Our Feed Our Future | ThinkYoung

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We’re the first generation to grow up online. That's where we create, run our social lives, we share our highs, our lows, show the world who we are.

We grew up with selfies and share our lives through our Stories. We support each other, build each other up, and fight for what’s right. No matter who you are, what you look like, or who you love, we're here for it. Life online made us who we are. But it’s not all perfect. Some are using online spaces to spread hatred, or bully others.

The online world has shaped us. And now we’re shaping it back. We’ve formed a network of young people across Europe to rethink online spaces. We believe there must be new and better rules to protect young people online, and we’re going to speak to online platforms and governments about how to improve things.

It’s time to make online spaces a better, safer place for all of us. This is our feed, our future.

YOUTH NETWORK

Arianna

A 21 year old celebrity news reporter uses social media to provide insights on celebrity related content. Her personal posts frequently focus on fostering like minded communities, uniting individuals, and emphasising the value of being heard and appreciated. Her primary audience comprises young people who not only enjoy his unique approach to celebrity news but also resonate with the idea of being part of something bigger.

Chiara

Chiara is an inspiring video creator with a significant presence on Instagram and TikTok. She is currently working on her book, "Think Loud," which is a glimpse into her personal experiences and life's journey. With a dedicated following, Chiara has cultivated a supportive community that deeply connects with her. Through her interactive account, she fearlessly addresses important topics such as self love, mental health, empowerment and nutritional disorders. Her content sparks meaningful conversations and encourages personal growth among her engaged audience. Chiara's unique blend of creativity, authenticity, and empathy has established her as a respected figure in the online space. Her engaging approach invites active participation from her followers, creating an environment where personal growth and empowerment thrive.

Gaetan

Gaetan transformed his experience with bullying into a successful career as an influencer, specialising in comedy sketches. He believes young people shouldn't have to bear the brunt of harassment alone and champions the creation of safe spaces for open discussions. Having received countless messages from those unable to confide in teachers or parents, he recognises the potential of online platforms to provide much needed support.

Loulou

Loulou João is an Afro Belgian visual artist. By making use of 3D software (blender), she visualizes her own reality. A world that consists of candy coated squishy objects. All while using hyper femme cuteness as her visual language to create a safe space called the Focketverse. One where she is able to focus on the expression of her authentic self without any constructs weighing her down. Giving her the opportunity to reflect and create a platform to harbor new and meaningful connections.

Molly

Molly (they/them) is an activist who focuses in online safety. Their main aim is to make the online world a place where everyone feels welcome. They have attended events such as safer Internet forums and speaks out on the issues young people face online and the pressure young people are put under to look a certain way and fit into society. They also talk a lot about their own journey with their mental health and the struggles they faced growing up been queer and learning to accept themselves

EXPERTS

Alessandro Niccolò Tirapani

Dr. Alessandro Niccolò Tirapani is an Assistant Professor of Organization Studies at Tilburg University. Currently, he is focusing on the impact of platforms using Artificial Intelligence on society, looking at the adaptation and implementation of technological regulations, and at the translation of academic knowledge into policy making and progressive business practices. He has published on the gig economy, on corporate social responsibility, and on science denial.

Angélique Gozlan

Angélique Gozlan is PhD in psychopathology, teacher and researcher. She has been working in child psychiatry and private practice for over 15 years. In 2013, she defended the first thesis in France on the psychological impact of social networks. She is the author of numerous articles and books, including "Petit guide décomplexant" pour parents d'ados à l'ère du numérique", 2023.

Dr Ruth Plackett

Dr. Ruth Plackett has a background in psychology and completed her PhD in applied health research at University College London (UCL) in 2019. Her research interests are in social media and young people’s mental health, mixed methods research and evaluations of digital interventions. Ruth is currently a research fellow at UCL and is funded by a NIHR Three Schools’ Mental Health Programme fellowship at UCL. She has published research on the impacts of social media on young people’s mental health. Her current research is exploring how we can use social media to improve young people’s access to mental health services and how concerns about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health are managed in primary care.

