Work

Digital Competences of Digital Natives: Measuring Skills in the Modern Technology Environment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The fourth industrial revolution has ushered in a new era in which technology is seamlessly integrated into daily life. The digital transformation has created new media formats that require the development of robust digital skills to navigate this landscape. By utilising the Youth Digital Skills Indicator (yDSI) and integrating it with the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp 2.2), this research examines media habits and digital competences among Croatian youth aged 10–24, corresponding to Generations Alpha and Z. A sample of 231 participants across three competence domains—information literacy, security and communication—revealed statistically significant generational differences in the first two areas of digital skills. Furthermore, gender-based analyses, conducted using the Mann–Whitney U-test and Spearman correlations for Likert scale responses, showed no significant differences. These findings deepen our understanding of digital natives, how media habits evolve and influence their digital skills, highlighting the need for more tailored strategies to enhance their competences and bridge generational gaps.

Source: Informatics

DOI: 10.3390/informatics12010023

Authors: Danijela Pongrac, Marta Alić, Brigitta Cafuta

Institution: Tehničko Veleučilište u Zagrebu

Language: English

Topic: Digital literacy in education

Subfield: Information Systems

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172