Global Perspectives on Youth and the Digital Environment: Learnings from Majority World Countries

Abstract

Abstract With the proliferation of technology, the digital environment has become integral to youth globally. We provide an overview of research from Majority World countries (MWCs), where most children and adolescents are located and represent the fastest growing demographic of users. Digital inequalities in terms of access, use and skills, and risks and benefits impact the online and offline lives of youth in MWCs. We focus on micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors including gender, the role of parents and schools in mediation and scaffolding, digital literacy, and review recent regulatory initiatives. We highlight the unique challenges and opportunities that youth in MWCs face in navigating the digital environment and how these have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We identify areas for future research, including the need for more focus on children and younger adolescents, contextualized approaches that incorporate qualitative methodologies, and attention to the long-term consequences of the pandemic on youth’s digital technology use and well-being. Research and practical recommendations are included. We argue that a better understanding of youth’s experiences in MWCs can help inform more effective and equitable policies and programs that leverage the potential of digital technologies to improve the lives of youth globally, especially as regulatory initiatives gain momentum.