The Myth of Digital Natives: Why Gen Z's App Skills Don’t Translate to Tech Competence

It's funny when you consider it. People often assume that someone is automatically some sort of tech wizard just because they grew up in an environment where smartphones and Wi-Fi were commonplace.

You know the kind—someone who can miraculously solve any tech issue without breaking a sweat or fix your phone in five minutes. This holds particularly true for Generation Z. These children have never known a world without social media, smartphones, or the internet.

We call them “digital natives” like it’s some kind of badge they were born with.

But, let me ask you this—have you ever seen a Gen Z-er try to use a printer?

Spoiler alert: it’s not always pretty.

App Masters, But Not Printer Pros

Look, I’m not saying Gen Z isn’t great with technology. They absolutely are—when it comes to apps. Hand a Gen Z-er a smartphone, and they’ll have TikTok mastered before you even realize what’s happening. They can navigate the latest social media trends, edit videos, apply filters, and keep up with their virtual lives effortlessly. But when it comes to dealing with older tech—like printers—it’s a whole different story

I’ve watched it happen myself. The moment they have to print something, especially something urgent, things start to fall apart. It’s like they’re facing a whole new kind of challenge. It’s not that they don’t know technology, it’s just that they haven’t had to deal with printers in the same way older generations did.

Think about it: many of us grew up using computers that were far from perfect, and printers that always seemed to jam at the worst moments. You had to learn how to handle these problems over time, so you did. But for Generation Z? They are more accustomed to slick applications that function flawlessly and can be quickly fixed if something goes wrong.

Printers, though? They’re not quite that simple. Why Are Printers So Complicated Anyway?

If you’ve ever had to use a printer, you know they can be a nightmare. Things that ought to be simple, like printing a document, can become a total mess. Printer problems can turn a simple task into a frustrating ordeal, whether it's running out of paper or ink, jamming, or suddenly refusing to connect to your laptop.

For Gen Z, who are used to tech that just works seamlessly, this is the kind of thing that can really throw them off. They’re so accustomed to working with apps that fix themselves or offer a help screen when something goes wrong. But with a printer, it’s different. You have to figure it out yourself. Is the paper jammed? Is the ink low? Is the Wi-Fi connection acting up? It’s not always obvious, and there isn’t a quick “fix all” button that you can press.

Besides, it's not like they have to print everything all the time. Consider this: most workplaces and educational institutions are moving to digital file submissions. When you can send a document by email or save it in the cloud, why print it? The truth is that Gen Z haven't really had to deal with it frequently.

Tech-Savvy, But in a Different Way

What’s interesting is that, despite this gap in skills with older tech, Gen Z still considers themselves pretty tech-savvy. And they’re not wrong. According to a Dell Technologies report from 2022, 80% of Gen Zers are comfortable using technology. But here’s the catch: only 35% of them said they felt comfortable dealing with hardware issues—like, say, fixing a printer. That’s a pretty big difference, right? While they are experts in using apps, they find it difficult to deal with issues such as a broken printer.

And it’s not hard to see why. Gen Z grew up in a world where technology is sleek, digital, and, for the most part, trouble-free. If an app doesn’t work, you refresh it or update it, and the problem usually solves itself. Physical devices like printers don’t follow the same rules. When something goes wrong, it takes a little more digging to figure out what the problem is, and that’s where things can get frustrating for a generation that’s used to quick fixes.

Why There’s Such a Big Gap

So, what’s causing this gap? It all boils down to the fact that apps are just… easier. They’re designed to be user-friendly, guiding you step-by-step through the process. You almost can’t mess up because the app is telling you exactly what to do. Printers, on the other hand, aren’t like that. There’s no handy guide that pops up on the screen to tell you why your document isn’t printing. You have to troubleshoot it yourself, and that’s not something Gen Z has had to practice much.

Also, as I said do not forget that schools and workplaces have been moving away from printed documents for a while now. The majority of assignments are turned in online, and workplaces are moving toward digital processes. Given that Gen Z seldom uses printers, why would they take the time to learn how to use one? It’s a skill that’s becoming less and less necessary in their day-to-day lives.

Old vs. New Technology

It’s easy to forget how much technology has changed over the years. For older generations, technology wasn’t always user-friendly. You had to learn how to troubleshoot because, honestly, tech back then was finicky. I remember (and it still happens 😭😭) spending hours attempting to figure out why the printer stopped working. However, Gen Z's interactions with technology have been quicker, easier, and far more intuitive.

They are used to smartphones and apps that function without a manual or extensive configuration.

So, when something as clunky as a printer enters the picture, it feels like a whole different kind of problem. And sure, you could say they could learn how to deal with it if they wanted to—but the reality is, they don’t really have to most of the time. Technology is moving so quickly toward fully digital solutions that printers are becoming less of a daily necessity.

Bridging the Tech Skills Gap

So, how do we bridge this gap? Should we all become printer experts? Probably not. But it does make sense to recognize that, while Gen Z has incredible digital skills, there’s still value in knowing how to handle basic hardware problems. It’s not just about printers—there are plenty of other situations where knowing how to troubleshoot physical devices is useful, whether in a work setting or at home.

Maybe schools and workplaces need to balance their focus on digital literacy with some good old-fashioned troubleshooting lessons. After all, as much as we’re moving into a paperless world, printers are still around, and they probably will be for a while. And for Gen Z? It might be worth learning a few things about how to fix a paper jam, even if it’s just to avoid the headache next time you’re faced with one.