This open-access study published in Media and Communication explores the relationship between cultural diversity, youth identities, and digital media use in Portugal. Through a systematic review of empirical studies conducted between 2010 and 2023, the authors analyse how young people engage with digital platforms as spaces for socialisation, learning, and intercultural exchange. The article provides an integrated overview of how digital practices both reflect and reshape diversity in Portuguese society, focusing particularly on issues of inclusion, representation, and participation.

The research identifies three major areas of analysis: the role of social networks in constructing plural identities; the relationship between digital participation and civic engagement; and the inequalities that persist in access, literacy, and visibility among young people from minority and migrant backgrounds. By mapping the evolution of academic research on these themes, the study highlights the increasing importance of intersectional approaches that connect media studies, education, and intercultural dialogue.

The authors argue that digital spaces can act as both enablers and barriers to inclusion. While they open opportunities for self-expression and collaboration, they also reproduce structural biases, algorithmic discrimination, and linguistic divides. The article concludes with a set of recommendations to strengthen youth-centred digital policies and promote more equitable and inclusive media ecosystems in Portugal.

In a Euro-Mediterranean context, this publication provides an invaluable perspective on how young people navigate cultural diversity in online environments and how digital literacy can contribute to intercultural understanding. It demonstrates the potential of youth-led media participation to reinforce democratic values, pluralism, and mutual respect across communities.