Running head: THE DIFFERING ROLE OF PRIVACY 1

The Differing Role of Privacy Between

Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants
Hayley Lobel
Loyola Marymount University


















THE DIFFERING ROLE OF PRIVACY 2
The Differing Role of Privacy Between Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

Today, there are two different types of internet users; digital natives and digital
immigrants. While both of these groups exist and operate simultaneously, they are extremely
different. Digital natives are people who were born after 1980 that have grown up with the
Internet and consider it a tool or instrument. On the opposite end of this spectrum are digital
immigrants. Digital immigrants are the older generation who were born before the Internet came
into being. This particular group had to learn how to use the Internet through manuals and books
before immersing themselves in this online world. There are certain ideologies that are engrained
in the minds of digital natives that set them apart from digital immigrants, for instance: a digital
native would not take the time to read an email that exceeds two pages whereas a digital
immigrant would. Furthermore, digital natives use trial and error to understand how a system
works compared to immigrants who choose to work their way through instruction books
(nther, 2007, 1). It is these distinctions and more that have framed the debate regarding the
existence of online privacy. By deconstructing both the natives use of online anonymity and
immigrants implementation of control online, I will be assessing how each of these cultures
behave in regards to online privacy and the ways in which they are similar and different.
The notion of privacy as control is reflected in risk management. In order to assess this
how much is too much? debate in terms of digital privacy, I chose to look at two specific case
studies: the first is a digital immigrant, a Reddit user who was born in the 1950s who finds link-
hopping a fun pastime and the second is a digital native, a seventeen-year-old named Elaine
who is shy in real-life however enjoys the friendships she has made online (Turkle, 2011, 257).
When looking at each of these individuals, I decided to take note of how they use the Internet,
how aware they are of their online discourse, and how they feel about online privacy.
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DoahRat is a Reddit user who responded to Luluchrs question of For those of you born
before 1980: How has the Internet changed your life? posted on self.AskReddit. Looking at his
response alone, it is apparent that DoahRat is a digital immigrant. His response was abnormally
long, it was written formally and extremely detailed. Some of his words were misspelled
however he acknowledges that and apologizes for he is still a peeker on the keyboard
(DoahRat, 2011). DoahRat was born in the 1950s; according to this user, when he was a kid,
computers were some science-fiction fantasy that only brainiac scientists, advanced aliens on
other planets, and rocket scientists had (DoahRat, 2011). After describing his first interactions
with computers in the 70s, DoahRat went on to explain his experiences of getting Internet in his
home in 1996. As time wore on, I found, I used the computer, and the Internet more and more
he explained (DoahRat, 2011). The most important revelation DoahRat has had since he began
using the Internet was the fact that now he is able to meet and connect with more people than
ever. I have fishing buddies all over the East Coast now...We would have never even known of
each other's existence were it not for the Internet, he said (DoahRat, 2011). After reading this
digital immigrants response, there were multiple characteristics that stood out to me.
While many would assume that digital immigrants would be more weary of
communicating with strangers online I have found the opposite to be true. Many digital natives
are cautious of meeting face-to-face with the people who they meet online because they have
grown up with knowledge about how they should be conducting themselves online however,
digital immigrants, who have grown up without this knowledge, seem to be more trusting and
more willing disclose certain information about themselves. For example, after reading
DoahRats response, I could tell you where he was born, how many kids he had and what he
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liked to do in his free time. Comparatively, I do not believe a digital native would be as
forthcoming with their personal lives in a public, online forum.
Digital immigrants are comfortable communicating online because they have a sense of
control in terms of what information is put online. After this user posted his response, multiple
people commented, asking him further questions in which he thoughtfully responded to each and
every one. Reasons for this type of online activity could be because of the fact that this person
grew up in a world where they were given the luxury of having complete control over their
information. In the digital immigrants youth, memories failed, criminal records could be
expunged and all was forgotten. According to Abril (2007), growing up with this mindset is what
has lead digital immigrants to find online privacy to be an oxymoron meaning that digital
natives understand that once something is put into cyberspace, one must take responsibility for it.
This argument from the digital immigrants is consistent with their history of control
over their personal information and the control-centered definitions of privacy for their
