The reality is- technology is advancing faster than we can control. While humanity technically guides its development, the sheer number of systems, tools, and people involved makes it impossible to stop or slow down as a whole.

But as much as we are limited in controlling the speed of change- what we can do is PAUSE and LISTEN to young people so we can respond to their needs and understand their experiences of technology. 

The first stage in any youth work development is to be led by young people- and that’s exactly what we need to do. 

• Do they want to talk about their relationship with tech and work out ways to develop healthier digital behaviours? If yes, then let’s develop a digital citizenship programme
• Do they enjoy connecting with people in gaming spaces and enjoy experiencing new virtual worlds? If yes, then let’s look into gaming or VR. 
• Are they currently unable to access in person settings due to lack of provision, confidence or disability? If yes, then let’s see how we can adapt a programme to deliver online using zoom to build relationships**

We shouldn’t be developing digital programmes solely for the purpose of getting young people into youth centres, but instead to reach communities and build relationships with young people in a way that works for them. This may result in eventual face to face opportunities if that is an outcome the young person wants to achieve.

Ever developed a relationship with a colleague online before meeting them in person? Then found the in-person meeting easier to navigate having built the foundations? Yep- that’s what we’re aiming to do (just it’s in the young person’s hands should they wish to meet in person). 

All forms of youth work should be shaped by the voices, experiences, and needs of young people, ensuring that they are active participants in decisions that affect them and digital youth work is no exception- particularly as digital technology is an integral part of young people’s daily lives, influencing how they communicate, learn, and engage with the world around them.

• Guidelines – digitalyouthwork.eu
• Free Mobile Data For Digital Inclusion | Good Things Foundation
• Devices For Digital Inclusion | Good Things Foundation

Action: Create a survey or host a focus group with young people making sure to reach young people beyond your direct provision. 

Don’t feel you need to learn every new app, platform or gadget that comes along.  Youth work can’t and shouldn’t try to be in every digital space or using every digital tool, but it is vital we take the time to connect with and understand the technologies young people are using and have an adaptable, forward-thinking approach. 

Explore different tools, try out new platforms and spend time getting comfortable with tech at your own pace through a trial and test approach. This is about confidence, not being a tech expert.  

This includes spending time on social media, understanding how it works and why it may be appealing to young people alongside understanding the risks. It also includes giving a games console a go or exploring coding with young people: be digitally curious and digital ready. 

• Less social media. More Snapchat.
• Roblox
• Welcome to the Minecraft Official Site | Minecraft
• Meta Horizon
• HADO

Action: Using a platform approved by your organisation try out a game such as Roblox or download a social media app such as TikTok or Snapchat.

Beyond exploration, commit to continuous learning through training and CPD and nominate a digital lead in your organisation to keep pace with digital trends and advancements. 

According to the European Guidelines for Digital Youth Work, some top tips for Professional Development include: 

• Seek out training opportunities to incrementally build new knowledge and skills 
• Challenge mindsets and contribute to a digitally agile culture in the youth work setting 
• Engage in peer learning, knowledge sharing and international collaboration 
• Having an interest towards digital technologies and an agile mindset are more important than being a technical expert

Also check out the National standards for essential digital skills to help guide your learning and use tools such as Learn My Way and Essential Digital Skills  to develop your digital skills. 

Here are some great organisations for a range of digital training and expertise:

• The British Esports Federation, changing the game for esports in the UK
• Hologen • Tech Consultancy • Supporting Schools, Youth Work, and Staff
• Home | Ygam
• Home – Virtual Decisions

Action: Understand the digital skillset of your team, run a short survey to capture digital knowledge and confidence- or measure your own. 

At the centre of all youth work planning and delivery must be the safeguarding and wellbeing of young people. This fundamental principle remains unchanged, regardless of whether engagement takes place in a physical or online environment Safeguarding standards for the youth sector must be applied.

However, the online space presents different challenges and considerations that must be addressed to ensure that young people are protected while benefiting from digital youth work opportunities.

