In February 2025, we attended the Digital Youth Work Conference in Stirling. The event, organised by Youth Link Scotland (supported by the Scottish Government), brought together youth workers, educators, policymakers, and digital experts to explore if/how digital technology can be a force for good in the youth work sector.
Throughout the conference, we facilitated a signal spotting exercise, encouraging participants to actively observe and document emerging trends, key discussions, and subtle shifts in attitudes towards digital youth work. The idea of signal spotting was to focus on our gut instincts,feelings, and the so-called “aha moments”. We’re super grateful to those of you who volunteer to take part in this activity!
Signal spotting is a foresight method used to identify early indicators of change, whether in technology, policy, or social behavior. By gathering insights from different sessions, conversations, and workshops, we were able to capture real-time reflections on the challenges, opportunities, and innovations shaping digital youth work. This participatory approach allowed us to gain a richer, more diverse understanding of the discussions taking place and will inform future research and policy recommendations. In this blog post, we’re exploring some of the key themes that emerged during the day and if/how DYWR.HUB can contribute to their future co-exploration.
strengthening the role of digital youth work in policy and practice
A key question emerging from our discussions is how digital youth work expertise is reflected in UK-wide policy-making and how we can ensure that those with specialist knowledge in this area have a stronger voice in shaping national and international strategies. Although digital youth work has gained increasing recognition, its role in broader youth work policy is still developing, and there is a need for more strategic placement of digital youth work experts in decision-making spaces. In February, the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps was published by the UK Government. The plan focuses on national policies to enhance digital accessibility across various sectors, including education, employment, and social care. However, it does not explicitly address digital youth work or non-formal education as distinct areas of focus. While the plan does not specifically mention digital youth work, its emphasis on digital skills, infrastructure, and accessibility may indirectly support youth work initiatives. If the plan includes strategies for youth digital skills development, these could be relevant to digital youth work settings, such as online mentoring, digital creativity programmes, or social inclusion projects.
Digital youth work is a fundamental yet often overlooked area in fostering digital literacy and digital inclusion. To be effective, the sector must be meaningfully involved in co-creation of comprehensive digital access strategies that encompass youth centres, informal learning environments, and grassroots initiatives. Recognising youth work as a crucial driver of digital inclusion for young people and youth workers is essential, alongside investing in non-formal education programmes that empower young people with essential digital skills.
To address this, we are keen to working closely with partners such as YouthLink Scotland and The National Youth Agency (NYA). Our work is also connected to European and international digital youth work policy efforts, and we will continue to foster knowledge exchange through partnerships with organisations such as SALTO Digital and the European Youth Work Academy. These collaborations allow us to engage with European-level policy developments, exchange best practices, and contribute to the wider agenda of digital youth work across international networks.
By taking these steps, we aim to position the Digital Youth Work Research Hub as a key contributor to both UK and European youth work policy, ensuring that digital youth work is not an afterthought but a central component of how youth work evolves in the digital age.
AI, digital tools, and emerging trends in youth work
The conference provided a space to explore how AI and digital tools are shaping the future of youth work. In In line with our previous research, AI has sparked mixed feelings among youth workers. While some see AI as a valuable tool for engagement and administrative support, others worry about its ethical implications, particularly in areas such as misinformation and bias. One of the discussions highlighted the increasing use of AI in funding applications and reporting, with one participant noting,
“I guess AI is already being used to apply for funding… why not use it to report its potential evidence?”
This raised important questions about how AI is influencing decision-making processes and whether it should be used more strategically in youth work.
Another topic of discussion was the emergence of new digital risks, including cyber threats such as “Quishing” (QR code phishing). Many attendees were unfamiliar with this term, underscoring the need for ongoing training and awareness of evolving cybersecurity challenges. One participant remarked,
“I now have a new word that will confuse my friends and family with ‘Quishing.’ Very interesting!”
digital literacy fetishisation: beyond the idea that digital skills fix everything
One of the recurring themes throughout the conference—and more broadly in discussions about digital youth work—is the almost unquestioned belief in digital literacy as the ultimate solution to all challenges. Too often, when faced with issues of online safety, misinformation, employability gaps, or social media harms, the answer given is simply “more digital literacy.” While digital literacy is crucial, we must be cautious about fetishising it as a universal fix without addressing the broader systemic, structural, and intersectional issues that shape young people’s digital realities.
