Copyright newsweek
When Natasha Smith’s 11-year-old son sat down to email his teacher, she was shocked to read what he had sent. The 40-year-old mom from Washington state was helping her sixth grader with homework when she realized something was missing—not from the assignment, but from his message. “He opened up Outlook on his school computer and composed an email to his teacher,” Smith told Newsweek. “I was shocked that he didn’t add a salutation or signature, at minimum. I assumed he’d learned it somewhere—school, maybe?—but he hadn’t. Or he had and forgot. Either way, my sixth-grader didn’t know how to format an email.” Smith shared a screenshot of the message on Threads where it has gained viral attention. The subject line was blank, and the message was straight to the point: “I’m trying to double check the due date for the presentation but I can’t find it.” Her post on Threads struck a chord with thousands of parents and teachers who said they’ve seen the same thing—from middle schoolers to college students. “Educators told me even college students don’t know how to do this,” Smith said. “They’re sending emails to professors with no subject line, no greeting, just jumping straight in.” A picture of the email sent by the 11-year-old. A Generational Divide Smith’s observation underscores a surprising gap in what’s often assumed to be a generation of “digital natives.” While today’s kids may seem fluent in technology, research shows many lack the practical digital literacy skills needed for school and work. The 2023 International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) tested thousands of students worldwide and found that only 3 percent of U.S. eighth graders reached the highest level of computer literacy. While around 25 percent didn’t reach even the lowest level, meaning one in four struggled with simple digital tasks like using software or finding information efficiently. The results challenge the assumption that growing up online automatically translates into tech proficiency. “Knowing how to write to a teacher versus a friend, how to reach out to a potential client or collaborator, how to communicate with someone you’re working with—that’s a basic communication skill that needs to be taught,” Smith said. Why Kids Are Not Using Email Part of the issue may be cultural. Younger generations simply don’t use email the same way their parents do. According to Edison Mail’s 2022 State of Communications study, Gen Z prefers messaging apps, texting and social media for most communication. Many see email as slow, overly formal, and reserved for school or work—not for everyday interaction. The Importance of Soft Skills Smith has a background in training and project management, and often uses her platform to draw attention to resources parents can use to teach their kids and skill gaps that may otherwise go unnoticed. “Most parents want their their kids to know this stuff but don’t always know what’s missing, or they don’t have time to teach the skill, or honestly struggle with it themselves,” she said. “These soft skills don’t just happen. Even as technology evolves, understanding proper communication etiquette is a foundational skill that will serve them well.”
