Week 9 Question 6- The oldest digital native

The oldest person digital native would probably be my older sister who is 25 as she was still at school when the internet was introduced and used heavily in lessons. She follows native characteristics because she would turn to technology before she would to a book etc.

She is the oldest person I know who would be able to fit into the ‘native’ characteristics; however I know older people who heavily use technology in their every day life. A lady who I know who is about 70 years old, texts, emails, searches the internet etc, and follows all of the characteristics of a native, but because of her age and the rigid state of the definitions she can’t be classified as one. This lady would definitely search the internet for information before searching through a book but because of Prensky’s definition she fails to be able to be classed as a native. I think this shows a flaw in his definition, because there is no room for interpretation or exceptions!