The Digital Native- a Multitasking Superhuman?

The theory that children born into the digital world- the so-called "digital natives"-live, think, and learn differently, as introduced by Marc Prensky, has definitely some truth to it. Nevertheless, does this differentiating factor of growing up really produce the ability to multi-task? 

In Prenskys paper about the digital native, the young generation with its abundant use of technology in personal and professional life is projected as a superhuman who is more efficient, self-taught (if desired), and able to complete multiple tasks simultaneously. While there is some truth to this when it comes to understanding and operating technology, I must stand with Paul Kirschners evaluation that being literate in the digital world doesn’t necessarily mean more efficiency or capability.

A hard truth that comes with constant exposure to screens is that people are firstly much more dependent on external sources to complete tasks and secondly people’s ability to focus on one task decreases. Multitasking mentioned as a main advantage of the digital native by Pensky, has long been proven to be not possible (rescuetime). Brains can’t fully multitask, but rather keep switching from task to task, which in turn results in longer comprehension and completion time of tasks. It takes more energy for our brain to switch and readjust constantly than focus on one task at a time without distractions. It has also been verified that the work produced when fully focused on a sole project is of better quality, because there is more attention to detail and the brain simply works better on when fully immersed rather than overwhelmed.

I can definitly confirm this from my own experience. I focus, work, and study much better when my phone is in another room and I only have one task set out to do. Once I open several tabs for different assigments or projects, I quickly get lost and don't complete any of them.

So while Prensky does make a good point about how technology has made a huge difference in the newer generation, the claim of the digital native being able to multitask is definitively a myth.