"An excellent primer on what it means to live digitally. It should be required reading for adults trying to understand the next generation." -- Nicholas Negroponte, author of Being Digital
The first generation of children who were born into and raised in the digital world are coming of age and reshaping the world in their image. Our economy, our politics, our culture, and even the shape of our family life are being transformed. But who are these wired young people? And what is the world they're creating going to look like? In this revised and updated edition, leading Internet and technology experts John Palfrey and Urs Gasser offer a cutting-edge sociological portrait of these young people, who can seem, even to those merely a generation older, both extraordinarily sophisticated and strangely narrow. Exploring a broad range of issues -- privacy concerns, the psychological effects of information overload, and larger ethical issues raised by the fact that young people's social interactions, friendships, and civic activities are now mediated by digital technologies -- Born Digital is essential reading for parents, teachers, and the myriad of confused adults who want to understand the digital present and shape the digital future.
About the Author
John Palfrey is president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and a former faculty director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. He previously served as head of school at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Urs Gasser is the Executive Director of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School. He has written and edited several books and has published over 100 articles in books, law reviews, and professional journals. He's also an advisor to international technology companies on information law matters.
Praise For…
The authors are knowledgeable but never
pedantic, their studious, emphatic approach is both valid and reassuring, and
their overarching point--let's think about these things now, rather than trying
to fix them later--well taken."—Washington Post
"A well-reasoned,
thorough synthesis of some momentous, if familiar, ideas."—New Scientist
"A landmark
sociological study of today's early adults"—Project Information Literacy
"Philosophy
blends with social issues and insights in an invaluable pick for a brave new
world, perfect for any discussions or collections strong in social issues,
philosophy or science."—California Book Watch
"Born Digital offers a compelling account for parents, teachers, policy-makers, lawyers, and technical developers who want to know more about digital natives online activities and how these are changing society Palfrey and Gasser present a balanced view, highlighting problems and calling for solutions Born Digital is timely and informative."—Science
"Palfrey and Gasser's fine early history of this
generation serves as a starting point for any conversation about how to mentor
the children of the Web."—City Journal
"Parents and educators will benefit from Palfrey and
Gasser's discussion of issues like safety, content control and illegal file
sharing."—Publishers Weekly
"Ultimately, the book is an accessible survey of many
of these as-yet-unsolved Internet dilemmas of our time and is well executed
given the immense task of synthesizing the vast corpus of social science
concerns relating to the Internet."—Library Journal
"Energetic, expert, and forward-looking, the authors
serve as envoys between the generations. As old institutions crumble, there is
a need for just this sort of enlightening, commonsensical, and positive guide
to digital reality."—Booklist
