One could argue that being literate in certain fields is essential to success. Whether it is financially or digitally, having a lack of literacy in a prominent area is likely to put you behind the curve.
Hawisher and Selfe’s article on developing literacies in the information age does a great job at showing the difficulties of becoming literate as society evolves.
Frustration
Reading this article made me feel for both Melissa and Brittney. It is hard to imagine technology being introduced to me at a grown age. I was born in 2002, and although technology as nowhere near what it is today, I basically grew up understanding how to use it. I got my first iPod in elementary school and only used it to take funny pictures or play JetPack Joyride and Clash of Clans.
I cannot imagine having to learn the ins and outs of technology as it is introduced entirely. Even then once you figure it out, new technology has developed and the cycle repeats itself. We tend to laugh at older folks when they can’t complete a task on their phone. I even poke at my parents sometimes when they ask for help on their phone.
Reading this article and hearing about their journeys within digital literacy definitely made me more sympathetic for those who had to learn quickly and keep up with technology as it was introduced.
Importance
Being digitally literate in today’s world is crucial. You see a lot of jobs will want you to have proficient skills in different Microsoft programs. As a 21 year old college student, I sometimes find myself anxious about my lack of skills in Microsoft.
My goal is to be a sports journalist/analyst, and in order to do so I need to keep up with the digital side of publishing and producing content. I sometimes find it difficult to keep up with everything new coming out, but I understand that I need to in order to be successful in my career.
Literacy is important, and I believe that we should continue to help those who are struggling to keep up.
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