Calling US teens: Apply to join our new Council for Digital Good

Illustration of laurel branches with computer power on button in the center

Teenagers in the U.S., listen up: here’s a unique opportunity to have your voices heard about digital issues. Effective today, Microsoft is accepting applications for our Council for Digital Good, a one-year pilot program for youths ages 13 to 17 to help lay the groundwork for a new approach to online interactions. Selected council members will be invited to our Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Washington, for a two-day trip in early August.

Today’s youth are tech-savvy, digitally engaged and resourceful, and we at Microsoft are interested in what they’re doing online, who they’re connecting with, and what they’re sharing and learning. In turn, we’re cognizant that being online presents very real risks, and we want to make sure young people appreciate – and have the skills to help mitigate – those risks. That’s why we’re piloting this council: to gain diverse perspectives from youth in the U.S. on the state of online interactions today, as well as their hopes and ideals for what would make online life healthier, safer and more enjoyable.

Apply to join our Council for Digital Good
Interested teens ages 13 to 17 living in the United States should complete and submit this online application by Wednesday, March 1.

In addition to some basic information, the application calls for either essay or video responses to questions about life online, expectations for their council experience, and about Microsoft generally.

Special two-day event for council members
Following application reviews and selection, we’ll invite 12 to 15 young people from across the country to join the inaugural council, which will culminate in a two-day trip for each council member and a parent or guardian to attend a council summit at our company headquarters.

The summit is expected to include small group and full council discussions, a separate “parent track,” interactive sessions with guest speakers, engagement with Microsoft consumer product and service group representatives, and fun activities. After the summit, we hope council members will serve as ambassadors for digital civility in their schools and communities, share their experiences and continue their participation in council-specific online forums. For questions about the council or planned activities, contact [email protected].

To learn more about Microsoft’s work in online safety generally, visit our website and resources page on the Microsoft YouthSpark Hub, and be on the lookout for our digital civility release on Safer Internet Day 2017, Feb. 7. And, for more regular news and information about online safety, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

At the time of writing of this post, Jacqueline Beauchere’s title was Chief Online Safety Officer.

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