generations noted legal scholars (Abril, 2007, 7). Charles Fried (1968), for example, defines
privacy as the control we have over information about ourselves. Furthermore, Alan F. Westin
(1967) defines privacy as the claim of individuals, groups, or institutions to determine for
themselves when, how and to what extent information about them is communicated to others.
Each of these scholars/ digital immigrants definitions further emphasize the idea that we have
control over our privacy.
Many digital immigrants continue to execute their control over their privacy through the
digital wisdom they exhibit in their online discourse (Prensky, 2009). Examples of digital
wisdom can be seen in certain public figures who are technically digital immigrants however,
due to their position in the public eye, they must use the Internet and social media to relate to
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their supporters who are digital natives. Prensky (2009) looks at President Barack Obama, for
instance. While he may have been born as a digital immigrant, he has shown his digital wisdom
in enlisting the power of the Internet to enhance both his fundraising ability and his connection
with the American people (Prensky, 2009). Prensky then looked at Rupert Murdoch, a self-
confessed digital immigrant (Murdoch, 2005). Murdoch has also shown his digital wisdom in
recognizing the need to add digital news-gathering and dissemination tools to his media
empire (Prensky, 2009). There will always be a need for this wisdom however, the means by
which we are able to achieve this wisdom is constantly evolving.
Each day a new app is being developed or a new social media platform is being
introduced. Whether you are a digital native or a digital immigrant, it can be exhausting to keep
up with the trends. However, once digital natives have taken over an online platform, it can
almost be guaranteed that digital immigrants will soon follow. The blogging phenomenon, of
course, is no different. While many digital natives are creating blogs and using them as an online
diary, digital immigrants have decided to use blogs as an intellectual sharing tool (Prensky, 2004,
4). Many intellectuals write and publish blogs on a regular basis, creating regular readers and
followers however, because the usage is so different (emotion vs. intellect) this is effectively a
different medium compared to the blogs of the digital natives (Prensky, 2004, 4). Blogs are one
example of the way digital immigrants choose to control the information they are sharing online.
Another example that portrays digital immigrants control of privacy is their use of webcams.
Digital immigrants are using webcams as a means of monitoring whether it be for the purpose of
security or safety. Ultimately, when a digital immigrant approaches how to deal with their online
privacy, they acknowledge that they are responsible for the words they put into cyberspace and
they can control their online messages.
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Whether you are a digital immigrant or a digital native, privacy is an important issue for
anyone who leads a life mediated in part by digital technologies. Today, more information is
collected about us and held in more hands, and accessible to more people, than ever before.
(Palfrey & Galser, 2008, 61). Many people are putting a great deal of information about
themselves online however, the problem is exacerbated in the case of digital natives for a number
of reasons. According to Palfrey and Galser (2008), one of those reasons is the fact that young
people need guidance from their elders/ digital immigrants in order to learn how to navigate the
digital landscape and protect their personal information, however they rarely get it (63). As
Erikson (1980) observed, the adolescent must develop and gain confidence in an ego identity that
is simultaneously autonomous and socially valued, and they must be able to make judgments that
are difficult online as well as online in terms of who to trust and what to reveal about oneself. It
is difficult for any young person to make sound, rational decisions about how to manage their
online privacy.
The second case study I chose to look at was a digital native named Elaine. The
seventeen-year-old high school student is shy and believes that the Internet is an ideal medium
for communication that makes it easy for her and other shy people to make friends (Turkle, 2011,
259). Elaine believes the reason for which the Internet is an easier place to make friends is
because of the fact that people have fewer inhibitions when they can hide behind a screen.
Essentially, Elaine is choosing to view the Internet as a place for self-expression and possibly
experimentation. However, what I find interesting is that she is also aware that what she is free
to do is to say things that will be remembered forever (Turkle, 2011, 259). In this particular
example, Elaine uses her experience as a digital native to be aware of what she puts online
however, she also uses the Internets anonymity to her advantage. Instead of using her
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knowledge of the Internet and taking control of her online privacy like digital immigrants, digital
natives prefer to remain anonymous. Digital natives use this as a sort of cloak so that they can
hind behind their keyboard and put words or images that they want online. The Internet is the
ideal medium to be unidentifiable for it often plays host to anonymous interactions and digital
natives are the ones who play into this anonymous role. The potential for anonymity can fortify
individuals in positive ways such as online advocacy and reporting systematic or anonymity can
