“They Don’t Even Know How to Copy and Paste”: Teachers Sound the Alarm About New Generations

The digital world is evolving at breakneck speed, yet the computer skills of younger generations seem to be going backwards. Teachers are sounding the alarm as more and more students struggle with basic tasks on a computer. This worrying trend raises crucial questions about digital education and the impact of smartphones on learning. What can be done to bridge this growing technology gap?

In a world where technology is everywhere, a surprising paradox is emerging: young people, despite being born into the digital age, often lack basic computer skills. This reality, highlighted by teachers and researchers at the end of 2023, challenges our assumptions about so-called digital natives. While smartphones dominate teenagers’ daily lives, their ability to use a computer for simple tasks is declining, raising concerns about their future adaptability in the workplace.

The paradox of the smartphone generation

Anne Cordier, a researcher in information and communication sciences, has observed an alarming drop in computer skills among students from early primary school through high school. This trend is not an isolated observation. It is backed up by Cécile Cathelin, a French teacher and trainer in digital practices, who reports that even basic actions like opening a Word document are difficult for many high schoolers.

The Covid-19 lockdowns exposed these weaknesses even more clearly, revealing how unprepared many students were for remote learning. Digital education specialist Yasmine Buono questions the common assumption that being comfortable with social media and video games automatically translates into broad computer skills.

The smartphone appears to be the main suspect in this equation. Often given at a very young age, it encourages a mostly recreational use of technology at the expense of office and productivity skills. This constant presence of the smartphone creates a gap between intuitive use of mobile apps and the more complex mastery of software on a computer.

The digital divide: a societal challenge

Unequal access to technology makes the gap between students even wider. Cordier notes that children from working-class backgrounds are particularly affected. During the pandemic, the computer became essential for following classes at a distance, bringing the reality of the digital divide into sharp focus.

Paradoxically, Cathelin observes that even in private high schools, where you might expect better digital exposure, students’ skills are not necessarily higher. She points out that parents, including those in higher socio-professional categories, rarely share their own computer knowledge with their children.

This raises questions about how digital skills are passed down between generations and highlights the need for a more systematic educational approach.

Digital communication and soft skills

Beyond technical abilities, Buono stresses the challenges around online communication. Students who are used to casual conversations on social media often struggle to adopt a professional tone in written exchanges. This shows up in difficulties such as:
• writing a formal email
• using appropriate polite language and greetings
• structuring a message clearly and logically

To address these gaps, Buono recommends explicitly teaching good practices in digital communication, adapted to academic and professional contexts.

Here is a snapshot of some key skills, the levels observed, and their impact at work:

Toward a rethink of digital education

Faced with these challenges, several solutions have been proposed. Through her platform Educatee, Cathelin suggests bringing digital professionals directly into schools. The idea is to expose students to up-to-date, real-world expertise.

Cordier, for her part, argues for bringing back the teaching of basic computer skills into the core curriculum. She emphasises the importance of:

1. Providing adequate equipment in schools.
2. Making computer use a routine part of everyday classroom life.
3. Training teachers in essential digital skills.

These measures aim to close the technology gap and prepare younger generations for the demands of the modern workplace. The goal is ambitious but essential: turning passive users of technology into competent, critical actors in the digital world.

Mastering computer tools is becoming a decisive factor in the professional and civic future of young people, and it calls for an urgent overhaul of how we approach digital education.