Digital platforms as existential spaces: european experiences of educational engagement and digital youth work

Abstract

In contemporary Europe, digital platforms are central to adolescents’ lives, functioning both as spaces of socialization and self-expression and as sites of vulnerability and identity struggle. This article critically examines European initiatives engaging young people through digital youth work and participatory programmes, exploring their pedagogical implications. The analysis focuses on three dimensions: digital rights and citizenship, inter- and multicultural dynamics, and the construction of existential horizons. Drawing on selected good practices, the article argues that digital youth work can both mitigate risks and foster young people’s resources through peer support, critical engagement, and co-designed educational pathways.