How to build an inclusive and sustainable digital future for all?

Hello Everyone! It is my greatest pleasure to welcome you all to this journey! As young people, we have been given the incredible opportunity to shape the world we want to see. Our voices, our suggestions and most importantly, our lived experiences would be taking into account to create a better world for all. Please share your thoughts, stories, recommendations, opinions about building an inclusive and sustainable digital future for all. In the weeks following this consultation, all of the input would be put together as a "Youth Call To Action" document which decision makers at the WTDC would use in guiding their decision making process. There is no inclusion without you and I so let your voice be heard! What does digital inclusion mean to you? 

Hi folks! For the 2nd week of the consultation, I will be your moderator. =)

My name is John, and I'm a 21 year old student taking up BA Sociology from the Philippines. I've had a handful of experiences moderating Model United Nations or simulations of UN committee plenaries. I remember discussing how the 4th industrial revolution is introducing so many new technologies that have potential to solve our most pressing problems. 

Imagine, using blockchain to help refugees keep track of their important identity documents; using geospatial machine learning models to predict where rice is grown best in a given area; using Ed-tech and ICTs to upskill workers with skills in a global digital labor economy-- these are some examples I've encountered of how new digital technologies are disrupting our world for the better. 

Despite this boom, there are still many barriers as to how young people especially in less developed areas can participate in our global, digital, future. A lack of more sophisticated Internet infrastructure is one obvious problem. But what of young people who do not have the network, social capital, or knowledge of these new opportunities? The issue of youth participation in the digital future goes well beyond mere infrastructure, and I would love to hear everyone's thoughts and experiences with this. 

Feel free to comment your thoughts to any of the questions above, and feel free to briefly introduce yourselves as well! 

Hello everyone my name is Ismael Sowtall from Guinea ?? Conakry.

Généralement la technologie de l’internet est située à deux niveaux : Outils et services online. Et pour se faire il faudra réunir ces deux éléments.

Fort malheureusement rare sont ces pays du sud et de l’Asie où existe vraiment l’équilibre entre outils informatique et internet. Car on n’y trouve toujours l’emprise des systèmes de gouvernance, la pauvreté, des traductions et coutumes qui empêchent l’usage effectif de la technologie de l’internet et par conséquence l'inclusion globale dont nous souhaitons se retrouve freiner.

En parlant de Global inclusion, nous parlerons forcément des objectifs de développement durable dont le monde s’est fixé dans l’agenda 2030. Donc pour construire un monde inclusif il n’y pas meilleur allié plus que le numérique( moyen de dépenses, moyen de déplacement, gain en temps, et en énergie) à titre d’exemple: 

‘l’avènement du Covid-19 en décembre 2019 à pousser les gouvernements à un confinement total parfois partiel et cela a augmenté l’utilisation de la technologie numérique, il a donc suffit seulement de quelque mois pour que les scientifiques observent une réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre, tout ça grâce à style de vie numérique ( moyens de Deplacement).

En fin la technologie numérique est plus qu’un moyen de connexion c’est une extension infinie de l’homme pour satisfaire ses besoins à divers dimension. 
NB: Mais la technologie elle même doit être inclusive pour pouvoir assembler et rassemble. 
merci !!!

Hey you all,

I'll like to take this opportunity to thank this organization for creating this program so that the voice of young people can be heeded.

Most of the time in some countries, the voices of young people have been neglected for reasons well known to them. They have accentuated more of their attention to adults than us.

I'm Dafine Matagi from Kenya, I'm 20 years old  studying Computer Science. 

I think the challenge we have as young people is we haven't acknowledged who we are as youths and the impact we can bring to the world.

It a high time we realize that we are the generation the world is waiting for, the seeds to develop the future world. It's  time we know our abilities, our gifts and uses them to bring out the world that we're all yearning for

And what's the solution to this challenge? we need to identify our strengths, have people to mentor us, people to navigate us through.

Without doubt if we realize our capabilities, then we'll build this world into a better being

Hi everyone ??, my name is Natalie, and I come from the Czech Republic ??. I work as a specialist at the Interdisciplinary Research Team on Internet and Society (IRTIS). I am also currently studying for a Ph.D. in Media Studies, with my dissertation focusing on the digital skills of children and adolescents.

