Positive Youth Development in the Digital Age: Expanding PYD to Include Digital Settings

Positive Youth Development (PYD) has called attention to the dynamic interactions between youth and settings as critical to their growth and development. In-person settings (e.g., peer, family, school, and community) have been the primary focus of previous research and practice. This chapter introduces the digital setting as salient to today’s youth growth and development and argues for the integration of such setting into PYD models, measures, and practices. We first summarize the current literature that predominantly views digital settings from a risk lens. Next, we highlight existing studies to suggest PYD can and does occur in digital settings. We then make recommendations for adopting a PYD lens to the digital space in order to harness the potential of this space for promoting youth identity exploration, social and emotional skill development, relationship building, self-directed learning, agency, and advocacy. Finally, we conclude with recommendations for research, policy, and practice.