Lesson 3: Communicating with Digital Natives (M5-U1-L3)

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Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn more about the online language of young and fluent Internet users. We will try to explain to you the real meaning of some emojis and slang you might see on different platforms or groups. You will learn what to do, and you will also learn how to blend in with other users and not cause arguments accidentally.

Some of the knowledge is tricky, and we are wondering how many times you will be surprised.

M5_U1_L3Girl Demonstrating Something

Explanation

Meet Marta! She is Anna’s neighbour and will assist us in this unit. She is an active Internet user for years and is fluent in Internet language. Not only that, but she decided to help Anna with communication online, who will be our companion in this unit.

M5-U1-L3 Marta is Anna’s neighbour and will assist us in this unit

Digital natives and digital migrants?

Even though the terms “digital native” and “digital migrant” are kind of outdated, they perfectly visualise what fluent Internet users may notice.

Imagine that the Internet is a country where digital natives (fluent users) live and use their own language. Digital migrants can be considered visitors, tourists or new citizens who speak different languages or dialects.

A Lack of knowledge of different cultures and languages may cause many troubles or misunderstandings, and that is why we need Marta’s help today.

People express emotions in many ways, and it is very natural – on the Internet too. To share your feelings and emotions, you can use emoticons/emojis – mini pictures or keyboard symbols.

 

REMEMBER

Some emoticons presenting objects may have hidden meanings. When seeing some emoticons, try to notice the context of the message or comment

The graphical emojis are much simpler, and often mean what the faces express. Try to match emojis with the way they would be written with a keyboard 😀


Why it is important to learn Internet slang

Lack of knowledge of internet slang may be the reason of multiple misunderstandings and arguments. It is also hard to hide that youth and seniors have different writing styles.

Lack of adaptation to Internet slang can expose you as a new Internet user and reveal your age, attracting the attention of various scammers or trolls who may attempt to confuse you or provide false information or just mock you.

Let’s check if you understand what fluent Internet users talk about!

Match slangs to their meanings

People often leave the comment “AI” under the pictures generated by AI, where some other people leave congratulations or greet those AI people. Comment “AI” is some kind of warning because leaving congratulations under such a picture may expose you as a person who will potentially believe in other internet scams. You could learn more about recognising and avoiding phishing attempts in Module 2, Lesson 2.

Language of youth and seniors

You could notice that young may use as if a different language than you do. The same happens on the Internet, but there are some additional unwritten rules.

Check if you are fluent in online conversations and if the others will understand you well.

M1-U1-L3 we need Marta’s help today

Summary

Well done! In this lesson, you learned the basics of Internet communication – as an active Internet user, you will soon get used to it.

Do not worry if you are not sure what young people write about on the Internet. They also learn from each other, and you are becoming a learner like them 😊