Dr. Stephan Dreyer

Stephan Dreyer is a Senior Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Media Research focusing on the legal dynamics underpinning digital childhood. His expertise resides at the nexus of youth media protection, regulatory and technical strategies for children’s safety, privacy and security, and empowering and participatory approaches.

Dr. Yansie Rolston

Dr. Yansie Rolston has a depth of experience and expertise in health equality development. She is an anthropologist, a creative, and a social activist. Yansie offers technical expertise to governments, business, civil society and international agencies and co-creates and delivers innovative social change processes that are focussed on health equity and social development for marginalised groups. Yansie creates, affects and sustains change in order to improve physical, mental and social wellbeing. Her areas of expertise are mental health, disability, sexual health, menopause and race equity. She presents her work internationally at conferences and empowerment workshops and works inter-generationally to co-create interventions that are holistic, impactful and sustainable.

Esther Rozendaal

Esther Rozendaal is full professor of Digital Resilience at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and co-lead of the Erasmus Movez Lab, a research team with a shared interest in young people, digital media, and wellbeing. She is an expert on empowering children and young people as resilient participants in today's digital society. Esther and her team work closely with children and young people, young creators, parents, schools, youth workers and various organisations with a shared interest in the digital resilience of young media users and creators. In this way, they aim to contribute to solutions that enable children and young people to cope with the opportunities and risks of digital media, now and in the future.

Radha Modgil

Dr. Radha Modgil is an NHS GP, a television, radio, and podcast broadcaster, and author who aims to bring positive change in the world and empower people. Listed in The Big Issue’s 100 Change Makers 2022 List, One of the Top 50 Cheeriest social media accounts (The Guardian) and one of the most inspiring people who are leading the way when it comes to mental health awareness, Positive News. Radha is the medical expert for both BBC Radio 1's daytime show, Life Hacks, and BBC 5 Live's Mental Health Clinic, and was the presenter of the CBeebies show, Feeling Better, which highlighted the importance of talking to young children about their feelings. She has also written for several magazines.

Vanessa Lalo

Dr. Vanessa Lalo is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, who specializes in video games, digital practices and their impact at cognitive, educational, and cultural levels. Vanessa has participated in multiple conferences, debates, and meetings focused on digital practices of young people and adults, their challenges and limits, and parenthood in the 21st century, among others. Vanessa contributes with her expertise to innovative pedagogical and therapeutic projects, mainly in the fields of health and education.

Our Feed Our Future, supported by Meta and ThinkYoung, brings together a network of young people from across Europe. Together with parents, industry leaders and experts, we want to have our voice heard and help shape our digital future for the better. Our mission: bring an honest, fresh and unique perspective about our online experiences and help shape regulation to ensure safer digital spaces for all of us. In the coming months, we will connect with other young people, meet experts, attend webinars and host in-person events hoping to inspire, inform and mobilize this growing youth movement.

ThinkYoung is a not-for-profit organisation, aiming to make the world a better place for young people by involving them in decision-making processes and providing decision-makers with high-quality research on youth conditions. ThinkYoung conducts studies and surveys, makes advocacy campaigns, writes policy proposals, and develops education programmes: up to date, ThinkYoung projects have reached over 800,000 young people.

Meta is a tech company with apps that you may know, like Instagram or WhatsApp. We work hard to build online spaces where young people can learn, connect, create, and have fun. We want young people to enjoy our platforms and to be safe, so creating spaces for young people to have their say on the future of platforms like ours is crucial.

YOUTH NETWORK

Arianna

Chiara

Gaetan

Loulou

Molly

EXPERTS

Alessandro Niccolò Tirapani

Angélique Gozlan

Dr Ruth Plackett

Dr. Stephan Dreyer

Dr. Yansie Rolston

Esther Rozendaal

Radha Modgil

Vanessa Lalo

RESOURCES

Brussels

Place Luxembourg 6

1050 - Brussels

Belgium

info@thinkyoung.eu

Geneva

Rue des Noirettes 20

1227 - Geneva

Switzerland

andrea@thinkyoung.eu

Hong Kong

Yu Chau Street 135

Hong Kong SAR

China

asia@thinkyoung.eu

Nairobi

7/F, Pine Tree Plaza
Kaburu Drive

Nairobi, Kenya

africa@thinkyoung.eu