Digital natives is a myth in itself: there is no evidence that this generation needs different education or work forms than previous generations. Since around 2000, publications about the net generation, the “homo zappiens” and the digital native have been appearing more frequently. Young people would naturally and skillfully handle new technology, while older people, as digital immigrants – those who were not raised with the internet but have become accustomed to it – at best try to learn to cope with the internet and technology. Since around 2006, this view has been increasingly scrutinized. The German professor Rolf Schulmeister warns, based on an analysis, against placing young people within a 'net generation' and drawing far-reaching consequences for education from that perspective (Schulmeister, 2008). According to Schulmeister, it is much better to start from a differentiated group, which is approached in a differentiated manner within education. He has analyzed a large number of studies on media use and concludes that media use does not justify the term 'net generation.' Research from the University of Melbourne also provides no support for the distinction between 'digital natives - digital immigrants' (Kennedy, 2008). Differences in technology use are explained by factors such as gender or socioeconomic status, according to the researchers. Students and teachers differ greatly in terms of experience with technology and their preferences for using technology in higher education.
De Bruyckere, P., Kirschner, P. & Hulshof, C. (2016). Jongens zijn slimmer dan meisjes: 35 mythes over leren en onderwijs. Amsterdam, Nederland: Lannoo Campus | Anderz.