for organizations and individuals interested in digital natives who have grown up surrounded by electronic gadgets, and they cannot do without computers, video games, mobile phones, and other hi-tech devices. Looking toward the future, one can imagine a fundamental change in the character of digital natives.

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Every digital transformation is going to begin and end with the customer.

- Marc Benioff

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Technology is everywhere. It surrounds every aspect of 21st-century life. It is in the cell phones we use, the cars we drive, and even the food we eat. Technology connects and brings us together to share ideas across borders and cultures. It can expedite processes, provide new ways to reach customers and make it easier to adapt to changes. It enables opportunity, dismantles gender-based barriers, democratizes access to information, and disrupts racial and economic-privilege hierarchies. Technology has leveled everything and with digital skills, you can reach the whole world with your values and participate in the global economy [1].

Today, we live in a cyber world where everything is digital and data is king. Digitization has developed and impacted our society in ways that were not anticipated. It is likely that that will continue to be the case. Digital inventions are being used in each sector of life, whether it is home, educational institution, workplace, hospital, or automobiles, digital devices/products are present. We live in a digital age with the Internet economy growing rapidly. The Internet, also referred to as Cyberspace, is everywhere, enabling people to be strongly tied to digital media such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones. It allows them to chat with friends, exchange emails, play games, read the news, or buy and sell. It has also made it easy for people to interact from various parts of the world and exchange information.

This chapter is an introduction to the book. It begins by providing a brief history of digitalization. It explains what digital technology and digital transformation are all about. It describes the digital world. It addresses the global impact of digital technologies. It provides some advantages and disadvantages of the digital technologies. The last section concludes with comments.

1.2 BRIEF HISTORY OF DIGITIZATION

Digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in our history. The invention of the semiconductor transistor in the late 1950s enabled analog computing to go digital. In the 1980s, the digital format of optical compact discs gradually replaced analog formats. In developed nations, computers were becoming popular during the 1980s as they made their way into schools, homes, offices, business, and industries. Motorola created the first mobile phone, Motorola DynaTac, in 1983. By the late 1980s, many businesses were using computers and digital technology. The World Wide Web became publicly accessible in 1991, which had been available only to the government and universities. The concept of cyberspace or Internet was initially developed by government agencies, educational institutions, military contractors, etc. It has now come to be used primarily by corporate users. Over the years, the Internet has become a simple-to-join, anyone-can-play system. It is now the playground and factory of digital labor. By 1999, almost every nation was connected to the Internet and individuals in several nations used the Internet on a regular basis.

The digital revolution radically changed the way individuals and companies interact. It spread to the masses in the developing world in the 2000s. In the early 2000s, cell phones, personal computers, and Internet access had gone global. In late 2005, the number of people using the Internet reached 1 billion. In the early 2000s, digital computers ranging from laptops to Internet networks came in many sizes. Around the 2010s, the digitalization of analog and manual systems was almost complete. The prevalence of apps, bill payments, bots, and other digital technologies has been embedded in our everyday lives [2, 3].

1.3 DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Digital technology is the reality of the world we live in. It touches every aspect of our lives. It has dramatically transformed our society and every aspect of our lives. It is a major driver for growth, productivity, competitiveness, and innovative capacity. It is profoundly changing work and production processes. It has brought us autonomous systems, self-driving cars, Internet of things, social networking, mass surveillance, etc. It has also brought marked changes to communications, the production and distribution of goods, food production, medical treatment, and methods of warfare. Different technologies and skills can be used by individuals to accommodate both their age and their objective.

The term digital in digital technologies refers to intensive and extensive use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Digitized information is recorded in binary code using digits 0 and 1, which represents words, images, and videos.

The development of ICT, with its related technologies such as the Internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, smartphones, and robotics, are differentiating the division of labor. They are also reshaping our production, work, shopping, entertainment, and communications. With the development of ICT, new changes have occurred in the relationship between online production and consumption on the Internet platform [4].

Digital technologies are electronic tools, devices, and systems that generate, store, or process data. Examples include mobile phones, social media, online games, 3D printing, wearable technology, online games, cloud computing, 3D printing, and multimedia. As digital technology has become ubiquitous, affordable, and portable, more and more number of people worldwide are increasing their online participation. People use different technologies and tools for different reasons [5]. The use of technology has transformed every discipline and career, from engineering to medicine to politics. Digital technology is used in different sectors, such as in business, education, media, healthcare, transportation, communication, manufacturing, travel, shopping, entertainment, etc.

1.4 DIGITAL TRANFORMATION

Today, we are living in the era of digital transformation. Digitalization is changing the world. The world is gradually being transformed into a place where everything will be controlled, monitored, and analyzed digitally. It is moving rapidly towards ubiquitous connectivity that will further change how and where people associate, gather, and share information. In response to the inevitable change, experts foresee an ambient information environment where accessing the Internet will be effortless. Humans have set an environment using digital technologies to bring ease and comfort into their daily lives. Digitalization is most widely being used tool in human life [6].

