How Do We Ensure Young People Thrive in a Digital World?
The digital world is evolving faster than ever, but are we truly listening to young people about what they need to navigate it?
At In Tandem, we believe youth perspectives must be at the center of designing solutions for the challenges they face. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Young Futures, an organization dedicated to empowering nonprofits and grassroots initiatives that help youth and families flourish in today’s digital landscape.
Together, we’re strengthening the ecosystem of support for young people—not just helping them adapt to digital realities, but ensuring they have the agency to shape them.
Organization Spotlight: Young Futures
Young Futures is on a mission to make it easier to grow up in the digital world by investing in the nonprofit changemakers building solutions for young people and their families. Twice a year, they provide grants to youth-serving organizations— Young Futures Innovators—and support them through Young Futures Academy, offering capacity building, community, and storytelling resources.
As a project of the New Venture Fund, with support from Pivotal Ventures, Susan Crown Exchange, and The Goodness Web, Young Futures is at the forefront of funding and supporting initiatives that make digital spaces more empowering, inclusive, and youth-centered.
How We’re Partnering to Elevate Young People’s Perspectives
This partnership focuses on putting young people’s perspectives into action. In Tandem and Young Futures are collaborating on projects that challenge assumptions, provide real-time youth insights, and create solutions that truly reflect young people's experiences.
Through this partnership, our research will inform the development of RFPs for two distinct funding challenges focused on high-need themes:
✅ A Rapid Response Funding Challenge focused on navigating the complexities of phones in schools – This youth-driven research initiative will inform the selection criteria for the selected grantees – ensuring that school phone policies and solutions reflect actual student experiences.
✅ A Funding Challenge focused on Digital Play + Gaming – This groundbreaking initiative on Digital Play, in partnership with Sesame Workshop and Niantic, will help young people and caregivers navigate digital play so that it's safe, healthy, fosters meaningful social connection, alleviates pressure, and more. In Tandem’s participation in RFP design will ensure that youth perspectives inform the Future of Play.
Through surveys, focus groups, and in-depth discussions, we’re ensuring youth aren’t just consulted—they’re co-creators in shaping digital well-being solutions.
Why In Tandem?
Too often, digital solutions are designed for youth without directly involving them in the process. At In Tandem, we challenge that status quo. By working alongside Young Futures, we’re ensuring youth perspectives drive decision-making—not just as input, but as the foundation for meaningful, impactful change.
Together, we’re not just supporting young people in navigating the digital world. We’re equipping them to drive the conversation about what the future should look like.
Join the Movement
📩 FOLLOW Young Futures on Substack for insights on youth, tech, and mental health.
🎥 WATCH Katya Hancock, Executive Director of Young Futures, speak on the panel “Teens, Screens & Wellbeing: Youth in the Digital Age” at SXSW 2024.
📗READ the inaugural Young Futures 2024 Impact Report.
▶️ SUBSCRIBE to Young Futures on YouTube for their Young Futures Masterclasses series.
👋 MEET the Young Futures Innovators—nonprofit leaders working across the country to help teens thrive in a digital-first world.
🔗 Young Futures Website
🔗 Follow Young Futures on LinkedIn