Digital Natives

Or, should I say, the digitally indigenous? Either way, for these groundbreaking trailblazers, the firm embrace of technology started rather young. Their parents swapped out their umbilical cords for ethernet ones right before the doctor could say, “it’s that time, people. Take your places.” Once on the ground, cribs made way for computers.

I remember when a series of broken mouses replaced the swinging mobile above my bed. It’s one thing to create the technology over decades through unflinching commitment to the scientific method. Trial and lots of error. What is more astounding are not the minds and innovators who created the smartphone, the supercomputer, or portable music players, but the people lucky enough to born at a time when they existed.  

This is hardly a new phenomenon. In the Eisenhower years, many children were raised by television. In the years before, countless tikes were suckled by warm tunes originating from the Grand Ole Opry. So there were radio natives and TV natives before the digitally inclined.

Being a digital native comes with a great deal of responsibility. The responsibility to belittle anyone older for their torpidity in learning new skills, and criticize anyone younger for failing to appreciate the scope of technological offerings. Some people are born in a true sweet spot. We can’t all be so lucky. But one day, when time travel is perfected, we will be.