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Youth

The Digital Divide: Understanding the Impact of AI on Young People

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

In an era where digital technology is deeply ingrained in everyday life, digital literacy has become a vital life skill, essential for education, employment, and social participation. As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms economies and labor markets, young people are at the forefront of both the opportunities and challenges presented by this rapidly evolving technology. According to a UNICEF study, many adolescents feel that decision-making about AI is adult-centric and that they learn about AI through informal means, rather than in school.

Key Takeaways:

  • 93.2% of young people have a favorable view of AI and robots, with 68% trusting AI and 80% interacting with AI multiple times a day.
  • The top concerns related to AI among young people are unemployment (75%) and military use of AI (74.3%).
  • 93% of young people expressed interest in discussing AI use and regulation, and 86% wanted to collaborate with AI in the future.
  • The European Union aims for 80% of its population to have at least basic digital skills by 2030, but as of 2023, only 56% possessed basic or above-basic digital skills.
  • Meanwhile, 95% of EU businesses had broadband internet access, and over half used social media and conducted online meetings in 2024.
  • The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlighted that 60% of employers expect technology to have a significant impact on their businesses by 2030, particularly in areas such as AI and information processing.
  • ILO research suggests that generative AI is more likely to augment than automate jobs, while the AI for Good Impact Report noted that for 94% of global business leaders, AI will be critical to the success of their organizations over the next five years.

Statistics:

  • 97% of EU citizens aged 16-29 years used the internet daily in 2024 (Eurostat).
  • 256 million young people aged 15 to 24 were not in employment, education, or training (NEET) globally in 2023 (ILO).
  • 11% of EU youth (aged 15--29) were not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in 2024 (Eurostat).

Sources:

  • UNICEF - "Adolescent perspectives on AI in 2020"
  • United Nations Office of Information and Communication Technology (OICT) - "Study on young people's opinions on the future of AI" (2022)
  • Eurostat - "Internet usage among EU citizens, 2024"
  • World Economic Forum (WEF) - "Future of Jobs Report 2025"
  • International Labour Organization (ILO) - "Young people not in employment, education or training (NEET)"
  • AI for Good Impact Report, co-authored by the UN Agency for Digital Technologies (ITU) and Deloitte

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