Digital youth participation refers to the use of the internet, social media, mobile technology and other information and communication technologies ( ICTs) to enable young people’s participation in democratic life. It is also sometimes called e-participation or smart participation.
How digital world and digital tools enable youth participation
The digital world and digital tools can enable youth participation by providing;
- An information channel through which young people can access information that supports their participation. For example, news sources, information about political debates and details of policy making.
- A communication channel through which young people can communicate with each other, and other people relevant to youth participation, such as decision makers.
- A platform to create, share and distribute content. For instance, to recruit new project participants, or to distribute a campaign message,
- A virtual space in which youth participation activities can take place and where virtual communities can form
- Nearly all forms of youth participation can be recreated in a digital format in some way. For example, youth council meetings or youth conferences can be hosted through video chat, or protests can be organised and held through hashtags and social media posts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many youth participation projects transferred their activities exclusively to digital formats.