Digital Texts. What's the deal?

We live in a digital era where sharing our thoughts, ideas, or even random memes is easier than ever. Whether you're posting on Facebook, sharing an Instagram story, or mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, digital content is everywhere. These are the most obvious examples we come across daily, but there's a whole other layer, digital texts, that often flies under the radar. It’s a bit of a nerdier world, maybe? From reading an eBook to browsing a blog (oh hey, welcome!), or even just going through tweets, we’re constantly interacting with digital texts without even realizing it.

But what makes digital texts so special?

First off, they’re incredibly flexible. Unlike physical books or papers, digital texts can be customized to suit you. Want bigger font? Done. Prefer dark mode? Easy. Digital texts adapt to your preferences, making reading a lot more comfortable. As an author, it's wonderful to see that I have a record of my whole writing life (and a little bit cringy) but being able to go back in time through a whole bunch of years of my life is a wonderful thing (and being able to edit and correct 10 year old mistakes is also great).

Another wonderful thing about digital texts is the interactivity. Remember when reading was just... well, reading? Digital texts change that. You can click on links, watch embedded videos, or even comment. And sometimes, let’s be real, you end up in a rabbit hole, hyperfixating on random topics like antique swords or deep-dive scientific facts (it’s a thing, trust me).

And let’s talk about accessibility. Digital texts have broken down barriers. Whether you’re using a phone, laptop, or tablet, your favorite reads are literally in your pocket. Plus, with features like screen readers and audiobooks, more people can access content in ways that suit them best. It's also a great resource for education everywhere. 

Not only do we get to read scientific and difficult texts that can bores us to death, but we can also access to lighter content that makes things a little bit funnier for young people to become interested in things. Like Science Sparks, whish is a blog that teaches science to kids or obviously TedEd Blogs that make a lot of topics interesting for everybody.

So, next time you're scrolling through an article, watching a video, or reading a tweet, take a moment to appreciate how digital texts make our lives a little bit more fun, one post at a time.

Digital text features. (s. f.). TMS Technology Lab. https://tmstechlab.weebly.com/digital-text-features.html

Matrix Education. (2020, 15 junio). Part 7: How to Analyse Digital Texts | Websites, Social, Interactive Video. https://www.matrix.edu.au/beginners-guide-year-10-english/part-7-how-analyse-digital-texts/