2024 International Day of the Youth, August 12: A Health Policy expert, Nze Dr Eric Oluedo, has cautioned African Youths against Digital Addiction and its negative consequences. He however enjoined them to positively embrace the ongoing Digital Revolution to achieve increased explosion, automation and AI, E-commerce and digital economy, remote work and virtual teams, digital governance and citizenship.
Speaking on the Theme of the 2024 International Day of the Youth “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”, Dr Oluedo warned the African Youths on the negative consequences of Digital Addiction, which include: smartphone addiction, social media addiction, Internet addiction, gaming addiction and streaming addiction.
“Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires a seismic shift – which can only happen if we empower young people and work with them as equals. ” UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Digitalization is transforming our world, offering unprecedented opportunities to accelerate sustainable development. Digital technologies such as mobile devices, services, and artificial intelligence are instrumental in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Data generated from digital interactions supports evidence-based decision-making. With profound impact across economic, social and environmental dimensions, digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70 per cent of the 169 SDG targets while potentially reducing the cost of achieving these goals by up to USD 55 trillion.
Young people are leading the charge in digital adoption and innovation, with three-quarters of those aged 15 to 24 using the internet in 2022, a rate higher than other age groups. However, disparities persist, particularly in low-income countries and among young women, who often have less access to the internet and digital skills compared to their male counterparts. While there is an urgent need to enhance digital inclusion, youth are largely recognized as “digital natives,” using technology to drive change and create solutions. As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, the role of young people in digital innovation is essential for addressing global issues. By celebrating the digital contributions of youth, we can inspire further innovation and collaboration towards achieving sustainable development.
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