Youth voices on EdTech data governance: A global consultation

New article published in Data & Policy journal! YouthView: a platform for interactive visualizations to explore youth disadvantage 👉 https://bit.ly/4hbKCgl YouthView is a cutting-edge platform for integrating and visualizing #data that fills a crucial gap in #youth #policy research. By merging various datasets related to youth challenges, #employment, and #labor market conditions, it offers unprecedented insights into the difficulties faced by young people. Through interactive visualizations that present detailed, location-specific data, the platform enables #policymakers to target #interventions more effectively. By incorporating longitudinal data and focusing on regional disparities, YouthView provides a nuanced understanding of youth transitions, potentially revolutionizing approaches to #education, employment, and social support policies. By promoting evidence-based decision-making and highlighting the complex interactions among #socioeconomic factors, YouthView represents a significant advancement in data-driven policy development. This tool has the potential to reshape youth policy frameworks, leading to more responsive and fair outcomes for young individuals. By Ujjwal KC, Steeve Marchand & A. Abigail Payne (University of Melbourne) A Data for Policy Conference Proceedings Paper

October 29 is Digital Citizen Day! as part of Media Literacy Week (Oct 27-31), led by MediaSmarts | HabiloMédias. As Media Smarts says, "if you're online your a digital citizen". And we interact with digital media in many different ways in addition to tapping away at our smartphones. As a Media Smarts collaborator for the week of events and resources, I'm sharing out a practical and short online course I created earlier this year "Digital Media & Data Literacy for Adults". Why this course is needed: "Citizens of Canada need to be better equipped to think critically about the wide ranging experiences they have online. Digital media and data literate citizens are able to recognise and think critically about mis- and disinformation, have the skills to responsibly and creatively contribute to online spaces, and are enabled to collaborate with and support those in their communities." The course, key research and recommended resources are all here: https://blogs.ubc.ca/dmdl/ #DigitalCitizenDay #MediaLiteracyWeek #UBCMET #MediaSmarts

Are we measuring the right digital skills in low‑ and middle‑income countries? Many global surveys still focus on computer‑based skills, such as copy‑pasting files or writing code, even though in most LMICs, the mobile phone is the dominant (and often only) device. This approach risks producing data that is biased toward wealthier, urban, highly educated users. A new analysis of UNICEF’s MICS‑6 survey across 40 countries, which I co-authored with Johns Hopkins and the University of Cape Town, shows why we need a mobile‑first, context‑sensitive approach to measuring digital skills. Without this shift, we risk underestimating the skills people do have, and overlooking the barriers that still hold them back. Mayank Date Kerry Scott Anjora Sarangi Dr. Osama Ummer Arjun Khanna Tanya Sinha Diwakar Mohan Amnesty LeFevre 👉 Read the briefer here: https://lnkd.in/de8EPqGt #DigitalInclusion #DigitalSkills #EquityInTech

In today’s digital landscape monopolised by talk of bans rather than benefits, I’m happy to see that the Google’s Future Report (https://lnkd.in/gct6wpTW) conducted with 7070 teens brings us a more encouraging, forward-looking view of young people’s digital experiences and aspirations. The participating teens, from 5 different EU countries and broadly varying backgrounds, don’t just see the internet as a means of learning, connection and entertainment, but also as a way to explore other cultures and perspectives, and find different approaches to going about tasks. This openness, flexibility and thirst to explore cultural and other forms of diversity are important areas where digital citizens need to build their competence to tolerate the ever-increasing complexity of today’s society, and to be able to participate knowledgably and meaningfully is the broader world of today and tomorrow. Participating teens place focus on trustworthiness, and show an appreciative level of critical thinking in the range of strategies they deploy to check the credibility of information. They don’t seem to be particularly bothered by algorithms, seeing them rather as a means of opening to diversity through the new things they discover when content is proposed to them.  40% of participants say they use AI almost daily, mainly for problem solving and creative activities, are aware that AI can be misleading, and wish their teachers were better equipped in terms of knowledge and digital literacy skills to help them use it more effectively and creatively. The Report highlights the digital literacy gap that seemingly exists between different income groups, and this is an issue that needs to be addressed to ensure that all students have an equitable chance to benefit from the opportunities that society presents. The Future Report should prove useful for educators and families grappling with digital challenges. It provides an insightful snapshot of how young people are currently engaging with the online world, the support they feel they need at home and at school, and what they expect from tech companies and policy makers to explore the opportunities and exploit the benefits of digital technology.

It’s Global Media & Information Literacy Awareness Week, and with rapid advances happening in AI and Australia’s social-media age delay arriving 10 December, this issue has never been more important. The age delay will keep children under 16 from having social media accounts, but learning how to use technology safely and responsibly is the best long-term defence against its potential harms. Young people today are growing up in an increasingly connected world, and they need media and digital literacy skills to survive and thrive. As parents and carers, it’s crucial we start having these conversations with our children early and often, before they’re exposed to the risks. You can use this DigiTalk resource we created with Telstra to help you talk to your children about media and digital literacy. It includes information on privacy, consent, networks, and identifying trustworthy information online. https://ow.ly/sHjG50Xk3N4 [Image description: A parent and child are in conversation in front of an open laptop. A purple shape appears top centre with the words “Global Media & Information Literacy Awareness Week” in white text. A blue shape appears bottom left with the words “Free DigiTalk resource to help parents and carers start the conversation” in white text.]

