Empowered and aware: adolescent perspectives on technology and well-being in Chile and Colombia

Two decades after the advent of social media, a new generation of adolescents is navigating the intricate relationship between digital technologies and their well-being. This cohort raised and—with different scopes—guided and accompanied in their digital experience by parents who experienced the rise of social media firsthand and shaped by the unprecedented connectivity brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, faces unique opportunities and challenges in their hyperconnected lives. This study inquiries about how today’s teenagers perceive the relationship between the presence of technology and their well-being, and how they navigate its use and safety measures to ensure their well-being. It analyzes data from 28 focus groups involving 210 adolescents in Chile and Colombia. The findings reveal significant generational shifts, as parents increasingly leverage their own digital experiences to guide their children’s online activities. Adolescents exhibit agency and digital resilience, developing self-regulation strategies such as managing screen time and employing safety measures. The findings challenge deficit-based narratives of adolescence, advocating for a children’s rights framework that empowers young people while addressing systemic risks beyond their control. Cultural and socioeconomic variations were also evident. Chilean adolescents demonstrated heightened privacy concerns and employed strategies of resistance against parental controls, while Colombian adolescents appeared more accepting of parental guidance. Socioeconomic disparities influenced parenting practices, with higher-income adolescents practicing self-monitoring and lower-income adolescents relying more on adult-directed regulation. This research underscores the importance of localized and nuanced approaches to digital literacy programs, parental mediation strategies, and policies aimed at fostering adolescent well-being in the digital age. By centering adolescents’ lived experiences, it offers critical insights for policymakers, educators, and families striving to support the healthy digital and social development of young people worldwide.