“When our country will become fully digitalized, we would just be carrying a tab with all study materials, instead of carrying books. I would learn graphic design using online sources and earn money from home. I am already doing many things using the internet, which is helpful for me.”
— Boy, class 8, slum school
Bangladesh has entered the digital age, with internet users reaching 110.8 million in October 2020. Adolescents growing up in this rapidly digitizing world are unique in having their life experiences and opinions shaped by technology. This unprecedented increase in connectivity with the outside world is changing adolescents’ lived realities by overcoming the boundaries of gender and social norms.
Most literature in Bangladesh on this topic has highlighted the health risks to adolescents through the use of internet, and mobile phone, but very little has been done on adolescents’ experience of the way they use it and the impact it has on their knowledge base, skill set and relationships. To address this gap, BIGD undertook qualitative research on “New Forms of Adolescent Voice and Agency through ICT and Mobile Phone use” from August 2019 – February 2020 supported by GAGE. The research explores this issue by looking specifically at 14-year-old adolescents studying in Class 8 in Dhaka and Cumilla.
We are pleased to invite you to join a webinar organized by BIGD, where the results of the research will be presented, followed by interventions from experts in the fields of adolescents, education and ICT and open discussion.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WfTo-OzLTHuAAX2aszxVRg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Participation slots are limited. Please register early.
You can also watch the webinar LIVE on BIGD’s Facebook page.
