The Role of Youth in Digital Advocacy and Activism for Social Accountability

The rapid advancement of technology has democratized advocacy, offering new avenues for young people to engage in social and political issues.[1] With the rise of mobile applications, social media, and data analytics, youth have found innovative ways to track public services, report issues like corruption, and engage in public policy discussions.[2]

Civil society organizations have played a critical role in integrating digital tools into their work. This integration has empowered youth to monitor public services, demand social accountability, and interact with government officials in ways that were previously unthought of. These digital platforms have revolutionized civic engagement by facilitating greater public participation in governance processes and creating new channels for dialogue and collaboration between citizens and their respective governments.

Social accountability and youth

Youth are uniquely positioned to employ technology-driven tools to advocate for issues that directly affect their communities. Social accountability refers to a broad range of actions and mechanisms that citizens, communities, independent media and civil society organizations can use to hold public officials and public servants accountable.[3] Whilst youth-led social accountability refers to initiatives and processes where young people take the lead in designing, implementing, and monitoring efforts; youth-inclusive social accountability refers to initiatives where young people participate meaningfully but do not necessarily lead the processes.[4] Bridging the digital gap have enabled a clear progress on engaging youth as key actors for social accountability mechanism’s implementation.

The Power of Digital Activism

Digital activism is defined as the use of digital tools to effect social or political change, has become increasingly relevant to youth due to their fluency with technology.[5] Social media platforms, websites, and mobile apps have emerged as key tools for youth advocacy, enabling them to rapidly disseminate information, organize collective action, and mobilize support for their causes.[6] This has transformed how young people engage with public policy, hold governments accountable, and foster transparency.[7]

The global climate strike movement and Black Lives Matter exemplify the profound impact of youth-led digital activism. Inspired by Greta Thunberg, the climate strikes leveraged platforms like Instagram and Twitter to mobilize millions worldwide, sparking significant political discussions on climate change and prompting governments to commit to more aggressive environmental policies. Similarly, BLM, originating as a digital movement, utilized hashtags and viral content to raise awareness about systemic racism and police brutality, leading to legal reforms in several U.S. states regarding policing practices.[8]

The MENA Region has also witnessed many movements that used social media as a leverage especially during the Arab spring, and recently with the current wars in the region.

These movements highlight the ability of digital activism to transcend borders, unite individuals around common causes, and pressure governments to enact meaningful change.

Youth-Inclusive Public Service Monitoring in the Digital Age

The digital era has revolutionized how public services are monitored, opening new avenues for youth-led initiatives that promote transparency, accountability, and civic engagement. Digital platforms and mobile applications now provide young people with access to vast amounts of real-time data on government performance, creating new channels for public participation in governance processes. Initiatives like the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an international platform promoting open, responsive governance, have recognized the role of youth in this digital transformation. Since 2019, the OGP’s Open Gov Youth Collective has increased youth participation in reforms across the globe, allowing young people to bring their concerns and solutions to key issues affecting their communities.[9]

In Morocco, the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council launched a participatory digital platform, “OUCHARIKOU,” which allows citizens to provide inputs on policies, participate in surveys, and share recommendations. This platform empowers citizens, especially youth, to contribute directly to policy evaluation and monitoring, with outputs often being compiled into policy briefs for government consideration. This example highlights the role digital platforms can play in enhancing public service accountability and enabling dialogue between citizens and government.

Additionally, mobile applications have revolutionized how citizens monitor public services and expose issues of corruption and mismanagement. These platforms not only offer real-time updates on public services but also foster collective civic engagement. In regions like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where corruption rates are high and political instability is prevalent,[10] anti-corruption apps have become critical tools. Such apps provide a safer avenue for whistleblowers in contexts where legal protections are weak, helping to counter the widespread abuse of power, including the suppression of activists demanding transparency.

Social Media and Youth Engagement in Governance

Social media platforms have become essential tools for youth advocacy, enabling the rapid dissemination of information, collective action, and the mobilization of widespread support. These digital channels have transformed how young people engage with public policy, amplifying their messages and fostering transparency on a scale previously unimaginable. From raising awareness to organizing global movements, platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram allow youth to engage directly with their peers, government officials, and international organizations, reshaping the landscape of civic participation.

However, alongside these opportunities come significant challenges. Youth-led digital movements must navigate complex issues such as ensuring the security and privacy of their online activities, dealing with the overwhelming spread of misinformation, and overcoming the digital divide that leaves young people disconnected from these platforms. These hurdles can hinder the effectiveness and reach of digital advocacy, particularly for those in marginalized communities.

Nevertheless, the future of youth-led digital advocacy remains bright. Many UN organizations and national governments recognize the critical role of youth as voices for their diverse communities. Hashtag activism—defined as the use of hashtags to raise awareness and spark debate[11] —is a prime example of this influence. It allows youth to not only express solidarity with a cause but also educate and mobilize others. For instance, the hashtag #MentalHealthMatters has garnered more than 13.5 billion views on TikTok, spreading mental health awareness across vast audiences. Similarly, global movements such as #FridaysForFuture and #BlackLivesMatter have demonstrated the power of social media to influence public policy and foster cross-border solidarity.

CSOs and the Integration of Digital Tools for Youth Advocacy

Civil society organizations (CSOs) have played a pivotal role in integrating digital tools into their operations, enabling youth to engage in advocacy, monitor public services, and hold government officials accountable in ways previously unimaginable.

