Young People
Youth refers to the period between childhood and adulthood, representing one of the most challenging periods in an individuals’ life. It is a time of discovery, but also a time to explore our part as global citizens.
Even though there is no universally accepted definition of young people, for the UN and WHO the term young people encompasses both adolescents (people aged 10-19 years old) and youth (individuals between 15-24 years old). In some situations, both terms – youth and young people – are used interchangeably to mean the 15 to 24 years age group.
In 2016, Eurostat data revealed that about 1/3 of the European population was under the age of 30 years. Two years later, in 2018, the United Nations estimated that young people represented about 16% of the world’s population – there would be about 1.2 billion young people worldwide.
Today, young people not only consume media, but also produce content (Kafai & Peppler, 2011), they are produsers. Whether sharing thoughts and life experiences in social media and blogs, or creating graphics and videos, young citizens are redefining media uses and civic engagement, discovering new ways to get involved and to express their voices through digital media (Keating & Mellis, 2017).