digital native

American  

[dij-i-tl ney-tiv] / ˈdɪdʒ ɪ tl ˈneɪ tɪv /

noun

Digital Technology.

1. a person who has been familiar with computers, the internet, and other digital technology from a young age.

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digital native British  

noun

1. informal a person who has been familiar with information technology since childhood Compare digital immigrant analogue

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Etymology

Origin of digital native

First recorded in 2001; coined by Marc Prensky, born 1946, American educator and consultant, on analogy with a native speaker of a language

Example Sentences

Many are a lot more subtle: ‘digital native,’ ‘fresh ideas or perspectives,’ ‘high energy,’ ‘work hard, play hard,’” said Janine Vanderburg, chief executive of the Encore Roadmap and co-founder of Changing the Narrative, an advocacy group raising awareness on ageism.

From MarketWatch

“While there may be nothing legally wrong with ‘energetic’ or ‘fast-paced environment,’ ‘digital native’ may be crossing a line given that millennials were really the first cohort to be able to make that claim from birth,” said Joanna Lahey, professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, and an expert on age discrimination and the relationship between age and the labor market.

From MarketWatch

Help-wanted advertisements with buzzwords like “energetic,” “fast-paced,” “digital native” and “fresh perspectives” abound.

From MarketWatch

“You don’t want to build for a digital native … as if you’re just doing hosting for them,” he said.

From MarketWatch

Already this generation of digital native students are taking computer classes in high numbers.

From Los Angeles Times