Some basic starting steps to developing digital youth work include: 

• Know your tools 
• Understand your setting 
• Assess risk including data protection
• Manage consent  
• Establish a verification process
• Review

Specific training on managing risk in online settings will be available soon. 

Recommended tools and reading: 

• Online safety training | NSPCC Learning
• Risk assessing digital youth work – Digital Youth Work
• How to create safe online spaces for digital youth work – Digital Youth Work
• DigiSafe | 
• 360 Degree Safe – Online Safety Review Tool | SWGfL

Action: Follow our Digital Youth Work in an Online Setting for step-by-step guidance on setting up a digital youth work project.

Whatever tool, platform or space you are using, young people’s digital wellbeing has to be at the heart of it. Today, there is no clear divide between online and offline in young people’s lives so our work has to reflect that. We need to support young people in navigating both worlds safely and digital skills need to be integrated and understood as a life skill. 

Digital wellbeing, safety and citizenship should be core to our conversations, helping young people to become healthy, happy digital citizens. This means exploring topics like mis- and disinformation, content consumption, online safety, privacy and managing screen time.

What is mis and disinformation? 

Misinformation is false or misleading information shared without intent to deceive, while disinformation is false information deliberately spread to mislead. Social media contributes to the spreading of both misinformation and disinformation very quickly because people can share content instantly with large audiences, often without checking if it’s true.

When developing any youth work programmes, digital wellbeing should be integrated into your delivery and curriculum plans. This may look like for example specific sessions delivered on gaming and screen time. The National Centre for Gaming Disorders and Ygam provide a number of resources on this topic. It may also look like an end of session check-in, ensuring young people have a screen break post-session if the delivery method is online. Digital youth work must always provide a balance between supporting young people in places and ways in which they would like to engage- and ensuring they have and are supported to develop healthy digital habits. 

There are lots of resources and tools available on the topic of digital wellbeing: here are just a few to get you started

• Safety and Security Online | SWGfL
• Keep Children Safe Online: Information, advice, support – Internet Matters
• Be Internet Citizens

HOT TOPIC: AI Companions

AI has dominated headlines since the rise of Generative AI, but a new and growing risk is emerging in the form of AI companions. While these tools can provide comfort and personalised support, there are currently very few restrictions on how they may operate and regulation lags far behind. Without proper safeguards, AI companions could contribute to disinformation, create overreliance and expose young people to harmful content. This makes AI literacy essential when working with young people to ensure they can navigate these technologies safely.

Read: Me-Myself-AI-Report.pdf and include AI literacy in your delivery. 

What are AI companions?

According to the Ada Lovelace Institute:

AI companion services are for-profit enterprises and maximise user engagement by offering appealing features like indefinite attention, patience and empathy. Their product strategy is similar to that of social media companies, which feed off users’ attention and usually offer consumers what they can’t resist more than what they need

AI companion examples and articles: 

• Replika
• Character.ai 
• I tried Grok’s new companion feature — and I’ve never felt so uncomfortable | Tom’s Guide

Action: Explore the resources and develop a session plan on digital wellbeing (top tip: you can use AI to support the development of your session plan, refer to your organisations guidance on the use of AI)

You don’t have to know everything, but staying connected to future tech developments is crucial. 

AI felt like it dropped out of the sky when ChatGPT launched but it has been quietly shaping our lives for years, built into everything from smartphones to cars. 

Being ready for change puts us in a stronger position to respond to young people’s needs as they evolve. That could mean keeping an eye out yourself or having a dedicated colleague take on that role. Either way, someone in the team should be horizon-scanning.

And to help with that horizon scanning- get onto LinkedIn, engage with social media and check out interactive tools such as the digital youth index that offer insight into the digital lives of young people: 

The Digital Youth Index – Understand the Impact of Technology on Young People

Action: Sign up to some tech newsletters to keep in touch with tech trends and developments.

• Tech Decoded: The latest technology news direct to your inbox – BBC News
• Gartner Newsletter Signup
• Newsletters | WIRED
• All Articles | Bernard Marr