Join the Webwise Youth Panel

Are you a post-primary school student who has lots of ideas about how to tackle online safety issues, and has opinions on how to make the internet a safer, and a better place for all, especially children and young people?

If so, then we would love to hear from you!

 

Opportunity for teenagers to join the Webwise Youth Panel

We recruit interested teenagers from all over Ireland to be a part of our Webwise Youth Panel. We look for proactive teenagers –  the people who really want to stand up and raise awareness of online safety. In return, we’ll make sure that these views are heard at a national and European level, so that young people can have a real say on the issues that affect them.

The Youth Advisory Panel is made up of 30 members and meet throughout the academic year. The panel play an active role in developing the national Safer Internet Day awareness campaign.

The Webwise Youth Panel offers many benefits and opportunities including:

• Development of leadership and communication skills 
• Have your voice heard on issues that are important to you 
• Visit the Big Tech companies offices e.g., Google, TikTok, Meta, Microsoft 
• Hosting the Casting the Net podcast 
• Writing articles for our youth hub 
• Participating in social media campaigns 
• Opportunities for media interviews 
• Have your say on panel discussions with the tech industry, government, charities and youth conferences 
• Opportunity to travel to Europe & participate in the European Better Internet for Kids Youth Panel 

What do I have to do?

The Webwise Youth Advisory Panel consists of:

• 10 Meetings (Online and Face-to-Face) 
• Being a Safer Internet Day Ambassador Trainer 
• Supporting the development of online safety resources 
• Developing and reviewing social media awareness raising campaigns 
• Supporting the promotion and development of Safer Internet Day campaigns and events
• Participating in other events and youth conferences 

What do the Youth Panel get up to?

There are lots of great opportunities for youth panelists!

You meet throughout the academic year to discuss positive actions to promote safer use of the internet and digital citizenship by young people. You can be a voice for your peers and share your opinions with stakeholders and politicians at a national and international level; contribute to national and European conferences and events; and take part in local and national media interviews.

Here are some recent highlights!

Webwise Youth Panel helps develop internet safety awareness campaigns

The input of the teenagers on our youth panel is a very important part of all our work, including our social media campaigns. Youth panelists play a vital role in choosing the topics that are addressed, and shaping the campaign materials to ensure that it is relevant for children and young people. 

 

SID Ambassador Training Day

Each year, the Youth Panelists train over 100 other students from schools all over Ireland to help them to be able to go back to their own schools and communities and run an online safety campaign for Safer Internet Day. Check out some of the highlights from the SID Ambassador Training Day 2024.  

 

 

Contributing to National and European Conferences 

Webwise Youth Panelists are regularly invited to conferences and discussions to share their views on a range of online safety topics including cyberbullying, wellbeing online, supporting parents/guardians, as well as putting forward ideas about what needs to be done to make the online world a better place for children and young people.

 

Media interviews

Youth panelists have taken part in local and national media interviews, on radio, TV and in newspapers.

 

SID Awards 

Each year, Webwise runs the Safer Internet Day (SID) Awards competition. The competition recognises and rewards the incredible work that is done to promote Safer Internet Day each year. The competition gives students the opportunity to win some great prizes – in the past these have included exclusive gigs and awards ceremonies!

 

Hear from our Members! 

“It has been an amazing experience, I have met so many wonderful people and made friends for life. I have learned so much about online safety and gained so much confidence. I have also had the opportunities to do so many cool things like work on a European Better Internet for Kids Youth Panel and travel to Brussels.” Molly  

“For me, the youth panel is about meeting people who also care about safety online and making friends with people that have similar passions. Over the years working with Webwise, this is what I have found to be the most rewarding part.” Billie 

“It’s amazing to see our input is valued in such high-ranking positions like the Dáil and the EU… It is so important to have this type of youth engagement in creating a safer online environment. I would encourage other young people, like me, to join the Youth Panel.” Prachi 

“Being on the Webwise Youth Panel is an incredible opportunity to shape the digital world of tomorrow. It means I have the opportunity to empower my generation with knowledge, foster digital well-being, and co-create a safer online world. It’s a responsibility I embrace with enthusiasm, knowing that together, we can shape a brighter digital future.” Ziyad