WeAre8 has announced has signed the Inspired Internet Pledge.
The pledge, created by the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, is an industry-wide initiative to make the internet a safer and healthier place for everyone, especially young people. The sustainable social media app joins Pinterest as the only social media platform to sign the pledge.
All signatories of the pledge unite with the common goal of making the internet a healthier place for young people. WeAre8’s signing reaffirms its commitment to creating a social media experience that focuses on emotional well-being, listening to and acting on insights from people who have experienced harm online, and designing for privacy and safety first.
Lizzie Young, global growth officer and APAC CEO of WeAre8, said: “WeAre8’s signing of the pledge is a fitting way to mark World Mental Health Day. For too long, technology has divided us, but we know it can be used for good.
“We are obsessed with creating a social media experience that is safe for young people, protects their data and privacy and is a safe space free from hate and abuse enabled by our first-to-market account verification process, limiting fake and spam accounts and anonymous posting. In addition, our unique business model also means we can economically support the great work of mental health charities.”
The 2022 Deadly By Design study from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) shows just how dangerous the internet can be for young people and highlights the need for safer social media environments. WeAre8 recognizes the importance of creating a healthy digital ecosystem for its citizens (users) and ushers in a new era of social media free from algorithms that divide and harm us.
Cori Stott, administrative director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital said “We welcome WeAre8 to the Inspired Internet Pledge and look forward to seeing how they implement their commitment and working with them and all of the signatories to create a healthier digital ecosystem.”
WeAre8’s pledge is accompanied by a host of activities for World Mental Health Month, with WeAre8’s change makers activating across the world to bring attention to the issue.
Rio Ferdinand, WeAre8 ambassador and former England captain and Manchester United footballer, said: “As a professional athlete I know first-hand how important mental health is for performance on the field but it is just as important for our daily lives to live happily and healthily – especially for young people who are growing up in a digital world.
“WeAre8 is building a brighter future and a platform where people feel loved, valued, and empowered. I’m proud to be part of a movement that is making the internet a safer and healthier place for everyone.”