EMPOWERING DIGITAL
LITERACY FOR A CONNECTED WORLD
T. Manimegalai
Assistant Professor
of English
Sona College of
Arts and Science
Salem: 636005
Abstract:
In today’s
digitally driven society, digital literacy has become an essential skill for
effective participation, social inclusion and economic empowerment. This paper
explores the concept of digital literacy and its importance. To promote digital
inclusion, comprehensive approach is necessary. In the paper the study examines
the current state of digital literacy, highlighting the paos and challenges
faced by individuals, particularly in the marginalized communities. It also
discusses the role of digital literacy in promoting civic engagement, education
and economic opportunities. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance
of digital literacy in fostering a more inclusive, and equitable connected
society.
Keywords: Digital
literacy, Digital inclusion, Civic engagement, Education, Economy, Empowerment
In today’s digital literacy world, digital literacy is a
highly valued skills, enhancing employability and career prospects. Digital
literacy enables individuals to access quality educational resources, online
courses and degree program, bridging geographical socio-economic along with
empowerment of digital literacy gaps. This digital literacy empowers to access
and evaluate online information, enabling informed decision making and civic
participation. It enables individuals to connect with others through social
media and online communities, fostering social connections and community
building. It also facilities culture exchange and understanding, promotions,
global citizenship and empathy.
In today’s world digital literacy offers numerous
benefits across various aspects of life, from education empowerment to civic
engagement, health care, and social connection. Digital literacy is a promise
to the tech- driven world. This world would be a better place to connect, learn
and grow through technology. Digital skill goes beyond knowing how to use smart
phones, tablets, laptops, iPad. It can be used regardless of all ages, location
or backgrounds.
Digital literacy is a combination of technology and
education inevery environment and makes it an equitable skill. In the current
scenario it is believed that there are no better options than integrating
technology in our lives, shaping digital literacy. To navigate the digital
word, a lot of confidence is needed in this field by doing so, it makes keep
informed in decisions and unlocking better opportunities at your fingertips.
In a world where everything is so quick and fast paced.
Being active digitally and technically advanced is no more just an option. It
is rather an essential skill that empowers one to access global knowledge.
Digital literacy reaches to the real depth of lives healing and affecting
aspects that help one grow professionally and be literally more aware of the
environment around. It also challenges the people to be very well equipped with
the skills connecting it into an essential life – skill.
The current article deals about every nook and cracks of
digital literacy right from the start to its existence and the core components
that make it so viable in the current situation. Now a question arises What is
digital literacy and how it is connected to the world? “Digital Literacy is the
skill of being able to use computers and the internet to find, evaluate, use,
share and create material. It means being to read, write online or use
technology like computer, phones and kindles”. (Marsh. J) In India, Digital
Literacy speaks about the concept that promotes and empowers citizens to be
digitally skilled.
Digital literacy in social media includes a lot of
different skills, such as how to use digital videos on You Tube, share things
on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and so on. In order to reach the goal, one
needs to know how to use technology in day to day life. Since the current
generation live in a technological world, this skill has become more essential
for all the generations. Digital literacy is mandatory for the students to be
educated in this field in order to read and interact with online material that
has embedded resources like audio clips, graphs or charts, which gives students
options. The digital literacy skill not only speaks about using internet in the
right way, rather it deals about every digital tools, technology and platforms.
Here the use is not restricted, it helps to access, manage, evaluate its impact
or create information through landscape.
To empower digital literacy, it talks about the skills of
an individual with the power of navigating through the rough and the advanced
roads of internet, software and digital communication, making it a credible
source of information that is based on realities, facts and data. Through the
research, it is proven that Digitization can have many benefits including
ü Reducing the needs for physical storage space
ü Saving money on storage cost
ü Feeing up official space for other use
ü Streamlining business operations
ü Increases efficiencies and effectiveness.
This digitization has been around since the development
of binary arithmetic by Gottfried Leizbriz in 1679. It got upgraded in the
twentieth century in computing and its requirements for data storage processing
and transfer of data. As digitization continues, data will become more valuable
than ever before.
In the educational scenario digital literacy is well
considered as the life -long skill, well suited for the current upcoming
generation. The question arises: Why digital literacy skills are important for
students? Digital literacy can help students to get better understanding of the
most effective teaching methods. For the present generation digital literacy helps
to understand the skillful and wise usage of technology as a tool of learning
and also teaches them how not to exploit it for further distraction, especially
for learners, it is very important to teach them how to critically analyze the
information and judge it on realities. The Gen Z thrive more about technology
when compared to older generation.
Digital literacy helps the users in collating
information, collaborating with peers online, and it enhances their learning
experiences by introducing them to digital or virtual learning platforms.
Considering the change in the past it is a necessary skill where every student
should be equipped with, it is as important as any other traditional skills, it
may be reading or writing.
To empower the digital world values and ethics plays a
pivot role. The users of this skill must know the ethical values, like how to
work with and use digital information responsibly. In the technological world
digital literacy is been advanced and dominated by the online presence of every
sector and every unit on the digital landscape, isn’t it important to serve
digital literacy as a skill that will help to grow personally, professionally,
and socially making them to get more connected to the trend and the current
generation.
Generally speaking, the values and ethics to empower
digitally one should explore the moral principles and key values that should
guide an individual’s when navigating the digital world. They should emphasize
on responsible ethics like online behavior, respect for privacy, accuracy of
information, ethical use of technology. All these values aim at fostering a
positive and inclusive digital community. With these values digital literacy
empowers every individual to access information and communicate effectively.
Being active participants to the digital world and contributing to the digital
economy.
Only few people value and ethics, encompasses principles,
guidance and moral values governing the use of technology, data and digital
platforms. And for some community’s digital literacy promotes inclusivity and
bridges the gap between the privileged and those who often miss out an
opportunity due to lack of resources.
Digital Literacy is a skill required by every individual
in the twenty- first century, which helps in shaping individuals’ lives, where
they learn, work and grow with the help of the digital literacy. It is a life
long skill that helps them to be active and takes their effort positively to
challenge the traditional methods of getting things done, and putting efforts
to evolve with digital literacy. Thus, digital literacy is very crucial as this
can help and create a more unified, inclusive and empowered society.
Works Cited
Bowles D Mark.Introduction
to Digital Literacy. Kendall Hunt
Publishing Company, 2013.
Marsh J. PopularCulture,
New Media and Digital Literacy in Early
Childhood.
Helsper E. Digital
Literacy: Different Cultures, Different Understanding.
Digital Literacy: Empowering the Digital Age in
Education. https://search.app/ckxkWAiYgmGE-j5LO9