Teacher Calls Out Students For Having Same Skills As ‘Older Boomers’
A teacher’s blunt assessment of students’ computer skills has sparked debate online after their short but pointed message went viral on Reddit.
In their post, the original poster (OP), user TeacherGuy1980, pushed back on the idea that today’s students are naturally tech-savvy and called for a return to dedicated computer skills classes.
“These kids are not computer geniuses,” they wrote. “They don’t know the difference between an application and a file.
“They can’t figure out anything on a desktop computer on their own.”
Reddit users flocked to the comments to weigh in, with one writing, “They also can’t type. They can’t write by hand, and they can’t type.”
Another added, “They don’t know what an address bar is or how to type in a website. They just hit enter on the first Google autofill and then get frustrated that their screen doesn’t look like yours because they didn’t type in the words.”
“Chromebooks are the worst,” a third declared. “Kids have no actual computer skills.”
‘Looked at me like I had six heads’
One teacher recalled, “I once watched a kid completely ignore the mouse and keyboard in front of them, only to smash their finger into the computer monitor multiple times.
“When that didn’t work, they started screaming that it was broken. When I told them it wasn’t touchscreen and they needed to use the mouse and keyboard, they looked at me like I had six heads.
“It’s not easy to shock me, but that one did.”
The thread reflects a growing debate among educators about whether constant exposure to smartphones and tablets has translated into meaningful technical literacy.
“Kids’ technology skills are wildly overrated,” according to an analysis published by Byrdseed.
The article argues that familiarity with devices does not equate to understanding how to use them effectively, noting that students often develop fragmented, self-taught habits that leave major gaps in knowledge.
Examples cited include students using inefficient workarounds for simple tasks, such as manually spacing text instead of using formatting tools. The piece stresses that these skills must be explicitly taught rather than assumed.
Digital Abilities
International data also suggests that students’ digital abilities may not be as strong as expected.
In an article for the American Enterprise Institute, Mark Schneider wrote, “Our students performed at the international average,” referring to results from the 2023 International Computer and Information Literacy Study.
The report placed U.S. students behind several peer nations despite widespread access to technology.
Schneider noted that American students ranked behind countries such as Germany, France, and South Korea, raising questions about how digital skills are being developed in classrooms.
While many students are comfortable with apps and touchscreens, educators say that does not always translate into the ability to troubleshoot or work independently on traditional computers.
Exposure Is Not Enough
In the Reddit thread, commenters pointed to a decline in typing proficiency and basic troubleshooting skills as evidence that something has changed.
Others said the absence of structured computer classes has left students without a foundation that earlier generations developed through formal instruction.
While students are surrounded by technology, teachers say that exposure alone is not building the kind of skills needed for academic or professional environments.
Newsweek has reached out to TeacherGuy1980 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.