Announcing a New Edition of Born Digital
The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society is pleased to announce the publication of Born Digital: How Children Grow Up in a Digital Age, authored by Faculty Directors John Palfrey and Urs Gasser.
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.
This new edition is an expanded and updated version of the well-received 2008 book, Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives. The new edition builds upon recent research conducted by the Berkman Klein Center’s Youth and Media project and also includes insights from the Berkman Klein-UNICEF Digitally Connected network, as well as many other collaborators and colleagues from around the globe.
Praise for Born Digital (Selection)
“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
“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
About the Authors
John Palfrey is head of school at Phillips Academy, Andover. A faculty director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Palfrey lives in Andover, Massachusetts.
Urs Gasser is the executive director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and a Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School. Gasser lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.