? I would like to comment on the "problem analysis":

To begin with, there are many misconceptions about the young generation in society. One of these perceptions is that in today's digital age, young people, the so-called 'digital natives', have high digital skills (e.g., Prensky, 2001; Veen & Vrakking, 2006). This is believed simply because they grew up surrounded by technology from birth, unlike the older generation (the so-called 'digital immigrants') who grew up without technology. 

However, research (e.g., Bennett et al., 2008; van Deursen & van Dijk, 2009) shows that many young people are not digitally competent. In particular, they often lag (even behind older people) in 'information skills', i.e., information literacy skills. And what's more, the digital divide also comes into play. It turns out that not only a child's cultural context and socioeconomic status but also factors such as parental mediation play a role in how digitally skilled young people are. It is therefore clear that this is not a homogenous group, and it is not possible to proclaim that 'digital natives have high digital skills'. It is not that black and white.

So how can we ensure that ubiquitous technologies benefit young people today and in the future? Conversely, how do we prevent digitalization from becoming a threat because people do not have sufficient digital skills to defend themselves against the risks found in the online environment? 

Education reform offers a solution, namely the involvement of digital skills and media literacy teaching in schools. Young people need to be taught what will prepare them for a dynamic digital world that is very different from the one their parents and grandparents knew. For example, they need to be taught how to work with information, with resources, to learn about data protection. 

It is desirable to teach children and young people how to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital technologies while minimizing the risks inherent in them. As Bohumil Kartous, a Czech education expert, said: 'We cannot guide children into virtual reality on a steam engine'. ?

Sources:

• Bennett, S., Maton, K., & Kervin, L. (2008). The "digital natives" debate: A critical review of the evidence. British Journal of Educational Technology, 39(5), 775–786. 
• Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On The Horizon – The Strategic Planning Resource for Education Professionals, 9(5), 1–6.
• van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2009). Improving digital skills for the use of online public information and services. Government Information Quarterly, 26(2), 333–340. 
• Veen, W., & Vrakking, B. (2006). Homo zappiens. Growing up in a digital age. London: Continuum International Publishing Group. 

Hi Timothy

I'm specialized in web development and computer Graphics.

Digital illiteracy has become a barrier in preventing Kenyan youths to use digital technology. They find it difficult to use them because they have little or no wary of them. This is because of a lack of enough exposure to them . 

The government and organizations should initiate digital learning programs in schools and various initiatives to upskill young people. They should also take teachers through the program because they find that eyes are unable to use the technology.

The most potent problem in my country and probably in Africa at large is access. Youth do not have access to devices, access to a stable internet connection, nor do they have any access the proper a foundation to help them navigate and to connect to the digital world (these include computer skills, Internet behaviour and differentiating what is real and what is not on the Internet). Technology is fast evolving in Africa but it's reach seems slower especially in poverty striken areas. Youth happen to be victims and this therefore hinders their participation in activities involving technology. With a fraction of the youth that can participate digitally, most face issues. They include:
1. cyber bullying: where their very beings and opinions are slashed now and again.
2. Being young implies no experience while opinions from young people are seen as uneducated and uninformative and so involvement in policy making is faint.
This becomes a huge issue upon realising that youth are the drivers of the future and are the largest users of the internet world wide. Them being outcasts then invalidates internet usage because their opinions most definitely matter in making it better accessible and usable.
See this article to observe challenges faced by youth https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ictworks.org/constraints-youth-interne…

In creating solutions for issues that arise with participation
1. Safe, verified digital spaces need be built. Spaces meant for meaningful contribution to policy. There needs to be created social media applications or websites or even columns decidicated to giving youth an opportunity to give out important issues they need to raise. One thing is true they've already been created but how well known are they? Social media platforms such as Facebook platforms are so well known that they capture everyone's attention. Perhaps it is time something of that sort was created but dedicated to contributing solutions.
2. Youth need a voice in specially created for them among policy makers. The curent lack of contribution is due to lack of a platform to communicate and such is what needs be created.
3. A youth body needs to be created. Independent of government just to let youth free their minds and come up with solutions to help problems they face. Youth are highly creative and as first hand sufferers of not being able to participate digitally, they can help themselves and others if given the chance, funds and support
But what if access needs to be fostered through action? In the article below, a project which was implemented to widen access seems to highlight action more than suggestions
https://x.company/projects/loon/

I am Ifebuchechukwu Francisca Edeh from Nigeria.

