From Displaying Numbers to Knowledge Industry!

I am no longer dazzled by the possession of bare numbers in an era where artificial intelligence has turned data upside down. Rather, true value now lies in the ability to produce data with precision and human credibility, then organize it, link it to other data, and transform it into actionable knowledge. This highlights the importance of specialized platforms and databases that possess a degree of agility and flexibility that sometimes exceeds what official statistical authorities can achieve. This is not due to any deficiency on the part of these authorities, but rather because of the differing nature of their roles and mandates. The latter focus on producing statistics according to precise standards and methodologies, and providing a reliable foundation for policy-making and scientific research.

This was confirmed by the Director General of the Department of Statistics in Jordan during a meeting attended by managers and researchers from polling centers. He emphasized that the statistical agency does not seek to compete with polling centers, but rather to regulate the statistical environment, support these centers, and provide them with the data, frameworks, and methodologies needed to perform their work effectively.

I observed this practically while reviewing the beta version of the Saudi Youth Comprehensive Data Platform (youthdata.sa). The platform does not merely collect statistics; it includes studies, reports, institutions, experts, initiatives, and diverse knowledge sources, making it a comprehensive knowledge ecosystem regarding youth. Despite its many advantages, there is potential to develop it beyond being just a data repository, as hoped by the platform’s development team. In this regard, one could consider establishing a “Youth Polling Bank.” There are dozens of polls and studies in the Kingdom that have addressed society at large on various topics. Therefore, it is possible—provided the research and statistical methodology, sample size, time period, and age group definition allow—to extract results for the youth demographic independently from these studies.

In doing so, we are not producing a new poll, but rather rediscovering value that already exists within the data. For example, if we had a national poll on quality of life, economic empowerment, identity and belonging, future readiness, or family and social status (topics currently being studied by the “Murshid” Center for Youth Studies as part of the “National Indicator for Youth Issues”), we could extract the responses of the 15-to-39 age group and display them on the platform under the heading: “What Did Saudi Youth Say About This Issue?” This would present a real opportunity to build an cumulative memory of youth trends over time. I experienced this myself a few years ago when I published the book “What Did They Say to Us? Priorities and Interests of Gulf Youth,” extracting youth opinions at the time from the results of international public opinion projects.

Simply put, it would be wonderful and beneficial if the platform did not merely tell the researcher, “This is a study,” but instead said, “This is what youth said within this study.” It should not stop at presenting the number, but help the researcher understand its source, context, evolution, and how it compares to other data, thereby building a narrative above the bare number that bridges the gap between data and decision-makers. The ultimate goal—provided capabilities, authorities, and platform agility allow—is not merely to know how many young people there are and where they live, but also to know: What are they thinking? What do they want? What worries them? And how do their views change over time? Only then does a number transform from a static entry in a table into living knowledge that aids understanding and decision-making.