As International Youth Day 2024 approaches, The Wolfpack Project is excited to celebrate this year’s theme, From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development
It’s all about how young people are using technology to make the world a better place. With most people aged 15-24 online, they’re leading the digital revolution, finding new ways to tackle the world’s biggest challenges. Whether studying, doing tasks at home, or even figuring out a new hairstyle, technology connects you with others asking the same questions and helping each other out.
People are pretty tech-savvy nowadays, using it to tackle big stuff like climate change and education. Remember the last time you needed a hand with something, like a breakdown of the latest political news? A quick TikTok search probably gave you the answer, with loads of people in the comments sharing their own tips or asking the same questions as you. It just goes to show you’re not alone—people all over are figuring things out together.
Let’s Support Your Digital Impact
This year, we’re all about celebrating and boosting the awesome content that is online. Every click, like, and share isn’t just a small thing—it’s a step towards making a real impact. With the right tools and know-how, we can turn these digital actions into something that helps build a sustainable future.
Facing the Challenges of the Digital World
While technology offers great opportunities, it also brings challenges you might face every day:
- Information Overload: If, like me, you get so caught up in following the latest trends and watching entertaining content you get a bit overstimulated, it’s important to remember – your brain needs quiet time to process your thoughts and emotions! It’s all too easy to bombard yourself with content and entertainment but remember to take a break every so often… your mental health will thank you for it!
- Cyberbullying: Just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s not real—it’s still bullying. Those negative comments or posts you see can mess with your mental health. Remember, you can block certain words and content, and if it gets too much, you can always log off. Like in real life, we have the right not to be around toxic people! Protect yourself, and block harmful content or people.
- FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Social media can totally make you feel like you’re missing out on everything. Just remember, people usually just post the best bits of their lives—everyone has their ups and downs.
- Sleep Disruption: You probably know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep, everyone’s always banging on about it! But it’s true, and using devices close to bedtime can seriously affect getting a good night’s shut-eye. The blue light from devices can disrupt your circadian rhythm, and bombarding yourself with content so close to bedtime can make it difficult to get your mind into a restful, restorative state!
- Digital Addiction: I know that using digital devices is a big part of life nowadays. it’s how we connect with our peers, and seek entertainment and information. However, there’s a real risk that comes along with it. Much digital content is designed in such a way to trigger our pleasure-seeking dopamine centres of the brain in easy-fix short-term gratification loops. The more we use them to feel good in this way, the more we depend on them. We can find strategies to reduce dependence and use our devices in a healthy way!
Turning Challenges into Growth
At The Wolfpack Project, we see challenges as chances to grow, and we’re here to help you navigate the digital world in a way that’s safe, smart, and positive:
- Mindful Digital Use: Let’s figure out together how to balance screen time and real life, so your devices work for you, not the other way around.
- Positive Content Creation: We want to inspire you to use tech to express yourself creatively and make a difference in the world.
- Tech for Wellbeing: We’ll introduce you to apps and online tools that help manage stress and keep your mental health in check.
- Digital Detox: Taking breaks from screens can help you reconnect with the world around you. We’ll help you find ways to unplug and recharge.
This International Youth Day, we want to celebrate you—the young people who aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow but are making things happen right now. By building healthy digital habits and supporting how you use tech, we can work together to create a better future for everyone.
Happy International Youth Day 2024 from all of us at The Wolfpack Project!
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