Some of the problems preventing youths from participating in the digital world includes;

1)Lack of knowledge and understanding of digital realities.Even though many youth uses smart phones and other Mobile app yet they are have no or limited awareness of technology trends that could have significant impact in the society like cyber security etc.

2)poor and lack of interest;some youth has the notion that digital technologies are "just tools" thereby undermining and disregarding the importance of digital technologies in the society.

3) digital divide;The digital divide is a gap between those who have access to digital technology and those who do not.

These problems can be solved by proper Access to digital information and digital literacy training, affordable internet services, digital inclusion where all individual including the disadvantaged will have access to digital skills and technologies..

Poor governance has effect on the poor participation of youths in digital world because they have failed to provide quality and adequate digital infrastructure and resources, viewing digital driven changes as current expenses rather than investment in the society future.They lack employment of optimal resource allocation strategy.

Therefore young leaders like us are needed to be part of the decision making policy in order to achieve a global solutions to poor participation of youth in digital world.

***POSTED ON BEHALF OF JOHN TIMOTHY PALIMA***

Dear all,

I am sorry for not replying to your comments earlier. I've been experiencing some persisting technical issues with the system. 

Despite these, thank you for sending your replies!

This week, people really started sending their thoughts. 

As I’ve mentioned in my welcome post, a lack of access to Internet infrastructure is one obvious problem youth worldwide face. And some of you have raised this point, highlighting your local experiences. Poverty, our usual suspect, makes it difficult to participate in the digital future. 

But besides infrastructure, I am also fascinated with your replies that mention other factors, or other barriers. 

Many young people continue to lack the exposure, social capital/network, and infrastructure, to learn productive digital skills critical to 21st century jobs. There might be a lack of exposure, or awareness of “tech” beyond privately-owned social media or smartphone use. There may also be a lack of competency in certain digital skills. Older people may believe young people are digital natives, but young people are not born with useful tech skills: without guidance, and training, young people may live without knowledge of the opportunities new tech can . 

Aside from a lack of upskilling and exposure, there is also a lack of digital literacy on our Internet rights, on discerning false information from truth, etc. Digital tools, products, and services exist online but we lack guidance against their misuse to exploit us or abuse us.

Lastly, there is a lack of confidence in youth. More specifically, we lack participatory avenues where young people can be heard. Government consultations in many countries are far removed from the voice of young people, especially to do with digital technology issues. Though privately owned social media exists for young people to speak up about issues that matter to them virtually, it is not enough. Governments can create more tailored and intentional spaces both online and offline for young people’s input on legislation to be heard and be acted upon. 

As we enter the 3rd week of this consultation, please feel free to reply your thoughts to other people’s comments! We also greatly appreciate those who take the time to research well thought-out replies. 

Let’s continue to dig deeper into these issues by examining and citing real-life examples. If you’re unsure what to reply or comment, always go back to our room’s guide questions. You can try answering any of them, or all of them.

Have a healthy and happy week ahead! 

Yours truly,
John

Hello and good day to all! My name is Tariq Mohammed and I’ll be this week’s moderator!

About me: I am 23 years old and from Trinidad and Tobago. I hold a BSc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and am currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in the same degree at the University of the West Indies. Additionally, I am both a Radio Engineer Consultant for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as well as one of their Youth Envoys for the Americas Region.

I look forward to continuing in the discussions which were initiated by both of the previous moderators, Sophiyat and John, and thank them very much for their excellent service.

In this forum, we are eagerly interested in answering the overarching question: “How to build an inclusive and sustainable digital future for all?”, through the six questions posted at the top of this page. Your thoughts, ideas, stories and experience are very important to us, as they will guide the development of our “Youth Call to Action” document, following this year’s WTDC.  

Looking forward to exciting and engaging discussions with you all this week.

Best,

T

Hello everybody! I am Alexa Silva Varela, Costa Rican that has a bachelor in International Relations. As a volunteer at the different organizations, working with people, I can feel how the ICTs impact our lives always, I have been able to see by my own how people really depende on the ICTs, I depend on it too and many of the activities we do daily are influenced by them. 

