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The 'digital native' test case

In 2024 I called out age discrimination by challenging the thinking behind the term 'digital native' as a selection criterion in job adverts. Because the phrase means people born after 1980, I began asking employers to consider if this was age discrimination. As someone who wasn't in this age group I felt excluded.

Surprisingly, the worst offender was the UK Government and I decided it was in the public interest to put myself forward to be a 'test case'.

In 2025, I will be attending hearings in relation to this claim. I am not available for interview or comment until the legal process is complete.

What the dictionaries say

 

From the Oxford English Dictionary to wikipedia, I have found over 20 sources that agree a digital native means someone that grew up in the digital age, usually defined as 1980 onwards. If you see an employer looking for a 'digital native' they are looking for a certain age group.

 

What the Equality Act says

 

You must not be discriminated against because you are (or are not) a certain age or in a certain group.

Calendar Pages

What does 'digital native' mean and why is it a problem?

Change I made in 2024.

If you don't like something. Don't moan about it. Change it.

 

These are the changes I achieved in 2024 during my campaign to stop the use of the term 'digital native' in job adverts.

My campaign continues in 2025 via an Employment Tribunal Claim.

DCMS stops using 'digital native' in job ads

DCMS has taken action to ensure that the term 'digital native' is not included in the recruitment literature going forward.

Cabinet Office stops using 'digital native' in job ads

Cabinet Office intends to ensure that future comms higlights the phrase 'digital native' should not be used going forward.

Department of Education withdraws advert

To prevent 'social media native' being used as a criterion, DfE have withdrawn a job advert.

Govt HR Directors told to change policy

In late August 2024 all Government Departments were told not to use the term 'digital native'.

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