Digitalization and digital transformation are the two most useful terms when describing the impact of digital technology on society. The word transformation is often used to describe the impact of digital technologies on the industry and society. Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of life, resulting in fundamental changes. It is harnessing technology to change the way you do things. For a business, for example, digital transformation begins and ends with how you think about, and engage with, customers. Digital transformation is a journey; it does not happen overnight. It is not a once-and-done deal. Digital transformation encompasses digitization and digitalization. Digitization is the process of changing from analog records to digital. Digitalization is the process of using digital technologies to simplify your work, enhance customer experience, ensure employee efficiency, create new solutions, and revamp the business models [7].

An important component of digital transformation is technology. The main drivers of digital transformation include artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, conversational bots, digital twin, privacy, and virtual/augmented reality.

Digitization has become integral to the response of organizations and also their future plans. Most organizations are going through digital transformation because the environments around them are already in motion. In order to make the greatest strides ahead of their competitors, organizations need to stop doing digital and start being digital. Being a digital leader means embracing new tools and platforms to improve the customer experience. Digital leaders also need to collaborate with others, leverage data analytics, invest in the digital future, and make the most of the latest mobile technologies, AI capabilities, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies. Digital transformation leads to improving your service delivery through new technological processes [8]. It is evident that digital technologies will continue to an important play role in their strategy and success. Perhaps the greatest impact of digitalization on the world will be universal access to all human beings. This will have a huge impact on digital literacy and lead to a more informed, educated world.

1.5 DIGITAL WORLD

Technology has spanned the globe, connecting devices, and people of all nations. It has become integrated into personal, professional, and social aspects of our lives. In schools, workplaces, and communities around the world, technology is becoming increasingly embedded into daily tasks. Digital technologies are at the heart of our economic and social life. They have transformed everything from education and healthcare to social services. The digital world is real, and it exists today as their way of life [9]. Digital natives live in the digital world and navigate it with their digital skills.

Digitalization helps transform an entire industry ranging from business processes to customer relationship. It is a catalyst which will promote innovation and transform the operation of companies. It offers exciting new potential to visionary companies. Forward-thinking companies can use their data to create safer, smarter, and more efficient processes. Digital technologies affect all citizens.

1. Digital Government : Government transcends all sectors in a given society. It provides the legal, political, and economic infrastructures to support other sectors of the society. Digitalization of government services is motivated by the need to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Providing quality information and services to citizens is the goal of digital governments. Digital government, also known as e-government, is a global phenomenon whereby public servants leverage information and communication technology (ICT) to better serve their constituents. Digital government is the use of ICT (such as Internet and mobile devices) to enable government agencies to carry out their civic duties. It enables citizens to interact with the government and improves the services that governments offer their citizens. It has made government to be more effective, accessible, and transparent [ 10].

Figure 1.1

Expectations of good digital citizens [12].

2. Digital Citizenship : Traditionally, citizenship involves nationally bounded membership. Citizenship is continually mediated by digital technologies. Government provides information online and obtains it from citizens online. Politicians interact with their members online. All these are aspects of the emerging digital citizenship. Digital citizenship involves acquiring skills to navigate and exist in the increasingly complex, digitally mediated world. It requires frequent home use of the Internet or frequent participation in web-based activities. Digital citizens share their creative ability using a wide range of digital tools and technologies. As the Internet is increasingly mobile, some digital citizens primarily rely on smartphones to go on online [ 11]. Figure 1.1 illustrates some of what is expected of good citizens [ 12]. Citizens can be divided into two groups: digital natives are those who are born after 1980 and digital immigrants are those born before 1980 [ 13]. More will be said about this in the next chapter.

3. Digital Law : As governments and organizations around the world move their services and transactions online, there is a need for regulation. As more and more information is stored online and as more people are getting connected to the Internet than ever before, there should be law or data protection against unauthorized access. There has been rampant stealing of consumer data or information on the Internet. With the Internet ruling our lives, we need a cyber law that detects, prevents, and responds to cybercrimes. Cyber law or digital law governs cyberspace, which includes the Internet, software, electronic devices, and ATM. It deals with what one should or should not do while using the Internet. It ensures your rights, safety, and security as you work online. Digital law is digital responsibility for actions and deeds online. It involves legal topics such as intellectual property, copyright law, plagiarism, and freedom of speech [ 14].

4. Digital Rights and Responsibilities : Every citizen needs to be made aware of his or her privileges and responsibilities in the digital world.

The key digital rights include [15,16]:

• Right to access and use computers and/or other electronic devices

• Right to access and use digital content

• Right to create and share digital media

• Right to privacy in digital communities

• Right to express your ideas and opinions freely

• Right to report anyone or anything that seems inappropriate

The key digital responsibilities include [15,16]:

• Use appropriate language and behavior when interacting with others (i.e., no cyberbullying)

• Respect the opinions and ideas of others

• Obey all intellectual property laws

• Do not use or share others' work without permission

• Follow rules and/or codes of conduct for every Internet site

• Responsibility to report cyberbullying, threats, and inappropriate use of digital resources

5. Digital Identity : A digital identity or electronic identity is the digital representation of the information on a person, organization or object. It is the computer network equivalent to the real identity of a person or entity. It is information about a person, organization, or device used by computer networks to represent us. Digital identity is an emerging legal concept as a result of government services and businesses going online. It is responsible for the way government is providing essential information