It has been clear for some time, not just since the coronavirus pandemic, that youth workers need to engage with digitalization. However, the term “digital youth work” is often not precisely defined in this discourse. As a result, terms such as “online youth work,” “smart youth work,” “media education,” and “digital education” are used interchangeably. The often unclear definition of digital youth work means that youth workers are repeatedly unsure about what is expected of them. It is time to clarify this!

Back in 2018, an EU expert group developed recommendations for and a definition of digital youth work. However, it has not yet been possible to integrate these into practice everywhere. This is another reason why the coronavirus pandemic has thrown youth workers in at the deep end. Most youth workers have dealt intensively with digitalization for the first time during the pandemic and have implemented many of their services digitally, often without thorough preparation or further training. Much of this has been successful, but some issues and problems have been highlighted. It will be crucial to address this topic systematically and sustainably, especially in the post-coronavirus period. Among other things, the work of the expert group can be built upon for this purpose.

It will be particularly important to broaden the scope of digital youth work. Until now, this has often been perceived as a new field of work for a few youth workers with an interest in technology and has therefore remained a specialist area. A topic that actually concerns everyone has thus been shaped by a few. However, the lives of young people today do not distinguish between analog and digital. The integration of digital aspects into youth work must therefore become the norm if it is to fulfill its claim of providing holistic support to young people.

This requires not only youth workers with an open attitude and curiosity toward digital media and worlds, but also structural support from the organizations and funding bodies that support youth work. In addition to the necessary equipment, well-trained specialists and the appropriate know-how are needed. But perhaps most important is an understanding that digitalization is not just a special field, but an integral part of youth work.

This module focuses on the definition of digital youth work – it is explained, reflected upon, critically examined, and, above all, related to the practical fields of action of the participants.