Abstract: This paper offers a critical perspective on popular and political understandings of young people and digital technologies – characterised by notions of ‘digital natives’, the ‘net generation’ and other commonsense portrayals of expert young technology users. The paper considers the accuracy of such descriptions in reflecting young people’s actual uses of digital technology and digital information, arguing that a misplaced technological and biological determinism underpins many current portrayals of children, young people and digital technology. Having presented a more realistic basis for approaching generational differences in technology use, the paper explores the functions and roles that information professionals especially librarians, teachers and other information specialists can be expected to play in supporting young people in the digital age.

viaDigital Native.