INDIGENOUS YOUTH, DIGITAL LITERACY, AND IDENTITY FORMATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Abstract

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has reshaped identity formation processes among youth globally, with particularly complex implications for Indigenous communities. This chapter critically examines how digital literacy, social media engagement, digital storytelling, and culturally responsive technological interventions influence identity negotiation among Indigenous youth. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship from cultural anthropology, education, media studies, and Indigenous research methodologies, this chapter synthesizes systematic reviews, empirical studies, and policy frameworks. It explores digital spaces as sites of empowerment, language revitalization, cultural resurgence, and community connection, while also interrogating risks including digital colonialism, data exploitation, and mental health vulnerabilities. Integrating decolonizing perspectives and Indigenous data sovereignty frameworks, the chapter argues that culturally grounded digital literacy initiatives and community-led technological design are central to supporting healthy identity formation and sustainable cultural continuity in the digital era.