I want the ICTs to be a tool for young and underage people as well as for women, because at least in some of the countries that I have had the opportunity to volunteer in, the access to the ICTs is not equal, is not for everybody and in a context where most of the activities have turned online, the ICTs play an important role. As a woman, I am awared of the inequalities that we suffer, and the ICTs are part of it. I want the governments, institutions and NGos to use these ICTs as a tool to benefit the gender equality but to empower women.

Hello, everyone. My name is James Paek from the United States and graduated with Bachelor degree in Political Science. One of the three problems that youths are facing in the United States are digital literacy, digital empowerment, and digital accessibility in the rural America. Since there is lack of digital access to computer and network infrastructure in the United States rural cities, it is impossible for them to be involved in youth consultations and engage with youth policy making so I want to ITU to be involved in accessibility more.

Digital literacy is important as information overload becomes a problem in the US with digital space and disinformation in the online space. 

More importantly, we need more youths, like myself, to be involved in policy consultation in order to galvinize youth process of the policy.

Hello everyone,

My name is Khanimnisa and I am from Azerbaijan. I think in my country, one of the problems is the lack of digital literacy. Maybe, yes new generations are surrounded by tons of digital hard and soft wares but they aren't taught how to use them in the terms of acquiring knowledge and protecting themselves from junk information through the internet.

I think the most crucial challenge is that digital awareness and literacy are underestimated by people and governments. On account of neglect, at schools, Children aren't even allowed to learn mindfulness use of the internet and digital tools. In every school, there are just 2 or 3 maximum computer rooms and 1 lesson for a week called informatics which is a happy day for students because it is a day to play computer games instead of learning how to use a browser and protect their data.

As a solution to the problem, our government should take serious action to protect new generations from junk information and cyberbullying. Besides informatics, our children should take extra classes about digital research, protection from cyberattacks, how to use the internet as a tool to gain knowledge, what digital knowledge could help them find a job, maybe about bitcoin, etc. Additionally, these informative and educative actions also should be available not only to students and also to their parents. Maybe there could be webinars for young families on how to limit and use the internet to support their children's proper growth and protect them cyberbullying

Hello young minds! I welcome you all to the fourth week of this hackaton.
My is name is Dogara Iliya from Adamawa State Nigeria, and I will be your moderator for this week. 
I am a youth advocate, entrepreneur and a digital skills trainer. I have worked on projects that build digital inclusion for youths and women, training them to be digitally inclined while connecting them to the world through Broadband. 
Recently, I was given the opportunity by Cybersafe Foundation to train 20 girls (Cyber Girls) on computer and Cyber Security career path. Also as part of my duties as the Nigeria Youth SDGs champion, 30 young people were trained on digital skills which include, web development, graphic design and digital marketing under my supervision. 
Many young people within my community are out of jobs and opportunity because of lack digital literacy and many are willing to be trained in order to thrive
in the fast approaching Industry 4.0 but another problem faced is lack of financial strength to pay for computer and digital literacy classes. 
What other ways do you think can help build an inclusive and sustainable digital future for all?
Your response to the questions above will help in preparing the "Youth Envoy Call To Action" document, giving the decision makers at the WTDC the chance to make better decision. You are free to answer any question you can. We have been giving a chance, Let's make a difference!

Hi all,

Though this forum was not as active this week, as it was last week, we were still able to gather very interesting and valuable perspectives from our three participants, each from different countries.

All three of our participants highlighted different observations of inequality, and identified specific gaps in the spheres of digital: (i) literacy, (ii) empowerment and (iii) accessibility.

The need to continue investigations and experiment with new ways to engage youth is an excellent point, as their voices are what motivate this consultation. Furthermore, the absence of unconnected voices poses a great concern, as their perspectives and experiences are what will provide us with the direct sources of their problems, which we should use to develop gap-filling strategies.

Surely, collaborative approaches need to be taken, engaging both the demand (user) side as well as supply (service providers, regulators, etc) to develop innovative, gap-filling solutions in order to build an inclusive and sustainable digital future for all.

As I pass the floor over to this week's moderator , I wish to thank all of this week’s contributors, and hope that we can continue the dialogue.

