From Digital Immigrants to Digital Floaters: Rethinking Generational Media Literacy in the Platform Era

This study re-examines generational differences in media literacy and news consumption within the evolving digital landscape. It expands on the well-known dichotomy of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants by proposing a new conceptual framework that introduces the terms Analog Anchors and Digital Floaters. These terms aim to reflect the heterogeneity and fluidity more accurately, the adaptive nature of users’ engagement with digital media. A quantitative survey was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed to Greek participants (N = 1020) through a non-probability convenience sampling method. The analysis revealed significant variations in digital literacy, news consumption habits, and skepticism toward the media across generations. Findings indicate that the relationships with technology and information are not linear or age-bound but are shaped by cultural, cognitive, and social parameters. High levels of media skepticism observed across all age groups further challenge traditional divides. As a result, this study argues for a paradigm shift that captures the complexity of media literacy in the platform era, moving from static generational labels towards a more dynamic understanding of users as Analog Anchors and Digital Floaters.