Digital literacy

A teacher with students, in a computer lab

Digital natives in a smart car.

Digital literacy is the name for a set of skills that enable a person to exist in what is called information society. This means that people can use digital media platforms to their advantage. They can use information technology to create, evaluate, and share information. Literacy is the ability to read and write, in a given language. People who can read and write use these skills to communicate. Digital literacy is similar: The idea is to use modern electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones to get up ot date information, to share this information with others, and to comment on this information on digital platforms. The distinction between the people who have digital literacy and who can use it to their advantage, and those who don't have it, or can't use it is called digital divide. While using digital media platforms is often free, special devices (such as computers or mobile phones) are needed to access the platforms.

Digital literacies are "the practices of communicating, relating, thinking, and ‘being’ associated with digital media”.