Society & Culture / Media & Communication / Social Media & Online Culture

Digital Natives Are a Myth: Why Kids Are Consumers, Not Creators

Sara Pereira

Are today's teenagers truly 'digital natives,' born with the skills to create, produce, and critically navigate the online world? This video, based on research by Sara Pereira from the University of Minho, shatters that myth. Drawing from the Transmedia Literacy project across Portugal, Spain, and Italy, we reveal a shocking truth: despite living their lives online, most young people are passive consumers, not active producers. They watch, like, and share, but rarely create original content. We dive into the concepts of 'produsers' and 'small acts of engagement,' uncover the hidden pressures of digital capitalism, and explore why privacy fears keep kids from going public. Plus, we challenge the very idea of the 'digital native' with hard data from EU Kids Online and PISA. If you're a parent, educator, or just curious about how the next generation really interacts with media, this video offers a critical, eye-opening perspective. Learn why true digital literacy requires more than just access—it demands empowerment and adult guidance.