All the best, everyone!

-T

Hello, a pleasure, my name is Francia Serrano (Mx) - (https://www.linkedin.com/in/francia-serrano-836366228)
I'm very glad to share with you some ideas about the topic ...

1. What are the problems to be solved currently preventing youth from meaningfully participating in the digital world?

Participation of women | Reduce number of spaces for dialogue and analysis | Lack of interest | Language | Multidisciplinary perspective (many people believe that it is necessary studies in Sciences or Mathematics to be able to participate in subjects related to digitalization or the 4th industrial revolution | Political environment that not only doesn’t promote an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem but on the contrary limits opportunities.  

2. What are the top 3 major challenges with youth participation in the digital space today, in the future (e.g., participation in policy and decision making, no or no meaningful access to Internet resources, harmful effects of digital technologies on people and the planet)? Why is that a problem?

1 Digital gap within countries = There are countries with a more sophisticated vision on development, more experience in digitization and cloud-managed processes. Thus, there is not only a gap in knowledge but also in technical skills and competences. 

2 Interculturality through ICTs → How to introduce technology without disrupting cultural issues? and How to integrate it into the rural community without being an imposition? 

3 Interest and promotion of deeper discussions on conceptual, ethical, etc. issues that haven't been defined and that many countries find it difficult to discuss. Examples include data privacity, artificial intelligence definition, patents, etc. 

3. What evidence exists to support the statements made (e.g., stats, scientific evidence, real-life examples)?

In Mexican Universities there are no women in the fields of Science, Mathematics or Computer Science, the ratio may be around one for every 20 men. On the other hand, the government has reduced the budget for the National Research Center as well as the PhD scholarships.

4. What are the top 3 solutions to the top 3 major challenges preventing youth from meaningfully participating in the digital world (e.g., new channels to contribute to policy design, codifying digital rights, mainstreaming environmental sustainability in business models and decision-making at the national, global level)?

Campaigns | Hackathons for women | Multidisciplinary discussions circle with focus on science and technology | Webinars with simultaneous translation or workshops in different languages  | Promote the creation of readings/essays/work groups that reflect on a harmony between cultures and technology, which should not be understood as an end but as a means to improve the quality of life of people in terms of communication, accessibility and learning.

5. Can old solutions work for new problems with youth participation in the digital economy and society or do we need new tools? What would they be?

Yes, old tools such as forums, conventions, meetings, etc. have allowed for youth dialogue. However, under the principle of leaving no one behind, it is important to renew these tools and create mixed models that allow accessibility.

6. What evidence exists to support the statements made (e.g., stats, scientific evidence, real-life examples)?

During the pandemic, the hybrid model increased significantly the capacity of events coordinated by different entities. 

In my opinion l think that there are alot of problems that are currently preventing youths from participating in digital world and that these problems have to be solved : for example in most African countries there is high import tax for Digital technologies , the other reason is that there is lack of incentives for local production of digital technology as it forces us to purchase gadgets from abroad which is much costly than local production.The other challenge that preventing youths from active participation in Digital world is that there is lack of deliberate action from decision makers that has to do with Digital technologies.Furthermore l am of the view that there is lack of proper channels for Digital and tech innovators to find support.

I am of the view that some of the major challenges with youth participation in the digital space is that most of e-government tools are not youth inclusive , decreased access to funding for youth actors in digital activism and unequal access to digital technologies and the internet.There is alot of evidence behind my points for example https://www.unicef.org/globalinsight/stories/future-youth-participation… highlights some of the points l have mentioned.

Some of the top solutions to the top major problems are that government(s) should be youth inclusive with all targets groups including the disabled together with equal access in forming change ideas of the problem statement and that there should be increased access to funding on platforms and digital technologies that should help the youths in full participation in the Digital world

I strongly believe that old solutions can work only if we design change ideas that can be of great assistance with the current problems however on the other hand we also need new tools as most of these tools are plated with innovative and creative aspects within them.

Some documented evidence can be accessed from https://bit.ly/3MTzHaq

Hi everyone, I'm Joseff Mayberry, International Affairs Manager at Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator. As a young person and a policy professional, I'm looking forward to participating in the Generation Connect Youth Summit, and meeting many of you in this discussion room (in-person or virtually), to further the discussion on how we can achieve an inclusive digital future. Below are some of my reflections on ensuring an inclusive digital future for today's youth.

