Kids are finding out about the potential for discovery online from other sources many of them have computers at home, for instance, or their friends have them.

Greenberg is pointing to a shift in how young people encounter knowledge: discovery is no longer confined to classrooms or libraries but is increasingly mediated by networked access at home and through peers. The emphasis on “other sources” suggests an erosion of institutional gatekeeping—students learn that information and intellectual exploration can be self-directed, socially shared, and driven by curiosity rather than assignments. The mention of friends’ computers highlights the social diffusion of technology: even without personal access, children can participate through their networks. Implicitly, the quote raises questions about how schools respond when students’ expectations for immediacy, breadth, and autonomy in learning are shaped by online environments.