Powering Youth Engagement For An Inclusive Digital Economy

This policy brief advocates for youth meaningful engagement in digital economy policy and leverages youth’s perspectives on how to ensure that new digital technologies advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the G20 shapes a more inclusive digital transformation and strives to leave no one behind, it is fundamental to engage all stakeholders, and youth must not be the exception. While more connected to data-driven technologies than ever before, youth are absent from decision-making on data in local, national, and global fora. They have been tangentially involved in digital economy policy, despite being the most effective storytellers and witnesses to their experience with data. Based on ongoing consultations with youth worldwide, this brief will highlight the diversity and depth ofyouth experiences with digital technologies and their views on data governance. It will underscore young people’s recommendations covering a wide range of data policy issues (e.g. privacy, education, mental health, digital welfare, and data for the SDGs). Through a case study focusing on digital literacy, the brief will encourage policy discussion to venture into issues that are particularly affecting younger generations. It will illustrate the educational gap affecting youth communities globally, and the new skills and tools they need to navigate the digital world. It will also inform the debates about the connection between digital technologies – and the amount of content young people are being exposed to online – and mental health, and the urgent need to address this issue by equipping youth to handle the risks and the opportunities that digital technologies can offer. Overall, this brief will highlight youth’s policy recommendations to advance inclusive digital technologies, and encourage policymakers to place young people’s needs and experiences at the heart of data governance and the digital economy agenda.