Snap recently concluded our pilot Council for Digital Well-Being (CDWB) program with our inaugural U.S. cohort. Launched in 2024, this initiative brought together 18 teens from across the country to share their perspectives on digital life today. Over the past year, these teens - and their families - have provided invaluable insights and grown into more effective online safety and well-being ambassadors. 

To mark the end of the year-long program, we hosted a capstone event, designed by the teens, at our Washington, D.C. office. Council members had the opportunity to share their experiences and learnings directly with key stakeholders in the online safety community. Attendees included the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Brian Schwalb, who discussed the importance of youth engagement; representatives from online safety organizations including the Technology Coalition, ConnectSafely, and the Family Online Safety Institute; and officials from the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In addition, Council members had the opportunity to tour the East Wing of the White House and speak with the office of the First Lady of the United States about online safety and well-being priorities. 

Photo Credit: Official White House Photo

At the D.C. event, the teens shared presentations on a range of topics, including stigmas around online reporting and sextortion. The panels and discussions led by the teens demonstrated the significant value of integrating young people’s perspectives into any work to improve online safety. For example: 

• One Council member gave a presentation on sextortion, explaining how targeted teens can often feel embarrassed and trapped. She highlighted that these feelings can be intensified if parents overreact, blame the victim, or misunderstand online interactions. She offered parents concrete strategies to proactively support their teens.

• This presentation complemented a larger panel discussion with a group of teens and their parents about the importance of curiosity and openness when discussing online safety as a family. The group shared personal examples of how broaching awkward and difficult conversations eventually helped open up clearer lines of communication.

• Another teen panel explored the stigmas associated with online reporting among younger generations, emphasizing that many teens are hesitant to report online abuse due to fear of judgment or not being believed. They highlighted the importance of creating supportive environments where young people feel safe and empowered to speak up without fear of reprisal. They also reinforced the need for intuitive, easy-to-find reporting tools and called on companies, NGOs, and safety organizations to do more to educate teens that reporting on platforms like Snapchat is confidential and can help the broader community.

• One group also examined why Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and other kinds of safety messaging targeted at teens often fails to resonate. The Council members stressed the importance of authentic, teen-driven content that grabs their attention quickly; elevates teen voices with real-life stories and concrete advice; and avoids seeming overly produced or scripted by adults. 

• Finally, several Council members spoke about online safety and well-being initiatives that they’ve started. For example, one teen is creating an AI-powered plushie toy designed to help teens build emotional resilience and respond to mental health challenges. Another teen is leading a nonprofit to advocate for an end to gender-based violence online. 

The capstone event built on the work the teens did throughout the program. For example: 

• The group gave feedback to Snapchat about safety resources and tools, including My Reports and our new interactive online safety program for teens and families, called The Keys: A Guide to Digital Safety.

• The teens also had opportunities to discuss online safety issues with broader audiences. For example, on Safer Internet Day, Council members hosted local events and worked with safety organizations to highlight online safety issues and best practices. 

• Additionally, each Council member created an online safety resource on a topic meaningful to them, like the video below about the importance of reporting. 

Based on the success of the pilot U.S. initiative, Snap has launched new CDWB programs in Europe and Australia. Across all of the regions, the CDWB cohorts are made up of creative, kind, and driven teens who want to shape a more positive online ecosystem. We look forward to sharing further insights from these groups, and introducing our new U.S. Council in 2026. 

- Viraj Doshi, Platform Safety Lead