BETWEEN NETWORKS AND KNOWLEDGE: AN ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL LITERACY IN STUDENTS’ LIVED EXPERIENCES

Abstract

The intensification of digital culture in contemporary society has produced significant transformations in modes of communication, access to information, and knowledge production, directly impacting educational processes and school practices. Although students are increasingly connected to digital networks, frequent use of technologies does not necessarily imply the development of effective digital literacy practices. This chapter aims to analyze digital literacy in students’ lived experiences, understanding it as a social, cultural, and formative practice that goes beyond technical mastery of digital tools. Grounded in authors who discuss digital culture, cyberculture, youth, and education, the text problematizes the gap between everyday use of technologies and the critical, ethical, and conscious appropriation of digital resources in school contexts. Based on the analysis of a study conducted with high school students, the chapter discusses the role of schools and teacher mediation in promoting digital literacy, emphasizing its centrality to civic education and to addressing contemporary informational challenges.