Calling teenagers in the U.S.! Here’s a unique opportunity to have your voices heard about online safety issues and life online. Effective today, Snap is accepting applications for our first Council for Digital Well-Being, an 18-month pilot program for young people in the U.S. between the ages of 13 and 16.

Gen Z is digitally engaged, astute, and resourceful, and we at Snap are interested in their strategies for thriving online and promoting strong digital well-being. We’re also eager to hear their ideas for continuing to make Snapchat a safer, healthier, and more enjoyable place for creativity and connecting with friends. We appreciate that being online can present very real risks, and we want to make sure that young people understand, can recognize, and have the skills to help mitigate those risks. That’s why we’re piloting this council: to gain diverse perspectives from teens across the country on the state of life online today, as well as their hopes and ideals for more positive and rewarding experiences.

The program will feature monthly calls, project work, and engagement with our global Safety Advisory Board. In this first year, selected council members will be invited to Snap’s headquarters in Santa Monica, California, for a two-day summit and, in Year Two, we have plans for a more public-facing event featuring council members and showcasing their knowledge and learning.

Apply to join our Council for Digital Well-Being

Interested teens between the ages of 13 and 16 living in the United States should complete and submit this online application by close of business (5:00 PM Pacific Time) on Friday, March 22.

In addition to some basic information, the application calls for either essay or short video responses to questions about social media use and online life generally, as well as expectations for the council experience and familiarity with and views of the Snapchat app and Snap as a company. 

Two-day summit in Year One

Following application reviews and selection by our in-house committee, we’ll invite about 15 young people from across the U.S. to join the inaugural council, which will culminate during Year One in a two-day trip for each council member and a parent, guardian, or chaperone to attend a council summit at our company headquarters. Airfare, accommodation, meals, and associated travel costs will be paid by Snap. 

The summit is expected to include small-group and full-council discussions, a separate “parent track” for guardians and chaperones, interactive sessions with guest speakers, engagement with Snap leaders, and fun activities. After the summit, we hope council members and their adult sponsors will serve as ambassadors for digital well-being and positive engagement on Snapchat in their schools and communities. For questions about the council or planned activities, contact platform-safety@snapchat.com. 

To learn more about Snap’s commitment to, and work in, online safety generally, visit our Privacy & Safety Hub, and be sure to check out our latest global research about digital well-being in the U.S. and five other countries set for release on Safer Internet Day 2024, February 6. We look forward to sharing news about selected council members this spring!

- Jacqueline Beauchere, Global Head of Platform Safety