We’re already familiar with terms such as ‘digital citizenship’, which describes how we participate in online spaces, and ‘digital literacy’ – the ability to use and understand digital tools. But Brummer’s research identifies a missing piece: digital awareness.

Digital awareness is the degree to which we can critically recognise and reflect on our knowledge of digital technologies – across our work, private, and public lives. It’s not simply about knowing how to use a device or staying safe online. Instead, it’s about understanding the bigger picture: where information comes from, who created it and why, what our digital habits mean for ourselves and others, and how the technology we rely on shapes our world.

Crucially, Brummer sees digital awareness as both a starting point and an ongoing goal. Before we can become truly digitally literate, we need a basic level of awareness. And even once we’ve mastered digital skills, our awareness keeps developing – because technology never stands still.

Brummer’s scoping review of 112 research studies found that digital awareness threads through all areas of digital life: the resources that include or exclude people from the digital world, the rights and responsibilities of being online, and the practical skills we use every day. Digital awareness brings these ideas together under one coherent concept.

In a world where AI is increasingly part of daily life, Brummer argues that developing this kind of critical, reflective awareness has never been more important – for individuals, educators, and policymakers alike.