Tech-Powered Youth: Leveraging Technology to Drive Social Progress
The Role of Technology in Youth-Led Solutions
by Natalia de León Tello
At the “Empowering the Next Generation” side event during the ECOSOC Youth Summit, I had the opportunity to speak about a topic that is transforming how young people organize, advocate, and lead: technology. I was asked how youth-led innovations, social media, and digital platforms are shaping solutions to both environmental and social issues. Here's what I shared from our experience at FP2030 in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Question: Technology is increasingly essential in solving sustainability challenges. How do you see youth-led tech innovations helping to address both environmental and social issues? How do digital platforms, social media, and new technologies empower young people to make a global impact?
Participants of the Empowering the Next Generation side event.
Answer: Technology is playing an increasingly essential role in addressing both environmental and social issues, and youth are leading the way with innovative solutions. At FP2030, we’ve seen firsthand how digital platforms can empower youth to create significant change. In just a year since opening our channels in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), we now reach 120,000 youth aged 15-25 every month with information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This rapid growth signals a clear demand for information on critical social issues, demonstrating how engaged and active the youth wave is in driving forward solutions.
Moreover, digital platforms, social media, and new technologies are powerful tools that empower young people to make a global impact. At FP2030, we’ve seen firsthand how these technologies can connect and amplify the voices of youth. Through our youth wave, we’ve digitally brought together 235 youth from 18 countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region, providing them with a space to share knowledge, collaborate, and drive action on critical social and environmental issues.
“ Through our youth wave, we’ve digitally brought together 235 youth from 18 countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region, providing them with a space to share knowledge, collaborate, and drive action on critical social and environmental issues.”
This digital connection allows young people to bridge geographical boundaries and work together on shared goals—whether it’s advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) or environmental sustainability. Social media and digital platforms help us mobilize this diverse network, turning ideas into collective action and enabling youth to influence policy, raise awareness, and create meaningful change.
Through our digital spaces, youth are not only learning from each other but also actively shaping the conversations and solutions that will impact their communities and the world. The ability to connect, share resources, and engage in cross-border collaborations has empowered this wave of youth to make a real and lasting global impact.