GSMA Africa, UNICEF Urge Youth Voice in Digital Policy, Technology
The digital revolution in Africa is unlocking new opportunities to learn, communicate and develop for children and young people, but experts say that their safety is not lost in the process.
Digital spaces are becoming increasingly significant in young people’s lives as evidenced by a recent U-Report poll conducted by UNICEF and GSMA involving over 50,000 young people (aged 24 and under) in 51 African countries.
Communication with family and friends and learning were also cited as important motivations to use technology, reflecting how online technology is becoming linked with social, learning and personal development.
AI is also entering the mainstream. Three out of four respondents report using AI at least several times per week, and over a fifth states that they use it daily or more. The study shows that there are gaps in young people’s capabilities for evaluating AI-generated information, with 13 per cent unsure how to evaluate AI information’s reliability.
The findings will further underscore the importance of providing technology and digital and AI literacy skills in children. There is a need for parents, teachers and policy makers to understand how to help children to manage the increasingly complex online world.
The survey also revealed that almost one quarter of young people said their needs were seldom or never taken into account in decisions regarding platforms used.
So young people should have a meaningful voice in digital policies and technologies, say GSMA Africa and UNICEF.
While Africa continues to grow connectivity and AI infrastructure, experts say investments should be made to bolster child online protection, digital education and youth participation. They say “to protect children, they need not be kept off the Internet, but rather made safe by providing digital environments in which they can learn, participate and grow.
Source of Image: Nations Newspaper and Getty Images
