Empowering Youth Perspectives on Digital Self-Determination: A Collaborative Journey

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the voices of young people are often overshadowed by adult-centric discussions about digital governance, autonomy, and rights. Yet, it is this generation of digital natives that stands at the forefront of the challenges and opportunities posed by our interconnected world. Recognizing this, a collaborative initiative involving the University of Zurich, the Directorate of International Law (DIL) of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and the International Network on Digital Self-Determination has brought forward youth perspectives on the concept of Digital Self-Determination (DSD). 

Why Focus on Youth and Digital Self-Determination?

The digital world offers young people unprecedented avenues for creative expression, learning, and civic engagement. However, systemic barriers—ranging from digital divides to entrenched "old power structures" like parental controls and school policies—continue to hinder their agency. Simultaneously, emerging "new power structures" like algorithm-driven social media platforms raise questions about data privacy and youth autonomy.

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This dual dynamic—of opportunity and limitation—makes it crucial to explore how Digital Self-Determination can be reimagined and operationalized to empower young people in meaningful ways. What skills and resources are necessary for youth to navigate the digital world on their terms? How can data governance align with their rights and aspirations? These questions form the core of this project.

The Youth Board: A Participatory Approach to Co-Creation

At the heart of this initiative is the establishment of a Youth Board, a diverse group of individuals aged 12–20 from around the globe, unified by their shared interest in Digital Self-Determination. Through interactive convenings, the board explored key themes, shared personal insights, and developed creative outputs that reflect their unique perspectives.

One highlight of their work includes a remix video (watch below) encapsulating diverse youth viewpoints on Digital Self-Determination, translating complex ideas into accessible narratives. Additionally, the board collaborated with young artists to create illustrations that visualize the concept, bringing creativity into the conversation (the illustrations are shown throughout this blogpost).

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High Level Findings

  1. Generational Misalignments
    Youth and adults often use the same terminology, such as “privacy” or “autonomy,” but interpret these concepts differently. This highlights the need for better understanding and alignment across generations.

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  2. Unique Youth Challenges
    Youth face distinct challenges in achieving Digital Self-Determination, which are not always apparent to adults. These include navigating both "old" power structures, like parental or institutional control, and "new" power structures, such as commercial platforms.

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  3. Adapting to Rapid Change
    The pace of technological change and evolving social norms among youth require ongoing engagement to ensure that governance frameworks remain relevant and address their needs effectively.

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    Learn more about this initiative and read the full report here