Why are Gen Z called the ‘digital natives’ when they seemingly lack a numerous amount of computer skills that the millennials developed themselves? Society’s in a world where basic computer literacy is essential, yet a significant portion of its demographic falls short of the necessary literacy level. How did this happen? Many Fortune 500 companies are requiring increasing amounts of computer literacy, schools require computer literacy, people even need to have basic literacy skills at home.

One of the reasons for this discrepancy is the difference in the way technology has evolved between the generations. Millennials grew up at a time when computers were not yet as intuitive or user-friendly as they are today. This meant they had to learn foundational computing skills, such as troubleshooting issues, understanding file structures, and using office software, in order to use technology effectively. Gen Z, on the other hand, has grown up with more user-friendly devices (such as iPhones and iPads) that require less technical knowledge to operate as they are engineered towards simplicity. As a result, many young people (gen Z) are proficient in using technology for entertainment and communication (gen Z essentially pioneers the social media industry) but fall short when it comes to applying those skills in professional or academic environments where more advanced computer literacy is required.

This gap in technical skills has real-world implications. In today’s society, basic computer literacy is not just helpful, it’s essential. Schools increasingly require students to complete assignments using their computers, conduct research online (which requires understanding how to properly use google), and even learn basic coding in some cases (however classes like these are often selected by an already interested student). Many jobs, especially those in Fortune 500 companies, demand employees to have proficiency with office software, data management, and other digital skills. Yet, a significant portion of Gen Z lacks the depth of technical knowledge needed to succeed in these environments. This is amplified by the fact that many schools assume students already possess these skills because of their reputation as ‘digital natives’. Many teachers and employers assume that the student/employee already has a basic understanding on how to use a computer. They’ll often use terms such as “directory”, “drive”, etc to which the employee/student will say “huh?”.

So what’s the solution? Schools should implement more computer literacy classes where students will be taught basic terminology, troubleshooting and usage skills outside being able to download Roblox and play a game. The user-friendliness of mobile devices has caused a massive downward spiral in the ability for the average user to troubleshoot and fix any problems they may have, simply due to the lack of problems. Apple specifically is notorious for making their operating systems (OSX & iOS) extremely locked down. This prevents user experimentation and the finding of any bugs or problems they will have to fix themselves. On the flip-side, Windows (by Microsoft) used to be extremely hard to use, but just so happened to have the majority of the market share. This was during the 90s to the early 2010’s, most millennials grew up in this period and were exposed to the complexities of crude, early-age computing and developed the skills they have today. Gen Z, as aforementioned, did not.

Overall, Gen Z is definitely lacking in basic computer literacy. If society can implement a way to teach computer literacy, maybe this generation and future generations can show a change. However, by the looks of what is posted on social media platforms, Generation Alpha might be even worse, only time will tell.