What are the problems to be solved currently preventing youth from meaningfully participating in the digital world? 

• Unequal access to the internet 
• Lack of education and digital skills 
• Inequalities across gender

What are the top 3 major challenges with youth participation in the digital space today, in the future (e.g., participation in policy and decision making, no or no meaningful access to Internet resources, harmful effects of digital technologies on people and the planet)? Why is that a problem?

•  Across the world, limited access to the internet for some young people means that they cannot access information and services that will help them in education and in accessing jobs. It will also stop them fully participating in public debate or engaging with other people internationally as a global citizen. Young people also need the skills and education to fully access and understand information online. This includes both basic education, such as literacy, right through to the need for critical thinking skills enabling people to be savvy consumers of media.
•  Inequalities can also play a big role in youth participation in digital spaces. Unfortunately, in many areas women have lower access to the internet and are often less likely to have careers in STEM. This both harms women but also society as a whole.  

3. What evidence exists to support the statements made (e.g., stats, scientific evidence, real-life examples)? 

• Globally, a greater proportion of young people use the internet compared to the population as a whole, however, ITU data shows that globally, an average of 62% of men use the Internet compared with 57% of women. This means a digital divide representing hundreds of millions of women, The divide remains wide in the LDCs, where only 19% of women are using the Internet (12 percentage points lower than men).
• The ITU collected data in 2020 on the affordability of the internet. In the LDCs, while the median price for entry-level broadband has been declining, it remains beyond the means of the average consumer in all but 4 of the 43 LDCs for which data could be obtained.

To overcome these issues will require concerted efforts by all stakeholders. It includes ensuring affordable access to ICTs and connectivity in each country. It also includes capacity building programmes focused on improving digital literacy and skills, tailored to each national context. There also needs to be programmes to encourage women and girls into STEM education and careers. 

Greetings, I hope everyone is doing well. some of the problems currently preventing youths from meaningfully participating in the digital world are;
         a. limited access to the internet and digital devices

          b. Less knowledge about how the digital world works.

          c. The attention given to youths is not efficient.

Digital inclusion of youth (itu.int) explains the solutions more.

Participation in policy and decision making, no or no meaningful access to Internet resources, harmful effects of digital technologies on people and the planet)? Why is that a problem

These are problems because youths are not using their right and they couldn't even understand it. youths have ideas and their ideas have the power to change our current status in advance. Giving them the opportunity in decision making 

    In my opinion, the top 3 solutions should be advancing the school curriculum,  prioritizing the voice of youths in decision making, and creating awareness.

Hello everyone, my name is Nicola and I am a Senior Policy Officer at the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. I look forward to meet with those participating in the upcoming Youth Summit, and am grateful to be able to share my thoughts on building an inclusive and sustainable digital future for all. 

With roughly 63 per cent of the population using the internet in 2021 (according to the ITU’s Facts and Figures Report 2021), enabling basic connectivity, equal access, and safe and confident use of the internet are ongoing problems preventing youth from participating meaningfully in the digital world.

Without basic connectivity and equal access opportunities, youths cannot engage in the opportunities of the digital world in the first place, including opportunities to share experiences, learn, and engage in associated social and economic benefits. Additionally, there is a need to upskill youths regarding safe and confident use of the internet so that these benefits can be enjoyed safely. Connectivity, access, and upskilling youths in the safe and confident use of the internet will also enable traditionally marginalised youth groups (e.g. girls and young women, indigenous peoples, people with special needs, etc.) to access the resources they need to engage in the digital world and enjoy the associated benefits.

To enable basic connectivity there needs to be a focus on development programs and capacity-building efforts from all stakeholders to connect the unconnected, particularly in rural and remote communities. This connectivity must be resilient, affordable, accessible, and developed based on geographic and country-specific contexts to remain fit for purpose. Programs also need to be developed that are tailored for specific youth groups (e.g. girls and young women, indigenous peoples, people with special needs, etc.) so they can build digital literacy skills to participate safely, confidently and meaningfully in the digital world.

