The Fourth Industrial Revolution has given rise to a continuously evolving digital society. This new and evolving era is characterized by widespread internet connectivity, data storage and processing power, the usage of artificial intelligence, the development of smart cities, and the usage of digital currencies just to name a few. As a result, Digital Literacy becomes important.
A report conducted by the World Bank Group in 2021 highlighted that almost 70% of persons living in low-income countries who do not use the internet nor benefit from its usage are thwarted due to a lack of digital literacy skills. Competencies most effective when fostered during a person’s formative years. The question can be asked, ‘what skills fall under the umbrella of digital literacy skills?’
Firstly, information literacy. Information literacy describes the ability to locate, evaluate and effectively use information. It also involves possessing the ability to identify misinformation and disinformation. In an era where individuals are constantly bombarded with information from various sources which often contradict, information literacy becomes increasingly important. Additionally, access to a large quantity of information is meaningless without the requisite ability to assess, evaluate, understand and apply said information. Therefore, highlighting the importance of branching literacy.
Branching literacy involves the use of multiple informational sources to connect the dots in a non-linear manner. For example, the ability to navigate a website which has multiple options which when clicked upon leads to different paths or outcomes. This skill becomes important when interacting with websites, interactive learning and online surveys and forms. It is a digital literacy competency which complements photo-visual literacy.
Photo-visual literacy involves the ability to easily and accurately interpret and understand visual messages. The capacity to observe a photo, icon or symbol and grasp its meaning. This becomes increasingly important in the digital age as online communication across social media platforms often involves the use of stickers, gifs and emojis. These visual symbols are used to express one’s feelings, mood, level of interest or disengagement and therefore must be interpreted accurately to avoid miscommunication. This points to the importance of socio-emotional literacy.
Socio- emotional literacy requires understanding and managing one’s emotions in an online space and understanding and respecting other individual’s feelings and emotions during online communication and interactions. It can be argued that this skill is one in which many individuals lack. One of the most palpable examples of the effects of the absence of this skill is prominent Hip-Hop artist Nicki Minaj’s routine online spars. Additionally, each time we trade internal emotional regulation skills for online outbursts we are displaying a lack of socio-emotional literacy skills. Finally, there is reproduction literacy.
Reproduction Literacy involves the ability to effectively replicate content or produce original, impactful, meaningful and accurate content. In the age of influencers and online trends, this skill is essential as the digital age rewards creativity and the ability to mirror trends with a sprinkle of individuality. Furthermore, reproduction literacy is the key to the pursuit of online entrepreneurship.
The digital age highlights the importance of digital literacy, further emphasising the significance of a national digital literacy policy. This policy must take into consideration those who are differently abled, the elderly and persons with learning disabilities. Additionally, a digital literacy policy becomes important as this framework can aid in bridging the digital divide, transforming the national educational curricula and implementing the foundations of New Public Management.