provide a mask for online cruelty.
Digital natives take advantage of their online existence, it is about their own personal
space that is unmediated and free, hence the illusion of MySpace. Digital natives are extremely
cyber-savvy opposed to their digital immigrant predecessors. An analogy that Abril (2007),
draws is the comparison of digital natives and all automobile drivers when they drive on public
streets. With the exception of tinted windows, when driving on the street, one can expect that
others will glance over at them while driving. Somewhat inexplicable, however, drivers often
tend to do things that they otherwise would not do in public, such as picking their teeth or their
noses, belting out show tunes, or talking to themselves (Abril, 2007, 6). The reason for this is
due largely to the fact that while driving, we are not expecting an audience. Similar to when we
post something online, we are not expecting a large audience to read or necessarily acknowledge
it. Similar to when something is posted online, drivers false sense of privacy may be created by
their perception of their metal shell that is encompassing them amongst the vastness of the hectic
public sphere. Drivers find anonymity granted by the lack of attention (they imagine) is focused
on them similar to digital natives in cyberspace (Abril, 2007, 6). Like automobile drivers,
digital natives complex expectations of privacy online rests on a combination of technology,
the anonymity of the multitude, and assumptions about the presence of their unintended
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audiences (Abril, 2007, 7). I found this analogy of physical space compared with online space
to be compelling and helpful in understanding digital natives idea of online privacy. Digital
natives, such as Elaine, know that to a certain extent their online behavior is subject to the
unforgiving scrutiny that is the Internet, however they continue to be selectively anonymous.
This act of selective anonymity is now carrying over to blogs and webcams. Digital
natives are now using personal blogs as a means of sharing intimate and emotional details of
their lives on a weekly, daily, or even hourly basis. However, when they are using blogs they
can be anyone they want. Digital natives are creating these blogs as a means of escape from
everyday life. When designing a blog, a digital native can choose a name, a layout, and take on a
persona entirely different than who they are in real life. Today, more and more digital natives are
taking to the blogosphere to forgo the privacy rules that have been instilled in them on social
media platforms such as Facebook, MySpace, Instagram and Twitter. Blog entries are being
archived and they remain online and accessible to anyone with the URL to the site. According to
Prensky (2004), blogs have led to the complete reversal of the diary phenomenon where
teens once kept their feelings locked in a physical book, today they are choosing to post them
online for all to see. Digital natives are using blogs as a social diary whereas digital immigrants
are using them as intellectual tools. Another example of digital natives using anonymity online is
through webcams
While a web-camera may seem oxymoronic in terms of anonymity and privacy, many
young people are using cell phone cameras as a means of sharing images between selective
friends. These cell phone cameras allow people to send photos of whatever they choose and with
certain apps, digital natives can send photos anonymously. Webcams are being frequently used
by digital natives for sharing whereas digital immigrants are using them for monitoring
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(Prensky, 2004, 5). With webcams, digital natives can sign on to different online chat rooms and
take on a persona that is not their own, they can choose to remain anonymous and they can
reveal as little or as much of themselves as they want. Meanwhile, digital immigrants are using
webcams as a means of monitoring whether it be for the purpose of security or safety. In the case
of webcams, digital natives may exercise their anonymity in terms of privacy whereas digital
immigrants are executing their control over privacy.
Another form of digital natives exercising their anonymity is through PostSecret. Young
people are now taking to confessional sites where they can log on anonymously and post a
confession, sometimes referred to as a secret (Turkle, 2011, 229). On certain websites, after the
secret is posted, the communication ends however, on others, people can respond. On these
websites, digital natives are more willing to disclose certain things about themselves because
they know they are anonymous.
Digital natives are essentially setting the norms for how they should be sharing
information, these norms may or may not be a positive influence or to protect them sufficiently
from harm (Thomas, 2011, 64). As a culture, we are only at the beginning of the digital age,
therefore the long-term effects of online privacy and self-disclosure are yet to reveal themselves.
Digital natives are still growing up with this technology and there has yet to be a generation that
has lived and died through this digital age. Whether you are a digital native or a digital
immigrant, there is always something to be learned about online privacy. Natives can learn from
immigrants and vice versa. How we conduct ourselves online is extremely important. Our digital
footprint is quickly becoming one of the most important things we have therefore we must do our
best to take care of it.

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