Digital intelligence is the sum of social, emotional, and cognitive abilities that enable individuals to face the challenges and adapt to the demands of life in the digital world. An emerging intelligence fostered by human interaction with Information Technology, it has been suggested that recognition of this intelligence will expand the scope of teaching and learning in the 21st century and all aspects of one's personal and professional lives.
The term is also used in businesses to refer to the information obtained through technologies and making use of them as an online marketing strategy and intelligence in the context of cyber security such as that mapped out by Global Commission on Internet Governance. Digital intelligence in this article refers to a new type of intelligence as a human capacity that combines knowledge, ways of knowing and the ability to interact effectively in a cultural or community setting
Digital Intelligence or Digital Intelligence Quotient (DQ) has been defined as “a comprehensive set of technical, cognitive, meta-cognitive, and socio-emotional competencies that are grounded in universal moral values and that enable individuals to face the challenges and harness the opportunities of digital life” by DQ Institute. DQ does not merely refer to the skills needed to use technology more effectively or being aware of potential dangers for children who are constantly online. According to DQ Institute, DQ is all-encompassing in that it covers all areas of individuals’ digital life that ranges from personal and social identities of individuals to their use of technology, their practical, operational and technical capabilities critical for daily digital lives and careers and the potential safety and security issues in this digital age.
DQ is important in today's world as everything is technologically driven; if we do not develop a certain level of digital intelligence, we will be precluded from an increasingly digital world. As such, it is said to be essential to develop digital intelligence from an early age. DQ is also viewed to be measureable and highly learnable.