In the 1950s, David Riesman published The Lonely Crowd, a landmark study of how society was changing. He described how people were shifting from being “inner-directed,” guided by values and traditions, to being “other-directed,” shaped by peers, media, and social approval. His warning was that this shift risked creating isolation in the middle of apparent connection, a crowd, but a lonely one.
He described how people were shifting from being “inner-directed,” guided by values and traditions, to being “other-directed,” shaped by peers, media, and social approval. His warning was that this shift risked creating isolation in the middle of apparent connection, a crowd, but a lonely one.
For NGOs working with youth today, the parallels are easy to see. Young people are hyper-connected online, but much of that connection is shallow. They scroll, like, and react, but rarely find the safe spaces they need to build trust, explore values, and work on the deeper issues that shape their futures. NGO staff often tell us the same thing: it is hard to keep young people engaged beyond the workshop, and even harder to create digital spaces that are both meaningful and safe.
A decade alongside NGOs
We know this because we’ve spent the past 10 years working alongside NGOs across Latin America, Africa, and Europe. More than 120 NGOs, museums, and foundations have already created over 500 courses with us, covering topics from climate and sustainability to democracy, entrepreneurship, sexual and reproductive health, technology, and mental wellbeing. These focus areas matter because they are where youth want to connect — but without support, their connections risk being fleeting or superficial.
The “lonely crowd” in youth programs
This tension shows up everywhere:
A workshop excites young people, but there’s no follow-up, and the energy dissolves.
Social media groups form, but they quickly shift into distraction rather than deep engagement.
Staff design strong content, but when funding ends, so does the conversation.
it is hard to keep young people engaged beyond the workshop, and even harder to create digital spaces that are both meaningful and safe.
From loneliness to belonging
StudentLAB was created as an antidote to this cycle. It provides NGOs with a digital community that doesn’t stop at shallow interaction. Youth don’t just consume information; they collaborate, reflect, and launch their own initiatives. The safe, policy-aware design ensures they can do this without the risks of open social media, while adaptive tools and gamification keep them engaged in ways that feel natural.
For NGOs, this means turning fleeting interactions into lasting communities. It means embedding values like leadership, participation, and resilience directly into the design of learning experiences. And it means staff no longer have to start from zero with every new project; the legacy of their work lives on, accessible to the next cohort of young people.
Bridging the gap for NGOs
The challenge isn’t only recognizing that youth live online, it’s knowing how to transform those digital spaces into environments that empower rather than isolate. NGOs already have the knowledge and the mission. What they often need is guidance on how to translate that into digital formats that resonate with young people without losing depth or safety.
That’s why we invite you to book a free session with Valeria Gayoso, our learning expert dedicated to NGOs. With more than a decade of experience working alongside organizations like yours, she can help you explore how StudentLAB can turn shallow connections into meaningful communities. It’s an open conversation — no pressure, just an opportunity to see what’s possible.
