There is no question that today's young people are in a world that is very different from those of us from previous generations. They don't remember a world without cell phones, computers, and the Internet. This ability to be constantly connected has changed the way they view the world and the way they operate in it. It also provides them with so many different opportunities and dangers that they need to be prepared for if they are going to be successful.

Palfrey and Gasser take a look at the various aspects of living in a digital world and what it means for our kids and teens as well as what it might mean for their (and our) future. Each chapter is designed to focus on a certain aspect of the digital world, how it relates to young people, and what we as adults (parents, teachers, businesses, and the law) should be doing to help optimize the experience. Each issue is explored with related research, examples from the field, and discussions about the current popular sites, platforms, and interfaces. Surprisingly, while the book is a couple of years old, much of the content is still quite current and relevant, including a discussion about how the Internet may drive attempts to strive for democracy and freedom in more oppressive societies.

The authors start with an introduction that presents the idea of the Digital Native and the characteristics related to them because of their totally interconnected lives. Once that is defined, they progress into a full definition of what that means not only for them, but for the rest of us in society.

The other chapters explore the following issues:
*Identities - From the moment we are born at the hospital, various organizations, businesses, and other groups start compiling information about us. While some of this information is compiled with our assistance, much of it is not, and it is also information that we have little control over as we don't own or maintain it.
*Profiles - These are compiled by all of the interactions we do on social networking sites and other interactions we do online from our searches at search engines to our clicking on links.
*Privacy - This is a logical exploration based on the earlier two chapters. It also explores how young people today are taking a different approach to privacy and what we should and shouldn't share.
*Safety - The media has done a wonderful job of exploring the dangers of our increasingly digital world from cyberbullying to identity theft to stalking/kidnapping. The authors take a close look at whether the media attention is overblown and indicate that the dangers are pretty similar to the real world. The digital element is just an additional format, and the root problems are the same whether the bullying (or other issues) are online or in-person.
*Creaters - This wonderful chapter highlights how blogging sites and video sites like YouTube have provided all sorts of arenas for people to show their artistic and creative talents.
*Pirates - The authors explore the case history of the music and film industry lawsuits against those who pirated content and provide suggestions for better options.
*Quality - This includes a great comparison of the quality of Wikipedia versus Encyclopedia Britannica and highlights that not all online resources are of limited quality
*Overload - We have all heard stories of people who have become so addicted to being online that they stop their classes, work, or other aspects of their lives.
*Aggressors - This is a great discussion of whether exposure to violence online, primarily through gaming or videos, contributes to a higher level of violence in real life. Much of the theory ties in to previous discussions of violence on TV and in films
*Innovators - Starting with the great examples of the founders of Facebook, Napster, and other sites/resources founded by young entrepreneurs, this chapter really highlights the opportunities for young people to make it big on a global scale because their innovations have broader exposure.
*Learners - You would think this would focus more on how Digital Natives are big multitaskers with short attention span. That is a part of the discussion, but it also highlights how teachers and instructors should not just totally change how they are teaching because of online tools. Teachers should become familiar with such tools and cherrypick the best ways to use them while holding on to some of their existing tools that are already working. This is an additional toolset ... not a replacement one.
*Activists - This chapter does a great job of highlighting how the Internet is really spurring young people to be politically and socially active all around the world. This includes a growing involvement in the American electoral system as well as reaching out to make a difference in areas of global concern, such as Darfur.

The authors really do a great job of exploring these issues, but they also highlight that they realize the book is just a starting point. As the Internet is constantly changing and evolving, what is being talked about and how to deal with it will also continue to change. As a result, they have set up a wiki site at borndigital.com. This allows the authors and the rest of us to continue the discussion.

I really did like this book and the way it approached the topic. I would say it is a must-read for those of us working with young people.