Asia’s youth lead the digital future

Young people are not simply adapting to the digital world. They are using it to learn, create opportunities and contribute to global progress.

This message shaped the Asia Youth Forum 2026, held online on 9 July under the theme “Digital Youth for Global Goals.”

The forum brought together young people, educators and Aflatoun partners from across Asia and beyond. Participants joined from countries including India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

However, what made the event special was not only who attended. The programme itself was planned and led by young people from Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

Youth facilitators hosted the discussions, delivered presentations, managed interactive activities and responded to questions from their peers.

A platform for youth leadership

Opening the forum, Aflatoun International Chief Executive Officer Roeland Monasch encouraged participants to recognise the role they already play in shaping the digital world.

“Do not wait for adults to give you permission to lead. You are already leading,” he told participants.

He noted that young people use technology every day to communicate, learn, find information, express themselves and build new initiatives. The bigger question, he said, is how these tools can improve people’s lives.

This includes using technology to expand access to education, create employment, support businesses, protect the environment and ensure that young people’s voices are heard.

Monasch also recognised that digital opportunities are not equally available. Some young people still lack reliable internet access, suitable devices and opportunities to develop digital skills.

The forum therefore explored both the possibilities created by technology and the need to ensure that nobody is left behind.

The event was supported by Aflatoun partners LeKDiS Nusantara in Indonesia and NECY Sri Lanka.

Turning digital skills into opportunity

The first youth-led presentation examined how technology can support the Sustainable Development Goals.

Young speakers explained that digital platforms allow them to move beyond consuming information. They can create content, develop solutions, build communities and raise awareness about issues affecting their societies.

Participants discussed how online education can make learning materials more accessible. Digital tools can also support communication between students, teachers and communities across different locations.

The speakers highlighted several ways young people can use technology to earn an income or establish small businesses. These included digital marketing, content creation, e-commerce, freelance work, website development and online financial services.

Tools such as artificial intelligence, online design platforms and no-code website builders can help young people develop products and services at a relatively low cost.

“The future is digital, and it is ours,” one of the youth presenters said. “Every click, post and campaign can move the world closer to the 2030 global goals.”

An interactive quiz helped participants test their knowledge of professional networking, online collaboration, digital payments and other everyday digital tools.

From conflict to collaboration

A second presentation, led by young people from Indonesia, explored the influence of social media.

The speakers recognised that social media can help people connect, share knowledge, promote businesses and discover new interests. However, it can also expose users to false information, harmful content and emotionally charged discussions.

They introduced the message “Curate to collaborate.”

This encourages young people to become more intentional about the content they consume and share. Participants were encouraged to follow reliable and educational accounts, check information before sharing it and avoid content created mainly to provoke anger or fear.

They also discussed the importance of setting boundaries around screen time and balancing online activity with family, study and other parts of daily life.

By thinking carefully about what they read and share, young people can help make digital spaces more respectful and useful.

Staying safe online

Online privacy and personal safety were also central to the discussion.

Janani Bandara, a 19-year-old cybersecurity undergraduate and youth presenter from Sri Lanka, encouraged participants to avoid sharing sensitive personal information with strangers.

She advised them to use different passwords for different accounts, enable two-step verification and avoid suspicious messages or links.

“Social media is not good or bad by itself. It is a tool,” she explained. “We can control what we click, what we share and what we trust.”

Participants also asked how artificial intelligence could change digital employment, marketing and content creation.

Janani said artificial intelligence could help young people create content faster, understand audiences and manage digital campaigns. However, she stressed that technology should support, rather than replace, human judgement.

“The future belongs to young people who know how to use artificial intelligence responsibly, creatively and ethically,” she said.

The discussion also recognised that online safety is a shared responsibility. Young people can protect themselves through good digital habits, while technology companies must design safer platforms and respond effectively to harmful content.

Ideas ready for action

The Asia Youth Forum demonstrated what happens when young people are trusted to lead.

They did not only discuss digital change. They facilitated the event, shared practical knowledge and challenged one another to think more carefully about their online choices.

The forum ended with a simple message: technology has the greatest value when it helps people learn, connect and create positive change.

For the young people who led the event, the digital future is not something they are waiting to enter. They are already shaping it.