Youth

Today, there are more adolescents alive on earth than at any other time in history, and this phenomenon has a significant impact on NBU countries. Currently, 60% of Africa’s population, for example, is under the age of 25, and Latin America, Southeast Asia, and India are all experiencing a similar demographic “youth bulge.”

Youth is the driving force behind any economy, and as more of these young people in NBU markets come online, their sheer numbers will certainly influence what the internet will look like for the entire world, more than any generation that’s come before.

That’s why there needs to be additional effort to lower existing barriers to education and ensure they reach their full potential. Collectively, we have a responsibility to equip these young people in NBU markets with access to technology, digital literacy, and the skills and expertise to allow them to enjoy the benefits of education and the internet and contribute to their countries’ economic development.

With the right tools, this young generation will be able to set the pace for members of their communities, becoming informal teachers – even role models – to their friends and family, particularly the older members of their households.

The need for increased emphasis on digital literacy among these populations of young people has been underlined by the global COVID-19 crisis, which has shifted so much of learning, hiring, and employment online. This accelerated shift has created more opportunity in the digital space, but it’s also widening the skills gap for those without adequate internet access. Providing that access is a principal focus of Google.org — Google’s philanthropic arm — and together with various partners, we’re taking action at this critical inflection point.

In Latin America, the Google.org Distance Learning Fund is supporting the Teach For All network in providing continuity of learning during the pandemic — training and lending needed support to public school teachers as they’ve adopted distance learning strategies. The effort is bolstered by support from local governments as well as a network of public and private sector partnerships.

In Africa, Google.org, through Junior Achievement Africa, is giving vulnerable and marginalized young people across Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa the opportunity to acquire in-demand ICT skills by providing grant funding for scholarships and instructional support. Given the acceleration of the digital transformation in Africa, in part caused by the response to the pandemic, the hope is that these young people, with these skills, will be able to find meaningful and challenging job opportunities, earn a living, and enjoy financial freedom.

And in Asia, a USD3.3 million grant from Google.org is helping to fund the Go Digital ASEAN initiative — a project launched by The Asia Foundation in partnership with the local nonprofit partners and Association of Southeast Asian Nations Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME). This initiative aims to equip underemployed SMEs, MSMEs and youth in rural and isolated areas, with digital skills and tools. In Vietnam and Indonesia, Google.org funded Plan INternational with USD2 million to partner with the ASEAN Foundation to launch Bridges to the Future - a skills training and job-matching assistance pilot program that will help boost employability among vulnerable youths. Again, while the initiative is partly a response to the circumstances created by the COVID-19 crisis, it will go far in helping to close the digital gap and nurture talent to meet the increased technical demand.

Youth is an invaluable natural resource, and right now, NBU markets hold that resource in unprecedented quantities. As we move beyond the COVID-19 crisis, there is a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on that resource for the good of individuals, emerging economies, and the entire globe. We must work to close the widening gap in skills that’s been exacerbated by the migration of goods and services online in response to the pandemic – and the key is to act now.

Access

Internet access is a basic human right. But the goal of providing equitable and inclusive internet access to everyone remains unmet.

Building inclusive products

Conducting user research, whether it’s on-the-ground or virtual, helps designers better understand the people they aim to serve.

Content

Everyone should be able to find the info they need online, but not everyone can. Find out why.

Designing for confidence

Inclusive digital design can help novice internet users grow their digital confidence.

Ecosystems

Everybody who works in tech can help create a more inclusive, equitable internet for everyone, everywhere.

Financial inclusion

Financial inclusion goes beyond financial access. It’s about empowering, creating opportunities, and accelerating progress.

Growth in Africa

The growth of Africa’s internet economy will shape how everyone uses the internet in the future.

Hardware

The next billion internet users are mobile-first or mobile-only, which makes their smartphone a key part of their digital experience.

Immersion

Teams who immerse themselves in the communities they aim to reach are more likely to build successful products.

Jobs

Tech has the potential to fundamentally change the way employers and job-seekers interact in every kind of market.

Knowledge

It’s the tech community’s responsibility to support novice internet users as they learn how to be online.

Language

Most internet content is published in English. Learn how tech innovations are changing that.

Motorcycle Mode in Maps

Built for the next billion users, Motorcycle Mode in Google Maps shows how developers Google can improve existing services to meet evolving user needs.

Navigating a smartphone

From tapping, to pinching, to swiping, and more—developers can help unlock the value of a smartphone.

Optimizing for Offline

Novice internet users can better access the benefits of the internet with offline capabilities and “lite” versions of apps.

Privacy

We’re developing new ways to protect people’s privacy when they share devices with friends and family.

Questions

It’s our responsibility to help answer the questions of novice internet users—so they’re empowered when they go online.

Reality vs Perception

We’re helping educate novice internet users in order to prevent misconceptions and empower people when they spend time online.

Google Search is a key part of a novice internet user’s experience—providing access to everything from news, medical services, recipes, entertainment, and more.

Teaching

Novice internet users often learn how to use the internet and their smartphones through their friends and family. Learn more about their experiences.

Upboarding

Many novice internet users don’t know common digital symbols and functions. Upboarding helps grow digital literacy by meeting users where they are.

Voice

Developing enhancements for voice tools can help grow the internet and bring more people around the world online.

Women

The barriers women face are disproportionately higher compared to their male counterparts. We have the opportunity to empower women and help close the gap.