Evidence:

The ITU’s Facts and Figures Report 2021 notes the following:

• 63 per cent of the population was using the internet in 2021 – this means that 2.9 billion people remain offline (96 per cent of whom live in developing countries)
• In 2020, 71 per cent of the world’s youth (aged between 15 and 24 years) were using the internet
  • In developing countries, 67 per cent of youths were using the internet
  • In least developed countries, 22 per cent of youths were using the internet
• In 2020, 62 per cent of all men were using the internet, compared with 57 per cent of all women.

A 2016 OECD paper on Economic and Social Benefits of Internet Openness found that Internet openness benefits innovation, trade, entrepreneurship, society and the economy

In 2016, the UN Human Rights Council recognised that human rights apply on the Internet just as they do offline, and must be upheld as the Internet plays an increasingly prevalent role in enabling socio-economic and technological developments (A/HRC/Res/32/13).

Hello all. My name is Nicholas Gasani, I am 21 years old and studying Civil Engineering with a major in Environmental Engineering from the National University of Rwanda.  I am based in Kigali Rwanda.

1. What are the problems to be solved currently preventing youth from meaningfully participating in the digital world? I would say access to affordable digital infrastructure, affordable devices, and digital skills. In Africa, we usually talk of the digital divide, but the youth digital divide is, unfortunately, a real possibility as digital infrastructure (broadband) and devices are still expensive and lockout youth, especially the rural youth and urban poor youth. Digital skills are still a big issue with the above groups.  
2. What are the top 3 major challenges with youth participation in the digital space today, and in the future (e.g., participation in policy and decision making, no or no meaningful access to Internet resources, harmful effects of digital technologies on people and the planet)? Why is that a problem?  I will answer this with a real-life example. During Covid in Rwanda, there was a lockdown and I was in my first year.  The university moved all lessons online, but there were a couple of challenges to participation in online learning.  Many students went back to their homes which limited online learning. The top 3 challenges we faces as students were 1. Internet availability and affordability. Many of us were on 3G internet which doesn't support audio/video well including limited coverage in some parts of the country.  Affordability was a challenge being students we didn't have much money to spend on the internet.  2. Digital skills. We were learning on Microsoft teams, but it was a steep learning curve to master MS Teams for both students and lecturers. 3. Expensive laptops and phones: Doing online assignments was difficult and some would type out their assignments and stuck on uploading them. In my class out of 53 students, 80% joined classes using their smartphones which limited ability to do assignments via a smart phones.  I would add a fourth one is the language barrier. Although all students know English well however Kinyarwanda is the national language and the more widely spoken language for everyday use, yet MS teams are not in this language.  However, the Government has developed a program to distribute laptops to university students which also helped to reduce the issue of access to laptops.
3. What evidence exists to support the statements made (e.g., stats, scientific evidence, real-life examples)? The real life example I would give is online learning during Covid.  Research paper here https://www.conmaths.com/download/online-learning-during-covid-19-pande…

Canvasing solutions 

4. What are the top 3 solutions to the top 3 major challenges preventing youth from meaningfully participating in the digital world (e.g., new channels to contribute to policy design, codifying digital rights, mainstreaming environmental sustainability in business models and decision-making at the national, global level)?
   1. Internet availability and affordability.: Government should avail free internet access points in the city and rural areas eg schools etc. Government should support subsidized internet costs, especially to students. 2. Digital Skills: Youth should be taught digital skills in high schools it should be beyond basic digital skills. 3. Expensive devices: Increase access to quality laptops at affordable rates, For example the price of a good specs laptop on e-bay is equivalent to a lower specs laptop in the market. However delivery is a major challenge of such devices. 4. Language barriers: Ensure solutions/softwares are localized to local languages.
5. What evidence exists to support the statements made (e.g., stats, scientific evidence, real-life examples)? For the local language real life example, Swahili is a widely spoken language in East Africa and recently is now one of the official languages for African Union.  This youtube tutorial in Swahili for Microsoft word explains Word which is in English making it difficult to understand for majorly Swahili speakers  https://youtube.com/watch?v=XVNh7QLtzgE&ab_channel=AmosLeonard 

Hi everyone! My name is Amanda, I’m 18 and I’m Brazilian.

