ThinkYoung

🌍 Our Feed, Our Future For the past few months, we have been collaborating with Meta to bring together a network of young creators and experts from across Europe to think about the digital future. We hosted webinars, published a booklet, attended events and more importantly - we listened, shared our experiences and learned from each other. We know that social media and digital spaces are complex worlds to navigate: full of opportunities and possible connections but not without risks for young people.  We also believe that young people’s experiences and voices must be central to help shaping future regulations. This is why today we are launching our manifesto. This is our invitation to parents, educators, experts, industry leaders and policy makers: let’s work together with and for young people to make digital spaces better and safer for all. Read and share our manifesto now: https://lnkd.in/eb4Mcydc #Manifesto #OnlineSafety #DigitalWellbeing #YouthEmpowerment #OurFeedOurFuture #ThinkYoung Alessandro Niccolò Tirapani, Angélique Gozlan, Ruth Plackett, Dr Radha Modgil, Dr. Stephan Dreyer, Dr Yansie Rolston, Marie-Catherine Wagner, Vanessa Lalo, Esther Rozendaal

In today’s hyper-connected world, the digital world offers many opportunities for young people but also comes with some risks. Ahead of our first meeting with the #OurFeedOurFuture Parents Network this afternoon in Brussels, we spoke with Dr. Stephan Dreyer, Senior Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Media Research, to ask a few key questions. In this insightful Q&A, Dr. Dreyer shares his expert perspective on the evolving digital environment, the role of regulation, and practical steps that parents, educators, and policymakers can take to build and promote “a culture of responsible and confident digital use”. Ready to dive in? Visit thinkyoung.eu/ofof-q-a-9 to read our conversation and learn more about today’s digital challenges. #Meta #ThinkYoung #OnlineSafety #DigitalFuture #DigitalWellBeing #Youth #YouthEmpowerement 

👩🏿🔬👩🏻🚀👩🏽💻Girl & Women Innovators and Change-makers: Not Just Celebrating, But Creating Change.  Read and share Giulia's post now: Tuesday marked the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a necessary reminder that STEM is still far from being an equal playing field. While talent is equally distributed, access to education and opportunities too often is not. Despite decades of progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in science and technology. The data from UNESCO and the European Commission speak for themselves: systemic barriers continue to limit access, visibility, and leadership opportunities for women in these fields. Women have been making groundbreaking contributions to science for centuries, often without recognition or support. Yet, in 2025, the gender gap in STEM still persists. Fewer women in science mean fewer innovations shaped by diverse perspectives, fewer role models for young girls, and a huge waste of talent and potential. At ThinkYoung, I have the opportunity to help turn the tide for girls and women in STEM. In December, alongside my colleague Aitana, I participated in the Hungarian STEM Platform Conference in Budapest. As keynote speakers, we reaffirmed the need to break down barriers for girls and women in STEM and discussed best practices and strategies with our fellow members of the #EUSTEMCoalition to make this a reality. So, where do we start? One example is through programs like our Coding School and STEM School, where we are committed to ensuring that at least 50% of participants are girls. This isn’t just a KPI — it’s our way of proving that we can all lead the way, moving from step change to system change by creating real opportunities for young women to pursue education and careers in science and technology as well developing other critical skills so they can help shape a better future for themselves and their communities. While this day serves as an important acknowledgment of the contributions of women in science, it is also a call to action. We must continue working toward a future where gender is never a barrier to participation, recognition, or leadership in STEM and beyond. And if you need any more convincing, don’t just take my word for it — watch one of our students share her ambition. Trust me, it will inspire you to do more too: https://lnkd.in/dTm5p6rC #WomeninSTEM #STEMEducation #InternationalDayOfWomenAndGirlsInScience #WomenInScience #STEM #GenderEquality

We’re thrilled to introduce the experts who are supporting our Parents Network and are ready to build safer, more inclusive digital spaces with and for young people. Their insights and expertise will help us better understand the challenges and opportunities of the digital world. Together, we’re fostering understanding and driving meaningful change for a brighter digital future across Europe. 💡✨ Visit https://lnkd.in/e3tF-TD3 to learn more about our network and read our latest research here - https://lnkd.in/dcrjZgj5 #OurFeedOurFuture #Meta #ThinkYoung #OnlineSafety #DigitalFuture #DigitalWellBeing #Youth #YouthEmpowerement #Research #Insights Dr. Stephan Dreyer, Ruth Plackett, Dr Radha Modgil, Alessandro Niccolò Tirapani

We spoke with Dr. Sameer Hinduja, lead researcher of "Empowering and Protecting European Youth Online: Streamlining Legislation and Promoting Positive Digital Experiences", about creating a safer digital world for young people. 🤔Slide to see some of our key takeaways from this Q&A. Let’s work together for a safer, more empowering digital space. Read the full research on https://lnkd.in/dcrjZgj5 #OurFeedOurFuture #Meta #ThinkYoung #OnlineSafety #DigitalFuture #DigitalWellBeing #Youth #YouthEmpowerement #Research #Insights #SID2025

