Snap Inc. has appointed eight Australian teenagers as the first members of its Australian Council for Digital Well-Being.
The teens, aged 14 to 16, will provide insights on their digital lives and contribute ideas for safer and more positive online experiences. The program follows research showing more than 90% of Australians believe young people should be part of shaping healthier online spaces.
The newly appointed members of Snap’s Australian teen Council for Digital Well-Being are:
Emma T, from Willoughby in Sydney, NSW
Rhys M, from North Manly in Sydney, NSW
Amelia B, from Gippsland, regional Victoria
Millie N, from Melbourne, Victoria
Charlotte C, from regional Victoria
Bentley T, from regional Victoria
Cormac B, from Joondalup in Perth, WA
Aadya V, from Indooroopilly in Brisbane, QLD
The Australian council will run for 18 months and operate alongside similar initiatives in the U.S. and Europe. Members will join monthly calls, take part in project work, and connect with Snapchat’s global Safety Advisory Board of online safety experts.
Snap launched the program locally with a two-day summit at its Sydney headquarters.
“I applied to join Snapchat’s Australian Council for Digital Well-Being as I really want to see more people my age speaking out about this topic,” Charlotte C, from regional Victoria, said.
“Teens should have an input into what is happening online as these spaces are our support system; we’ve grown up with them, we use them every day to contact our friends, and we need them to feel free. I’m looking forward to being part of this Council so I can support safety and wellbeing initiatives for my Australian peers.”
Snapchat is used by more than 8 million Australians each month, with safety and wellbeing features for users under 18, including default privacy settings and the Family Centre tool for parents and caregivers.
Ryan Ferguson: ‘As the program continues to roll out over the months to come, their ideas, energy and real-life experiences will help shape a better, more positive digital future for everyone.’
Ryan Ferguson, Managing Director for Snap Inc. in Australia and New Zealand, said: “We know teens are the real experts when it comes to the digital world, so we are excited to be launching our first Aussie teen Council for Digital Well-Being.
“We were thrilled to welcome an amazing group of civic- minded, smart and engaged young Australians from all across the country to our Sydney office to kick things off.
“As the program continues to roll out over the months to come, their ideas, energy and real-life experiences will help shape a better, more positive digital future for everyone.”