The effects of digital technology on youth development in low-and-middle-income countries

Most youth grow up in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in an increasingly digitized context but with unequal digital media access, skill, and opportunity. In these settings, limited resources to effectively scaffold digital media use constrain youth thriving. As a result, globally, adolescents facing offline disadvantages often find themselves further marginalized in the digital realm. In this talk, I will review the current knowledge on the interaction between digital media and adolescent development, highlight crucial evidence gaps in LMICs, and propose and future directions to address these pressing issues.