Born Digital

In this summary you will learn

• Who digital natives are
• How their world is different from the world of older generations
• What the benefits and drawback of these differences are

getAbstract rating

Why you should read Born Digital

Many kids under the age of 15 have no idea what a typewriter is. Why would they be familiar with such an outmoded, archaic tool? They are members of “the first generation of digital natives.” Internet and law experts John Palfrey and Urs Gasser offer an accessible, informed and concerned investigation into cyberculture. Although they often indulge in platitudes and generalizations, they bring a new, useful focus to the discussion. They delve into such important issues as privacy and Internet safety, and they examine how these issues affect young people, in particular. Of necessity with this kind of structure, the authors repeat some of the same points, such as the glut of information and the interconnected nature of online life – but they do so to show how these core factors affect different areas. getAbstract recommends this book to lawmakers, hiring managers, teachers and parents who want to understand life in the cyberculture.

About the Authors

John Palfrey is the vice dean of the Harvard Law School and chairs the Internet Safety Task Force. Urs Gasser teaches law at University of St. Gallen and has written or edited six books.