UNICEF: #Data #Governance for #EdTech: Policy Recommendations Education technology (EdTech) offers powerful opportunities to improve learning outcomes, personalize instruction, and expand access to quality education, particularly in low-resource settings and for children with disabilities. At the same time, the collection and use of student data present significant risks, including privacy violations, biased profiling, and the commercial exploitation of children’s information. To help address these challenges, UNICEF partnered with UNESCO and the Global Privacy Assembly to produce a global landscape review on data governance in EdTech. The paper identifies the key stakeholders in EdTech data governance and the obstacles they face in protecting children’s rights. It also examines existing multi-stakeholder governance mechanisms across countries, highlighting the respective roles of governments, data protection authorities, and EdTech companies. The landscape review is accompanied by policy recommendations that demonstrate how sound data governance principles can be applied within the EdTech sector. Developed through a global consultation process with data protection authorities, civil society organizations, academics, and EdTech companies across five regions, the recommendations include strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, embracing anticipatory governance, promoting rights-based business models, and fostering both multi-stakeholder and multilateral collaboration. By adopting these recommendations, stakeholders can help ensure that EdTech not only drives innovation in education but also safeguards the rights and well-being of every child.

23 million households had affordable internet. Then federal funding ran out. Now 5 million families are offline, and America's AI workforce dreams are fading. The Affordable Connectivity Program expired in May 2024. $14.2 billion in federal funding - gone. The ripple effects are devastating: 🔌 13% of former participants already canceled internet service 🔌 12% more plan to disconnect within months 🔌 53% say paying for internet is now too difficult This isn't just about connectivity. It's about opportunity. Rural communities hit hardest. Low-income families forced offline. Students losing access to digital learning. Meanwhile, AI skills become essential for tomorrow's jobs. But how do you learn AI without internet? State and local governments now carry the burden. Federal leadership? Missing in action. The digital divide isn't shrinking. It's growing. Every disconnected household represents lost potential. Lost innovation. Lost competitive advantage. We're building an AI economy while leaving millions behind. That math doesn't work. Sustainable solutions need funding. Leadership. Urgency. Because in 2025, internet access isn't luxury. It's infrastructure. What creative solutions could bridge this growing digital gap? #DigitalEquity #BroadbandAccess #AIWorkforce 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲꞉ https://lnkd.in/gMFsYDHn

What do 7,000 teens in Europe think about the future of technology ? As a parent of 2 teens, working in tech policy, I’m always interested in better understanding how new generations, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha - are using technology in their daily life. With youth consultancy Livity, we surveyed 7,000 teens across Europe, and are sharing the complete findings today. I was particularly interested by the following:   1️⃣ Teens aren't simply using technology, but are actively shaping its evolution to better benefit their learning, creativity, and wellbeing. 2️⃣ 40% use AI daily, overwhelmingly to drive creativity (81%) and problem-solving, not just efficiency. This isn't passive consumption - it's active evolution.  3️⃣ The window for parental guidance on digital hygiene closes significantly by age 16 ! This underscores our collective responsibility to provide inclusion, guidance, and balance early. At Google, we are committed to building tools and technologies that support this proactive approach - like Family Link, YouTube Supervised Experience, Credential Manager... Read more about the study here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eQyUDJ8Z

The Council of Europe’s recent poster competition, part of the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education 2025, offered a striking insight: young people are already confronting the realities of disinformation, cyberbullying, privacy breaches, and online intolerance. Their creativity revealed both the urgency and the opportunity: a need for stronger digital literacy programmes, safe-use frameworks, and teacher-training support that go beyond technical skills to build empathy and critical thinking. For educators, policymakers, and EdTech innovators, this isn’t a short-term initiative; it’s the foundation for a more ethical, inclusive and responsible digital society. Collaboration will be key, between schools, technology partners, and communities, to turn awareness into action. Full article in comments. #DigitalCitizenship #EdTech #MediaLiteracy #EducationInEurope #DigitalSkills

Earlier this month, youth and social media consultancy Livity delivered their Google -commissioned "Future Report" - a deep dive into the tech habits of 13-18 year olds across Europe. Some highlights: 🧑🧑🧒🧒 "Teens are not just technology users – they are its future architects." They are also not a uniform group but come to technology from a variety of social, cultural, spiritual, economic, and experiential backgrounds. 🤝 Digital media literacy is a shared responsibility. This is something we talk a lot about with our project partners - there is no one-size fits all approach and the challenges around A.I., misinformation, and harmful content require multi-sector collaboration. 🧠 Young people are not adopting artificial intelligence to do the work for them, but to bolster their creativity, efficiency, and discover new skills. 81% of those who have used AI tools reported that they have helped them improve one or more aspect of their creativity. 👩🏫 As teachers, we can improve our delivery by knowing what students are searching for when they turn to AI  Students report AI tools as beneficial for explaining difficult topics in different ways (47%), providing instant feedback (42%), and making learning more engaging and fun (38%). 🤔 However, only 20% of students reported they "always" trust the information that new technologies provide - suggesting that while young people are savvy media consumers, they still need tools to sift through what is factual and what is usable. 🏘️ Those coming from less privileged backgrounds were less likely to cross reference sources, confirming that those who are already marginalised are still made more vulnerable to misuse and harmful content online. 🦺 1 in 5 teens reported they receive no support for managing digital wellness and safety. My two big takeaways: While the report includes important recognition of socioeconomic factors, more research is needed to explore the extent to which race, gender and other intersectional identities affect young people's experience with emerging technologies, including the high prevalence of digital violence, including tech-facilitated gender based violence. The Future Report does well to dismantle some of the assumptions we have about youth and technology, and highlights the critical need to co-build solutions with the young people who will be living with, designing, and struggling through our digital future. https://futurereport.eu/ #digitalfutures #ai #technology #teaching #communications #mediastudies #tfgbv