This digital transformation has empowered young people to amplify their voices on critical issues like climate change, racial justice, and gender equality.[12] Through social media and other digital platforms, youth are participating in civic engagement and political discourse with an unprecedented reach and impact.

For youth in underrepresented and marginalized communities, these digital tools offer a vital lifeline to raise their concerns and demand equitable governance. Platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram provide new channels for collective action, allowing these groups to break through traditional barriers to civic participation.[13] The ability to coordinate, mobilize, and share their perspectives in real-time has created opportunities for greater transparency and accountability.

However, the constant demands of digital advocacy come with challenges. For many young people, especially those deeply involved in online activism, there is a growing risk of mental exhaustion and burnout from being continuously “plugged in.” The emotional toll of persistent advocacy, especially in the face of slow change, is a pressing issue that CSOs and youth advocates must address to ensure sustained engagement and well-being.

Conclusion

As youth-led digital activism continues to evolve, it faces both immense opportunities and significant challenges. On one hand, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) offer new tools for enhancing the effectiveness of youth movements by automating tasks, predicting trends, and improving content distribution through targeted algorithms. These AI-driven platforms can help youth activists refine their strategies, improve engagement, and measure the impact of their campaigns more accurately. However, the integration of AI also raises ethical concerns, such as the potential for algorithms to perpetuate biases, further marginalizing vulnerable voices. Additionally, AI systems can be weaponized for surveillance or manipulation, particularly by authoritarian regimes, threatening the privacy and security of young activists. Vigilance in ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in the use of AI is crucial for the ethical future of digital advocacy.

Simultaneously, youth activists must navigate the complexities of the broader digital landscape, where the rules and algorithms of platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok dictate how information is shared and received. Without formal training in digital literacy, many young activists struggle to cut through the noise, craft effective campaigns, and sustain engagement. Furthermore, security and privacy risks, such as online harassment, doxing, and government surveillance, pose serious threats to digital activism, especially in regions with restricted digital freedoms. The digital divide further exacerbates these challenges, as marginalized communities often lack access to the internet and technology, limiting the inclusivity of these movements. Addressing these obstacles while promoting ethical guidelines and responsible technology use will be essential for youth-led digital activism to foster a more just, accountable, and inclusive future.

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[1] Secretary-General, U N E O O T. (2023, April 19). Meaningful Youth Engagement in Policymaking and Decision-making Processes. United Nations Publications. https://doi.org/10.18356/27082245-26

[2] Zhang, W. (2013, February 6). Redefining youth activism through digital technology in Singapore. SAGE Publishing, 75(3), 253-270. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748048512472858

Paul, A T. (2019, January 24). The Role of Social Media in Voter Education in Nigeria., 1(3). https://doi.org/10.33552/sjrr.2019.01.000511

[3] Malena, C., Forster, R., & Singh, J. (2004, December 1). Social accountability: an introduction to the concept and emerging practice. http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/135704/SAc%2Bpaper%2BFINAL.pdf

[4] Simon, C., Wilentz, G., Watson, K., & Menard-Freeman, L. (2021, January 1). THE POWER OF YOUTH VOICES How Youth Are Holding Their Health Systems Accountable for Family Planning and Reproductive Health

[5] Hipolito‐Delgado, C P., Stickney, D., Kirshner, B., & Maul, A. (2021, September 29). Beyond the Trifold in Civics Presentations: The Measure of Youth Policy Arguments. University Library System, University of Pittsburgh, 16(4), 149-165

Zhang, W. (2013, February 6). Redefining youth activism through digital technology in Singapore. SAGE Publishing, 75(3), 253-270

[6] Hipolito‐Delgado, C P., Stickney, D., Kirshner, B., & Maul, A. (2021, September 29). Beyond the Trifold in Civics Presentations: The Measure of Youth Policy Arguments. University Library System, University of Pittsburgh, 16(4), 149-165

Siddarth, D., & Pal, J. (2020, June 17). Engaging the Crowd

[7] Mihailidis, P. (2014, January 8). The civic-social media disconnect exploring perceptions of social media for engagement in the daily life of college students. Routledge, 17(9), 1059-1071

[8] #BlackLivesMatter: From Protest to Policy. (2021, December 7)

Mundt, M D., Ross, K., & Burnett, C M. (2018, October 1). Scaling Social Movements Through Social Media: The Case of Black Lives Matter. SAGE Publishing, 4(4), 205630511880791-205630511880791

[9] Open Government Partnership. (2019, April 18). https://www.opengovpartnership.org/

[10] Chêne, M., & Hodess, R. (2007, December 10). Civil Society Anti-Corruption Initiatives in MENA Countries

[11] Tombleson, B., & Wolf, K. (2016, November 10). Rethinking the circuit of culture: How participatory culture has transformed cross-cultural communication. Elsevier BV, 43(1), 14-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2016.10.017

[12] Secretary-General, U N E O O T. (2023, April 19). Meaningful Youth Engagement in Policymaking and Decision-making Processes. United Nations Publications. https://doi.org/10.18356/27082245-26

[13] Paul, A T. (2019, January 24). The Role of Social Media in Voter Education in Nigeria., 1(3). https://doi.org/10.33552/sjrr.2019.01.000511