Navigating Critically

Abstract

Specialized literacy abilities beyond basic reading and writing are becoming increasingly essential in the modern digital environment. Within the larger framework of digital literacy studies, this chapter explores hypertext literacy as a skill for lifelong learning. Although it is common knowledge that teenagers and young adults are naturally proficient in digital literacy, research indicates that people of all ages should intentionally work to develop hypertext literacy. Poststructuralist-based hypertextuality introduces non-linear storytelling and blurs the lines between author and reader to modify traditional narratives. The chapter highlights the importance of hypertext literacy for critical engagement with digital texts and lifelong learning while also discussing the difficulties associated with it in navigating digital environments.