I think it’s definitely important to consider how structural inequalities in the “real world” translate to the digital realm. For example, industrialized nations like the US, Sweden, and the Netherlands have consistent Internet access, whereas Internet access in other parts of the world (e.g. certain countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, etc.) is much more limited. As such, youths in these countries are barred from participating in the digital world in the same way that citizens of countries with consistent Internet access are able to. Even within countries that have consistent Internet access, youths from low-income backgrounds typically have less access to the Internet than their middle- and high-income counterparts.
However, I’m not sure if that makes the digital native vs. digital immigrant dichotomy entirely irrelevant; it just isn’t localized to specific age groups. The digital participation gap between individuals from privileged backgrounds and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds should be address, and recognizing a dualistic relationship between the two can be useful in theorizing ways of closing the participation gap.
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