We often associate the term "digital divide" with age, still thinking that the biggest victims of technology are our seniors, but that's not the case. The problem of lacking use and access to technology can affect everyone equally: rich and poor, illiterate and philosophy doctors, women and men, young and old. Therefore, it's better to talk about digital disability—the fear of using technology or sticking to the basics without delving into all the tools that enhance our quality of life.

This is what matters—being able to take advantage of all those utilities that allow us to navigate life independently. Why should you give up on not getting lost in the wilderness when you have an app like Google Maps? Why can't you make a payment with your phone and avoid carrying credit cards? Why shouldn't you know that you can legally carry your driver's license on your device with a simple app? Why can't you breeze through the barriers of public transportation by simply tapping your phone? Why wait in line to buy theater tickets when you can do it online in 3 minutes?

THE MYTH OF DIGITAL NATIVES

In 2001, Marc Prensky published an article titled "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants." During the academic year, he observed how his students completed assignments directly on the computer. None of them thought to print them out for reading and correction, then make necessary changes on paper, and finally transfer those changes to the computer document. He called them digital immigrants, while the others, who I believe are inaccurately labeled, he dubbed digital natives.

I belong to the movement that believes digital natives don't exist; it's a mere legend we've perpetuated. The youth are just digital consumers—they've learned just enough to use the technology for their schoolwork but aren't capable of experimenting or daring to use something new.

There's a myth that says the youth were born with technology, adapted to it, and, therefore, all the new inventions every day are no surprise to them. In reality, the newer generations are fortunate. They've encountered computers and phones that have evolved to make things simpler. They haven't had to learn MS-DOS or memorize commands to copy files or format a disk.

They simply drag an icon with their finger, and all their documents are in the cloud. My generation could only access information saved on our PC's hard drive—we had to have the computer nearby, or the information was entirely inaccessible. Now they can use their phones anywhere, anytime; there are no holidays or access limits—the cloud is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

They not only store documents there; they have photos, videos, songs—everything with just a swipe. But don't think they know what the "Cloud" is, why their phone sometimes gets clogged due to not clearing the cache, or what updates are for. They can't fully harness 100% of all these technologies because they only learn the essentials—just enough to pass, view photos, or listen to songs.

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGICAL DISABILITY?

This technological disability has no age; it can happen to anyone. That's why it's important to say that digital natives don't exist, and we shouldn't talk about "new technologies" but simply technology.

At what point does something new become commonplace? A hammer isn't technology for the Amish—a religious group known for their simple lifestyle, modest and traditional clothing, and resistance to adopting modern conveniences and technologies like those related to electricity. But a car is considered modern technology they can't use. For our society, the car is something that was invented so long ago that we see it as normal, as everyday; we don't even view it as something technological.

We know how to use it, but how many of us understand how an engine works? What's the difference between diesel and gasoline vehicles? We don't need to know any of that; we just have to pass a test to get us to Madrid.

The same thing happens with technology, and these conceptual gaps are creating a youth that can't ask themselves how and why things work. We're echoing the expression Unamuno stated in 1906, "Let them invent, then; we will take advantage of their inventions." Now we're seeing it with artificial intelligence. Instead of learning how it works and maximizing its potential to help us study more and better, we settle for asking it to summarize a book without even reading the book or the summary.

The lack of knowledge about technological tools is creating what we might call "technological bravados," when in reality, we should define them as "technological unconscious." They share their passwords with friends or at work without even considering the consequences. They read anything on the internet without knowing the sources of who wrote it. Falling for fake news, pseudoscientific content spread through news portals, print media, radio, television, and social media with the aim of misleading a specific audience, is natural. The best example is Britain, where it has been proven that Brexit supporters were influenced by these kinds of schemes, and now they are facing the consequences.

GUIDING ALL GENERATIONS

The only way to end technological disability is through education. The internet itself is filled with guides and tutorials that allow us to address any technological topic we may be unfamiliar with. But the internet remains an open sea where people swim without knowing how to swim, without a life jacket, and without understanding the currents or depth. Tutors must continue to be the guides who, even if they are unfamiliar with the operation, have enough experience to distinguish right from wrong, dangerous content from fake content—they are the ones who should set the limits.

If we retreat into our shells and continue to believe that the youth knows more than us and can use technology without any risk, we will create a society of digital illiterates where hoaxes, scams, and hacks are the order of the day.

Technology doesn't learn itself; it can be learned in the company of others, someone aged 12 with someone aged 60. Experience, combined with the ability to use technological tools, is the key. Let's move once and for all from "I don't know what I don't know" to "Now, finally, I know what I don't know, and I can get to work to learn it." No one should be proud of falling into technological disability. How many times have we heard the phrase, "I don't know anything about technology, and look where I've gotten." No, without technology, you don't reach where you want but where your circumstances have dragged you. For every person who succeeds without technology, there are thousands who have adopted it to make their lives better, everything simpler, and to have access to better opportunities. Let each of us contribute our grain of sand to overcome technological disability.