In the last two weeks we discussed about Digital Literacy (DL) and Digital Competence. From what I understood, no one seems to really know what the term DL exactly means. Thus, most discussions about DL start with a new definition – mostly by adding to a seemingly endless list of competences that are associated with DL. While the framework developed in the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) comprised eight aspects in its definition for DL [ref], the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp) of the European Commission categorizes 21 competences into five areas [ref]. Other definitions were introduced by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) [ref], the International Society for Technology and Education (ISTE) [ref], or the Government of Singapore [ref]. All these definitions conceptualize DL as a multidimensional construct and, in so doing, giving the impression that digital literacy in one domain can be independent from digital literacy in other domains.

However, this view is not corroborated by the empirical findings. To the contrary, most (if not all) empirical studies report a high latent correlation between the various dimensions, suggesting that DL can best be understood as a unidimensional phenomenon [ref]. In other words, it appears that those who feel confident in one domain of DL also consider themselves competent in other areas of digital media use.

For me, this has two implications: First, digital literacy seems to be strongly influenced by the confidence to use digital media. Or, put differently, those who made the experience that they successfully mastered one domain of DL have the confidence to also master other domains (if they need). And secondly, in order to acquire DL one simply has to start somewhere. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic the use of digital media experienced a sudden upswing as a result of the anti-Corona measures [ref]. Interestingly, the increased use of digital media also had an effect on the digital literacy of elderly people [ref]. Thus, it appears that most people simply do not use digital media because they have not used them so far. Once they experienced their potential, however, they no longer want to miss the convenience of the media.