I think the main problem in youth participation in the digital world is that we (of course, in a social cut) have access to internet and digital platforms, but we can’t engage properly in decision making, as our voice commonly is not listened and we don’t have many opportunities to enter in this spaces and impact our community. This is a problem because young people have ideas that can be use to improve the common well being, and in the current moment we can’t amplify our voice to do that. 

Also, I can notice that the access to infrastructure and devices to enter on digital scenario is not for everyone. Here in Brazil for exemple, 40 millions of Brazilian don’t have access to internet, witch is equivalent to 20% of the population (IBGE). Is important to notice that the majority of this unprivipopulation is formed by black people.

Other important aspect is that the population usually don’t know how to use internet or how to scape from misinformation this space unfortunately offer. I suggest digital skills to be taught in schools. 

Hi everyone, my name is Katie Mellinger, and I’m a 25-year-old Attorney-Advisor for the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). My colleague Tyler Crowe from the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) and I are so excited to meet all of you in a few weeks at the Generation Connect Youth Summit!

Considering the Problems:

Barriers to broadband connectivity, the need for greater support for students in accessing ICT tools for education, and a historical lack of inclusion and diversity are among the most pressing issues preventing youth from meaningfully participating in the digital world. 

Barriers to Broadband Connectivity:

Although we’ve made significant strides in expanding broadband access in the U.S., many people remain unconnected in both urban and rural areas. Minority, low-income, and tribal communities have experienced the greatest barriers to connectivity.

The Need for Greater Support for Students in Accessing ICT Tools for Education:

The pandemic made the need for online connection even greater, particularly among students who migrated their studies online. As a student for one and a half years of the pandemic, I understand just how valuable access to the internet and devices are to education, especially when it’s remote. However, nearly 17 million students across the U.S. lack access to a stable internet source at home, with many also lacking access to laptops, tablets, and mobile devices equipped to support online learning.

Historical Lack of Inclusion and Diversity:

Inequitable opportunity and a historical lack of representation have been enormous obstacles for youth hailing from minority populations, particularly Black, Latinx, and indigenous racial and ethnic communities, LGBTQ+, women, and people with disabilities. For example, data for the “National Girls Collaborative Project” indicates women only constitute 34 percent of the STEM workforce, with Latina, Black, and Indigenous women representing less than 10 percent of the STEM workforce. Including people from diverse backgrounds in the discussion and development of our digital future helps to ensure no one gets left behind and all voices and perspectives are considered in shaping our tomorrow.

Canvasing Solutions:

For years, the FCC and NTIA have worked together to better understand these issues and develop solutions to address them. Some solutions include expanding infrastructure to increase connectivity, supporting ICT programs tailored to students’ educational needs, and increasing engagement opportunities for diverse youth populations within the ICT field.

Expanding Infrastructure to Increase Connectivity:

The FCC and NTIA have developed programs funding the deployment of critical broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved rural, remote, and Tribal communities.

Thanks to recent funding, NTIA has increased efforts to expand broadband deployment through its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, “Middle Mile” Infrastructure Program, and Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, all of which support greater youth participation online.

Supporting ICT Programs Tailored to Students’ Educational Needs:

In order to support students during the pandemic, the FCC implemented a program covering the cost of devices, such as laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots, and broadband plans for students and school staff to use from the comfort of their homes. The program allowed more than 12.5 million students to reap the benefit of e-education. A continued focus on student access to the devices and connection required for online learning is essential as we consider our digital future.

Increasing Engagement Opportunities for Diverse Youth Populations within the ICT Field:

Policies and programs enhancing digital equity can increase engagement opportunities for diverse youth populations within the ICT field. Public and private sector collaboration to develop programs that facilitate ICT learning and experiential opportunities for historically underrepresented groups may also increase diverse youth engagement. As a law student with a Latinx background, I had the opportunity to participate in one such program, which provided me with mentorship and access to substantive academic courses covering fundamental ICT principles, statutes, and regulations. Now that I’ve graduated, I have the opportunity to mentor current students who are interested in learning more about ICT.

While we’ve made significant progress, there is still plenty of work to do to ensure youth have access to a stable broadband connection, the tools needed for education, and equitable representation in the digital world. Tyler and I look forward to sharing our own experiences in the digital space, as well as our agencies’ experiences in expanding access to ICTs. Many thanks for the opportunity to comment!