Youth workers are frequently told that they need to “upskill” or “adapt” to keep up with digital trends, implying that the main issue is a lack of competency within the sector. However, this perspective ignores larger digital divides—both in terms of access to technology and infrastructure and the deeper socioeconomic, racial, and geographic inequalities that shape young people’s ability to engage with digital tools.
There are significant digital divides within youth work itself. Many youth organisations operate with limited budgets, outdated technology, and patchy or unreliable internet access. Some youth workers struggle to integrate digital methods not because they lack digital literacy, but because they simply do not have the resources or institutional support to do so. Others work with young people who face compounded barriers, such as:
- Lack of access to devices and stable internet – Some young people do not have their own laptops, tablets, or even reliable wi-fi, making it difficult for them to participate fully in digital youth work programmes.
- Cultural and linguistic barriers – Digital resources, platforms, and educational tools are often developed with assumptions about language, cultural familiarity, and prior digital exposure, which can exclude certain groups.
- Neurodiversity and accessibility issues – Many digital tools are not designed with neurodivergent young people in mind, making them difficult to use for those who may struggle with complex user interfaces, overstimulation, or inaccessible content.
- Geographic disparities – Rural youth workers frequently face greater challenges in implementing digital programmes, as internet access, device availability, and digital infrastructure are often poorer than in urban areas.
If we continue to emphasise digital literacy as the primary way youth workers should “fix” themselves and their practice, we risk blaming individuals for systemic problems rather than addressing the root causes of digital exclusion, underfunding, and unequal access. In 2024, Dr Alicja Pawluczuk gave a talk about how shame and deficit driven approaches to digital youth work might actually create more divisions and anxiety in the sector – you can watch her talk here.
Instead of simply repeating the mantra that “youth workers need better digital skills,” we need a more nuanced, intersectional approach.
tech-youth work partnerships: a radical shift in funding and ethics?
One of the most significant discussions at the conference was the increasing presence of tech companies in the youth work sector. partnerships between youth organisations and technology firms are becoming more common, with initiatives focusing on digital inclusion, ai-driven education, gaming, and employability skills. these collaborations present new opportunities for funding, training, and access to cutting-edge digital tools, but they also raise ethical questions about the influence of corporate interests in youth work.
If these partnerships continue to expand, they could radically change how youth work is funded, shifting the sector away from traditional government and charity models towards private-sector investment. while this could bring much-needed resources and innovation, it also raises concerns about data privacy, commercial influence over digital education, and the risk of youth work becoming too aligned with industry priorities rather than young people’s needs.
This shift prompts critical questions: will youth work organisations have to compromise their ethical core to secure funding from tech companies? how can the sector ensure that young people’s rights, privacy, and autonomy are prioritised over corporate profit motives? should there be clearer ethical guidelines for partnerships between youth organisations and tech firms?
These are questions that require ongoing discussion and careful consideration, as the future of youth work funding could become increasingly connected with the private sector. These questions are also central to our work at the DYWR.HUB.
The Digital Youth Work Conference reinforced the need for youth workers to continue adapting to the evolving digital landscape. Discussions emphasised the importance of digital leadership, AI literacy, youth inclusion, and critical digital thinking. Several key trends are likely to shape the future of digital youth work. AI is expected to play an increasing role, from automating administrative tasks to providing new forms of engagement. Calls for a dedicated Digital Minister in Scotland may gain traction as the need for clear leadership becomes more pressing. Gamification and digital learning tools will continue to expand, potentially reshaping traditional education models. As trust in online information declines, digital literacy will become more essential, equipping young people with the skills to critically assess digital content. Meanwhile, young people are expected to push for stronger online safety regulations, advocating for policies that reflect their digital experiences and concerns.
Our digital youth work research hub will do our best to continue to track these emerging trends, engaging in research and discussions to explore how they might shape the future of youth work in the UK and beyond.