How are you marking Safer Internet Day? At ThinkYoung, we believe that creating a safer digital world starts by listening to those who experience it firsthand and that obviously includes young people. Reflecting on this year’s theme, 'Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps for Social Justice,' we recognise that the voices and experiences of young people are key to shaping a better and safer digital future for all. To achieve this, we must ensure that every young person’s experience is valued and we all have opportunities to engage, express ourselves, and thrive in digital spaces. That’s why, through #OurFeedOurFuture, we’ve brought together a network of young voices, parents and experts from across Europe. So together, we can help build better and safer digital experiences for all. Visit our site to learn more https://lnkd.in/e3tF-TD3 and read our latest research here https://lnkd.in/e5RnGG2Z #SaferInternetDay #SID2025 #OurFeedOurFuture #Meta #ThinkYoung  #OnlineSafety #DigitalFuture #DigitalWellBeing #Youth #YouthEmpowerement Dr. Stephan Dreyer, Ruth Plackett, Dr Radha Modgil, Alessandro Niccolò Tirapani, Anja Treichel, Arja Krauchenberg, Beatriz Martin Padura, Ivano Zoppi, Marjet Winsemius, Signe Nielsen

Read our new research on youth and digital safety! Over the past few months, we’ve worked alongside Dr. Sameer Hinduja and Farah Lalani, MBA to support their research efforts and to better understand young people’s experiences, concerns, and aspirations when it comes to their digital future. And today on #SaferInternetDay, we’re excited to release this new white paper on “Empowering and Protecting European Youth Online: Streamlining Legislation and Promoting Positive Digital Experiences”. From platform-specific trends to the need for harmonised EU regulations, this paper is your guide to understanding and shaping the digital future for young people. Together, let’s create a safer and more supportive online environment for the next generation. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dcrjZgj5 This project received funding support from Meta. All analysis and research were conducted independently, and all findings and conclusions are solely those of the authors. #OurFeedOurFuture #Meta #ThinkYoung #OnlineSafety #DigitalFuture #DigitalWellBeing #Youth #YouthEmpowerement #Research #Insights #SaferInternetDay #SID2025

Tomorrow, we’ll release a new white paper to mark #SaferInternetDay! Co-authored by Dr. Sameer Hinduja and Farah Lalani, MBA, this study aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion on online safety and harmonised regulation across the EU. “Our report makes a case for harmonizing digital safety legislation in Europe to address the inconsistencies and fragmentation that currently hamper effective protection of youth. Harmonization would create a more consistent, predictable, and effective framework for ensuring youth online safety across Europe” says Dr. Sameer Hinduja. Let’s work towards a safer online world for young people. 🌍 Don’t miss out tomorrow on the launch of the full report! #OurFeedOurFuture #Meta #ThinkYoung #OnlineSafety #DigitalFuture #DigitalWellBeing #Youth #YouthEmpowerement #Research #Insights 

📣 Something big is coming! How are teens across Europe really using platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram? And what does it mean for their safety online? We collaborated with Dr. Sameer Hinduja and Farah Lalani to support their research, “Empowering and Protecting European Youth Online: Streamlining Legislation and Promoting Positive Digital Experiences”. This research seeks to inform policymakers, experts, practitioners and industry leaders to better understand young people’s experiences, concerns, and aspirations - and to ensure that they can benefit from all of the positives that social media has to offer, while mitigating the safety risks and harms posed by the digital world.  Over the next few days, we will dive deep into these questions, revealing trends, risks, and solutions for a safer digital future. 🌐 Don’t miss it — mark your calendar for February 11th! 💡 This project received funding support from Meta. All analysis and research were conducted independently, and all findings and conclusions are solely those of the authors. #OurFeedOurFuture #Meta #ThinkYoung #OnlineSafety #DigitalFuture #DigitalWellBeing #Youth #YouthEmpowerement #Research #Insights

Read Daria's blog about our Team Building activities this week at ThinkYoung. For the past few weeks, part of our team has been secretly whispering at the office, sneaking around to plan a team building. Finally, this week colleagues from five different countries made their way to Brussels, and it was such a great chance not just to work together but to get to know each other better! In the past five days we managed to have a lot of work done, review our plans and goals for this year, eat a lot of belgian fries and show the best of Brussels to our guests and friends. One of the funniest moments? Trying to explain the difference between all the Belgian fries sauces—turns out everyone has strong opinions on which one is the best! But the highlights of this week were definitely the two workshops we attended—one on HubSpot and another on AI by ZN. Our main goal for these workshops was to learn how to leverage tech and innovation so our campaigns and programs are even more impactful. Yes, things are moving fast, and it feels like there is a new AI tool available every day, but we are convinced that if we build our own ThinkYoung toolbox and use a curious, creative, and critical mindset to approach this, it could really make a difference. It was amazing to work side by side with people we usually only see on a screen or meet too rarely. Beyond work, spending time together made us realize how easily conversations can jump from discussing new laws in Italy to finding the best gym in London or comparing the education systems in the UK, Malta, and Cyprus. It’s crazy how much we have in common while still learning so much from each other. This week reminded me that while we work remotely across different countries, our shared vision and teamwork always bring us together. Huge thanks to everyone for an awesome week—already looking forward to the next reunion! What’s the best team-building experience you’ve ever had? Please share! #Brussels #TeamBuilding #Youth #AI