Despite the fact that individual and group guidance are still the preferred models, digital guidance is more common worldwide and reveals great potential. It allows guides and trainees to communicate wherever the internet is available at times that suit individuals.
Thus, communication can be competitive despite geographic distance or difficulties in scheduling face-to-face meetings. Some other advantages of this model include encouraging participation in positive online activities and the potential to improve youth writing, language, and computer skills, while eliminating the face-to-face guidance that can be intimidating. It also gives both trainees and guides the opportunity to think about their responses before writing them, unlike the individual guidance model.
More importantly, this model allows youth who could not participate in individual guidance due to their geographical location, time and resource constraints, lack of transportation access, or family situations that prevent their participation to still contribute, assuming they can access information and communication technology.
While such relationships can contribute to developing care and strengthening the relationship between mentors and youth, the lack of face-to-face social contact can make building a trusting relationship extremely difficult. As such, digital guidance should be used when individual guidance is not available or feasible, or as a complement to face-to-face guidance. This is particularly important if there is a low literacy level.
Potential technical difficulties with internet and email communications can also be a constraint on digital guidance; however, with the rapid global proliferation of technology, the likelihood of these challenges is decreasing worldwide.
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