2.1g How do digital and algorithmically mediated environments shape young people’s civic participation, cultural engagement, sense of belonging, and wellbeing?
Background
DCMS has launched a 10-year strategy for young people in England (10-21, and up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)). The Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy sets out the various ways in which DCMS aims to achieve the goals set out in the strategy, including improving young people's physical and mental health, and wellbeing, increasing their community engagement, connections and feelings of belonging, improving their safety and security (both offline and online), and finally - improving their skills and opportunities for life and work. As a part of our effort to improve outcomes for young people (through the strategy and our business as usual work) we are keen to get a deeper understanding of the space in which we operate. Future research is required to further build our knowledge on ‘what works’ to improve outcomes for young people; the impact of our services; the resilience and funding structures of the sector; characteristics of services; where they are and who attends them; the digital and algorithmic environments shaping young people’s lives; and the importance of place-based perspectives and insights. It is important that all of this future research reflects the experiences and perspectives of potential ‘users’ of our interventions. This policy portfolio welcomes approaches and answers to ARIs seeking understandings of young people’s perspectives on ‘what works’, particularly those from the places that are the focus of DCMS policy.
Next steps
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Topics
Related UKRI funded projects
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Sharing Voices: Youth and Community Media as Civic Engagement
Since the 1970s, participatory media projects targeting community groups deemed to be 'at-risk' have received a steadily increasing stream of government investment. Young people, in particular, have been considered key b...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: London School of Economics and Political Science
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it focuses on youth and community media projects, but does not directly address digital and algorithmically mediated environments.
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Seen and Heard: Developing participatory action research with young people
Young people in the UK are subject to a mainstream societal prejudice that is still best summed up by the proverb "children should be seen and not heard". Young people's knowledge remains largely untapped or ac...
Funded by: AHRC
Lead research organisation: University of Edinburgh
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it focuses on participatory action research with young people, but does not directly address digital and algorithmically mediated environments.
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DERC: Digital Economy Research Centre
The Digital Economy Research Centre (DERC) will theorise, design, develop, and evaluate new digitally mediated models of citizen participation that engage communities, the third sector, local government and (crucially) t...
Funded by: EPSRC
Lead research organisation: Newcastle University
Why might this be relevant?
Fully relevant as it specifically addresses digitally mediated models of citizen participation and engagement with local government and the commercial digital economy.