Most of the people and small businesses I work with would be considered digital immigrants.  They did not grow up with technology like the younger generation of digital natives.  Digital natives do not see themselves separately from the tools of technology.  They live within the sphere of technology being natural to their daily routines.  Digital natives embrace the web and mold it to their creative desires.

Digital immigrants are people who didn’t grow up using a computer.  Many of these digital immigrants are challenged by the rate of technological change that the digital native generation is creating.  This rapid change is reshaping the world for all.

So if you’re a digital immigrant trying to keep up what can you do?

One of my friends from this older generation that I try to keep up to date shared these thoughts with me:

All of this IT stuff is like a cyberspace avalanche…..it has started and getting bigger and there is NO thing to stop it…fascinating to say the least….we must become cyberspace marathon runners to keep up….LOL!!! thank goodness for the feed you provide….so I can catch a glimpse of the reality that passes by….    – Kay Snow-Davis

Here is my response:

It is not so much about marathon running as it is gently floating downstream with awareness of what’s new and relevant to YOU… and letting go of the old to make room…

For the average digital immigrant is can seem like the world is passing you by.  My advice is to keep opening your mind ( and heart ) to new ways of doing and new perspectives.  People and society is creating this rapid change and its our choice how we accept it all.

• Widen your circle of awareness.
• Do not get stuck in a closed little box.
• There is so much new opportunity
• enjoy the change, it can be a gentle ride or an avalanche, either way its happening
• get involved and steer your future

Are you a digital native or a digital immigrant?

How are you embracing change?

Please share your thoughts.