Most digital platforms are created by adults for adults, with youth treated as “users” rather than stakeholders. But children and teens engage with technology in unique ways — and their needs, perspectives, and creativity can shape better, safer, and more engaging tools.
What Youth-Centered Design Looks Like
Co-creation: Youth are involved in brainstorming, testing, and refining digital tools.
Accessibility first: Features account for diverse abilities, languages, and literacy levels.
Safety by design: Privacy protections and content filters are built in from the ground up.
Fun + function: Platforms designed with youth input often strike a better balance between learning and play.
Canadian Context
Education tech: Students were thrust into online learning during the pandemic, but few platforms reflected youth feedback.
Indigenous voices: Youth-centered design could integrate cultural knowledge into apps and tools for learning and storytelling.
Government services: Most youth-facing portals (jobs, education, health) are designed for adults, leaving teens frustrated.
The Opportunities
Participatory research: Involving youth in studies that guide tech policy and product design.
School partnerships: Engaging classrooms in co-design projects with tech companies.
Innovation pipeline: Encouraging young creators to build solutions that reflect their realities.
Policy frameworks: Requiring companies to demonstrate youth consultation in tools aimed at minors.
The Bigger Picture
Youth aren’t just early adopters — they’re digital trendsetters and future builders. Designing technology with them at the table ensures products that are relevant, responsible, and resilient.
The Question
How can Canada make youth voices a standard part of digital design — not just an afterthought or a marketing survey?
Youth-Centered Design
Why It Matters
Most digital platforms are created by adults for adults, with youth treated as “users” rather than stakeholders. But children and teens engage with technology in unique ways — and their needs, perspectives, and creativity can shape better, safer, and more engaging tools.
What Youth-Centered Design Looks Like
Canadian Context
The Opportunities
The Bigger Picture
Youth aren’t just early adopters — they’re digital trendsetters and future builders. Designing technology with them at the table ensures products that are relevant, responsible, and resilient.
The Question
How can Canada make youth voices a standard part of digital design — not just an afterthought or a marketing survey?