Much of the current media messaging consists of alarmist headlines that perpetuate a protectionist mentality on the dangers lurking on social media. There is a tendency to “pass the buck” on who is responsible for “saving” our youth from their digital worlds: social media platforms go unchecked from government oversight, parents expect the social media companies to prevent harm, educators want parents to guide their youth, etc.
How about learning from youth as “under-appreciated experts” who can be tapped to improve youth wellbeing? The motivation of the researchers is to elevate youth’s experiences (a.k.a. “youth centeredness”) in future endeavors that involve their digital ecosystems. In this chapter, they illustrate a research-and-action case study framed in positive youth development terms, offering a concrete documentation of how to engage youth in equitable and meaningful ways in the co-design of their own digital wellbeing.
