International Seminar on Youth Voices in the Digital Age: Media, Literature, and Law at the Crossroads of Transformation

Organised by

Centre for Lifelong Learning (CLL)

In collaboration with

Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

📌 About the Seminar

Across the world, digital technologies are reshaping how societies communicate, contest truths, construct identities, and mobilize for justice. The rapid growth of social media, participatory journalism, artificial intelligence, and digitally networked movements has created both unprecedented opportunities and new vulnerabilities for young people.

Youth today are not only consumers but also creators of information. They navigate complex terrains of misinformation, gendered cyberviolence, freedom of expression, digital rights, and cultural representation. Simultaneously, literature, storytelling, and linguistic expression continue to shape public imagination, inspire collective action, and refine civic consciousness.

Legal frameworks—ranging from data protection and media ethics to child online safety, gender justice, and intellectual property—are evolving to keep pace with digital change. These intersections give rise to urgent questions:

• How can youth be empowered to author narratives rooted in justice and truth?

• What critical media competencies and legal literacy do they require?

• How can educators, institutions, and civil society build safe, inclusive, and ethical digital participation pathways?

This international seminar aims to bring together scholars, practitioners, journalists, legal experts, writers, activists, and youth leaders from across the globe to collectively explore these questions and shape future-ready strategies.

🎯 Objectives of the Seminar

• To examine how media, literature, and law intersect in shaping youth identities and democratic participation in a digital world.

• To strengthen youth capacities for critical communication, including media literacy, digital storytelling, ethical journalism, and rights-based civic engagement.

• To explore the role of literature, languages, and creative expression in amplifying youth voices and fostering inclusive cultural representation.

• To study gendered and intersectional dimensions of online participation, focusing on identity, safety, and visibility in digital spaces.

📝 Call for Abstracts

• Open: December 2025 – 15 January 2026

• Last Date for Abstract Acceptance: 15 January 2026

• Email for Submission: csaigita@tiss.ac.in

Full Manuscript Submission:

15 February 2026

📂 Seminar Sub-Themes

1. Youth, Digital Media & Identity Construction

• Online self-representation and digital citizenship

• Influencer culture and youth participation

• Mental health and digital well-being

2. Law, Rights & Youth Safety in Digital Spaces

• Data protection, surveillance, and youth privacy

• Cyberbullying, online harassment, and legal responses

• Intellectual property and youth creativity

3. Technology, Education & the Future of Youth Communication

• AI-supported learning and digital literacy

• Gamification and immersive media

• Digital mentoring: role of teachers, parents, guardians

4. Global & Local Perspectives on Youth Cultural Expression

• Cross-cultural youth identities in global media

• Indigenous and marginalized youth narratives

• Translation, accessibility, and linguistic diversity

5. Storytelling for Social Change: Literature, Language & Narrative Power

• Reimagining justice through fiction, poetry, spoken word

• Indigenous, queer, and marginalized youth storytelling

• Languages as tools of empowerment and resistance

6. Gender, Media & Representation

• Gendered narratives in digital media

• Online safety for young women and queer youth

• Challenging stereotypes through creative content

7. Social Work in a Networked World

• Digital platforms supporting vulnerable communities

• Youth mental health, media pressures, and online wellness

• Building inclusive and safe digital ecosystems

👥 Who Can Participate?

Students, scholars, practitioners, journalists, legal experts, writers, activists, and youth leaders below 35 years of age from across the world.

📅 Dates & Venue

8 – 10 March 2026
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai

👤 Seminar Convenor

Dr. Saigita Chitturu
Faculty, Centre for Lifelong Learning
School of Social Work
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Conference Brochure