An assessment framework for digital participatory practices engaging youth in cultural heritage management

Digitalization offers opportunities for youth to engage in a wide range of digital-mediated civic activities, thereby fostering their digital citizenship. While embracing the potential of digital technologies, it is crucial to have a realistic understanding of the practical, ethical, and cultural considerations for implementing youth discourse in cultural heritage management and empowering youth initiatives in decision-making. Little research has focused on assessing youth digital participation in cultural heritage management for its impacts on fostering inclusivity, enhancing the levels of youth engagement, gauging the potential of digitalization, and facilitating youth initiatives. This paper fills the gap by developing an assessment framework for youth digital participation, comprising four criteria and thirty-five indicators. These indicators were validated through expert consultation and multivariate analysis and categorized into four groups based on their levels of priority. The framework provides detailed guidelines for applying these indicators across different phases of participation—envisioning, monitoring, and evaluating. Additionally, four recommendations derived from the framework provide suggestions on critical aspects of youth digital participation and guidelines to foster the impact of youth engagement in future participatory practices in cultural heritage management.