<DIV>The first generation of &ldquo;digital natives&rdquo; &ndash; children who were born into and raised in the digital world &ndash; are coming of age, and soon our world will be reshaped in their image. Our economy, our cultural life, even the shape of our family life will be forever transformed.<P>But who are these digital natives? How are they different from older generations &ndash; or &ldquo;digital immigrants&rdquo; &ndash; and what is the world they&rsquo;re creating going to look like? In <i>Born Digital</i>, leading internet and technology experts John Palfrey and Urs Gasser offer a sociological portrait of this exotic tribe of young people who can seem, even to those merely a generation older, both extraordinarily sophisticated and strangely narrow.<P>Based on original research, <i>Born Digital </i>explores a broad range of issues, from the highly philosophical to the purely practical: What does identity mean for young people who have dozens of online profiles and avatars? Should we worry about privacy issues &ndash; or is privacy even a relevant concern for digital natives? How does the concept of safety translate into an increasingly virtual world? Is &ldquo;stranger-danger&rdquo; a real problem, or a red herring? What lies ahead &ndash; socially, professionally, and psychologically &ndash; for this generation?<P>A smart, practical guide to a brave new world and its complex inhabitants, <i>Born Digital </i>will be essential reading for parents, teachers, and the myriad of confused adults who want to understand the digital present &ndash; and shape the digital future.<br></DIV>