Turning Play into Pay: Digital Literacies and New Lessons for the Post-Web 2.0 Generation

Abstract

Digital technologies are clearly enabling greater access to cultural production, broadening the spaces in which we market our sense of self, and thus facilitating small-scale creative entrepreneurialism. However, alongside the many opportunities undoubtedly offered by co-creator Web 2.0 technologies, true digital literacy requires an as yet unclear level of control over the whole process — both in the short and long term — in order to ensure that creative development is undertaken in a personally and collectively sustainable fashion. This article briefly outlines some of new digital literacies on which educators need to focus if we are to empower people for creation (production), not just consumption, in this emerging media landscape.