Launching Unboxing Tech Toolkit New Module: Unboxing Internet Infrastructures - A New Toolkit Module and a Blog Series

We live in a world where young people are perpetually online. But beneath the convenience of our hyper-digital lives lies something most of us rarely see, a vast, physical system of cables, data centres, servers, devices, and energy networks along with real environmental costs.

With the idea of helping young people navigate this reality with clarity and agency, The Pranava Institute is launching a new module of the Unboxing Tech Toolkit: Unboxing Internet Infrastructures. This project, focuses on the Asia-Pacific region, aims to unbox the complexity of the knowledge around internet infrastructures and energy consumption and make it accessible to young, non-technical audiences with the aim to build knowledge and capacity.

This project is supported by the APNIC ISIF Asia grant and the Ian Peter grant for the Internet and the Environment.

Introducing Our New Module: Unboxing Internet Infrastructures

Unboxing Internet Infrastructures: The Environmental Costs of the Internet and What You Can Do About It is designed for youth (primarily ages 13–18, and adaptable for older youth groups too). It supports young people to build a healthier relationship with technology, while understanding what it takes to keep the internet running, and what that means for our planet. 

Visit the project page to download the toolkit: https://unboxingtech.pranavainstitute.com/unboxinginternetinfrastructures

You can also find translations of the toolkit in Kannada, Filipino and Khmer on our website. 

Why This Module, Why Now?

Young people make up one of the largest and fastest-growing groups in the digital world. In the Asia-Pacific region, internet adoption surged during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, and youth today spend significant time online, often for education, entertainment, social connection, and commerce.

As young individuals are becoming the biggest group in the infosphere, it becomes imperative to empower them with the knowledge and skills to understand how internet infrastructures work and the environmental costs of the internet. This will inspire the next generation of volunteers to engage in internet governance mechanisms and work towards sustainable digital futures. 

This toolkit module includes a series of sheets that explore: 

• The internet as a physical system, tracing how data travels through devices, networks, cables, satellites, servers, and data centres.

• How the internet and AI function at a systems level, including data packets, protocols, encryption, network layers, and computational infrastructure.

• The environmental footprint of digital technologies, including energy use, water consumption, carbon emissions, and e-waste.

• The material lifecycle of digital devices, from mineral extraction and manufacturing to disposal, reuse, and circular economy practices.

• The people, institutions, and governance structures that sustain the internet, and the role of youth in shaping fairer and more sustainable digital futures.

  
  

Built for Facilitators, Educators, and Community Leaders

Alongside the module, we are also releasing a Facilitator Guide for educators, teachers, parents, and anyone who wants to run these activities with young people (13–18). 

You can also find translations of the facilitator guide in Kannada, Filipino and Khmer on our website. 

Visit the project page to download the facilitator guides: https://unboxingtech.pranavainstitute.com/unboxinginternetinfrastructures

A New Blog Series You Do Not Want to Miss

To accompany the toolkit, we are launching a new series of blogs that dive deeper into the ideas, conversations, and critical questions it raises. These blogs will explore themes such as:

Each piece in the blog series tries to dive deeper into themes covered in the toolkit. We are positive these blogs will encourage our readers to think critically and enrich their understanding of internet infrastructures and their relationship with sustainability.

Changemaker Series: Insights From Global Experts

Alongside our thematic blogs, we are excited to share an exciting Changemaker series with blogs featuring conversations with experts who are reimagining what a sustainable and inclusive digital world could look like.

We spoke with inspiring thinkers, researchers, and practitioners, including Geraldine de Bastion, Mike Jensen, Katrin Fritsch, Tamara Kneese, Michelle Thorne, Yen Lin, and Hari, who bring diverse perspectives on digital sustainability, community power, and the future of the internet.

These interviews offer rich insights, ideas, and practical pathways for young people who want to engage more deeply with internet governance and climate advocacy.

Explore the blogs through this link: https://unboxingtech.pranavainstitute.com/blog

Join Us As We Unbox The Internet Together

Whether you are curious about how your data travels, concerned about the internet’s climate impact, or eager to understand the systems shaping everyday life, we invite you to download the module, try it with young people, and join the conversation.