School digitization at a snail’s pace on the one hand, imminent job losses due to new technologies on the other and presumably worse cooperation because everyone is only on the smartphone – there are enough critical debates on the subject of digitization.

According to a survey, the younger generation is much more positive about this: 14 to 24-year-olds tend to see advantages for the future and are currently satisfied with the level of digitization at educational institutions, for example. The study by the Vodafone Foundation is to be published this Wednesday. It was available to the German Press Agency in advance.

79 percent see advantages for themselves through digitization

Adolescents and young adults (more than 90 percent) are almost unanimously of the opinion that the economy, professional life, society and social interaction will change “strongly” or “very strongly” in the coming years through the use of digital technologies.

Almost 70 percent are of the opinion that digitization is more of an advantage for social development. For themselves and their own future, 79 percent even see advantages from this. According to the survey, young people with a high level of education and those who feel better off financially tend to be more positive about the future.

Good reference for educational institutions

There is broad agreement among the younger generation (79 percent) that being good at using new technologies and media is “extremely” or “very important”. In the opinion of most (76 percent) it is up to the educational institutions to impart the necessary skills. Unlike in many critical discussions, the education system gets a pretty good report here:

Two thirds of 14 to 24 year olds think their teachers, trainers or lecturers can handle digital media at least “well” or “very well”. Just as many rate the digital equipment of their educational institution as “good” or “very good” – with educational institutions and universities doing better here than schools – and two-thirds are also of the opinion that teaching, teaching or studying prepares them “good” or “very good”. ” for a future in which digital technologies play an important role.

First class humans instead of second class robots

According to the Education Director of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Andreas Schleicher, being able to use digital technology with confidence is one of the decisive “basic skills of the 21st century”.

In an interview with the Vodafone Foundation, he said it is less about dealing with technology than about the cognitive abilities to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity. Pupils must learn to think for themselves and to reach out to others with empathy, to reconcile different perspectives and interests. “The task of education is to develop first-class humans, not second-class robots.”

The 14 to 24-year-olds rate their own digital skills highly. The vast majority (89 percent) not only feel “very safe” or “rather safe” in dealing with digital technologies and social media, almost as many (87) say the same about themselves with regard to the use of reliable sources on the Internet. When recognizing false news, however, there are also doubts about one’s own digital competence: 70 percent feel confident in dealing with it, 30 percent do not. And when it comes to protecting their own data on the Internet, there are even 48 percent who feel insecure.

Switching off important

Even if some people hardly ever put their smartphones down, many are aware that it would be good to take a break every now and then. 73 percent find it important to be able to “let go and switch off”. According to most respondents (77 percent), imparting this competence is a matter for the parents and family.