Cindy Qianxun Ren attended ten sessions of the 19th United Nations Internet Governance Forum

TMTPOST – Cindy Qianxun Ren, a tenth-grade student, stressed the significance to bridge the digital gap between developing countries, known as the Global South, and the Global North or developed countries, when recalling her participation in the United Nations’ conference on internet governance.

Ren, as the only teenager representative of Hi China, a non-governmental organization, attended the 19th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) held last December in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Representatives from southern Asia, Africa and the Caribbean and other developing countries also joined the UN conference.

“The conference explored ways to close the digital divide, including building low-cost, easy-to-use and energy-efficient technologies, infrastructure and algorithms, promoting educational equality, digital literacy and capacity-building for students,” Ren told AsianFin.

Ren, a major in neural technology and one of a few high-school participants, attended 10 sessions, exchanging views with speakers and fellow attendees. She is interested in the application of blockchain and metaverse technologies, the promotion of data sharing, the use of the internet to break information cocoons.

The digital divide was one of critical issues critical issues concerning the future of the internet. About 68% of global online users live in developed countries, which is a whopping proportion given that developing countries are home to the majority of the world’s population. While statistics show high internet access rates, it is partially due to multiple account reuse, a young representative pointed out, adding that internet access is critical because it can be a driver for economic growth.

Meanwhile, some representatives advocated policy changes to narrow the digital divide. In today’s world, emphasis is placed on overall internet access rates while the imbalance between regions is ignored. Moreover, most infrastructure, such as cables, are concentrated in developed countries. Therefore, governments need to seek alternative approaches. Participants also noted that different stakeholders should understand the positions and goals of others in order to promote effective international cooperation.

Stakeholders with Various Backgrounds

The five-day forum in December brought together people, young and old alike, as equals to discuss and address pressing public policy issues relating to internet governance. There were four main themes at the conference: harnessing innovation and balancing risks in the digital space, enhancing the digital contribution to peace, development and sustainability, advancing human rights and inclusion in the digital age, and improving digital governance for the Internet We Want. People from around the globe participated in the UN meeting on internet governance

At the opening ceremony, the organizers stressed the necessity of adhering to the Global Digital Pact, a UN agreement that calls for adapting international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow. Additionally, representatives from Riyadh read the IGF Declaration, advocating the construction of an inclusive internet.

Online safety for children and women's role in the digital space also captured the attention of Ren. In the "Multistakeholder Actions and Innovation: Children's Safety” forum, participants emphasized social media regulation in ensuring children's safety. At another forum named "Creating Safe Digital Spaces for Children," it was pointed out that children's vulnerability to cyberattacks varies across regions, reflecting another aspect of the digital divide.

As of early 2025, approximately 79% of individuals aged 15 to 24 worldwide used the internet, compared to 65% of the general population, according to the International Communication Union, a UN agency responsible for issues relating to information and technologies. Meanwhile, the divide between regions is pronounced. About 55% of individuals aged 15 to 24 in Africa use the internet, while internet usage among those aged 18 to 29 in the United States is nearly universal, with 97% reporting internet use. Between 2018 and 2022, the internet penetration rate among Chinese juveniles increased from 93.7% to 97.2%, according to China Daily.

AI, Digital Education and Blockchain

Ren exchanged her views on artificial intelligence (AI) with other participants with different cultural backgrounds, which served a good example of the diversity of the forum. In the ten sessions which she participated in, there were opportunities to discuss with speakers, which enhanced participants' engagement.

AI was another a hot topic in the forum. Participants focused on two sub-themes: how to leverage generative AI to drive education reform, and how to promote AI innovation while protecting privacy. The participants explored how to detect content generated by ChatGPT in academic settings and pointed out the challenges: first, detection systems like Turnitin do not always effectively identify academic misconduct and plagiarism; second, the English content written by non-native English speakers may be misjudged as AI-generated.

During the conference, the balance between data privacy and technological advancement was discussed. Participants argued that while data privacy should be protected, technological innovation relies on data, thus excessive restrictions could hinder the development of AI. During the Q&A session, participants delved into the potential of blockchain technology to enhance data transparency while ensuring privacy.

Regarding digital education, many participants argued that methodologies for digital education should align with artificial intelligence so that educators can find better ways for cybersecurity and help children tackle cyberattacks.

As a young representative from Asia, Ren was interviewed by the organizer of the IGF about her views on global digital issues. She pointed out that young people are “the future of AI," adding that the right approach to internet governance should be “empowering cyber kids rather than restricting them."