“Digital Native” generally refers to people who have grown up entirely surrounded and submerged in the world of internet technology. They have never known life without laptop computers, cell phone, email, instant messaging, etc.

“Digital Immigrant” refers to people who are old enough to have felt the “transition” between the analog and “paper only” age and the digital age. There is a definite learning curve when it comes to internet technology. Some people still have not immigrated!

About 3 to 5 years ago, digital natives began showing up on university campuses. Next year’s 18 year old college freshman class will almost certainly be 100% digital natives. They have never known life without internet technology. Their culture and lives are different.

This begs several tough questions for people like me and my coworkers:

• What will we do differently to reach these digital natives as opposed to traditional methods?
• How will we connect with them as digital natives “on their turf” in the digital world?
• What messages and media are digital natives receiving which are already “gospel-primed” soil?

This video will make you think! I’d love to hear your comments to this: