The Digital Well-Being Challenge is an initiative that invites students aged 13+ and their schools or districts to develop innovative solutions to issues surrounding digital citizenship and well-being. Organized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), the challenge focuses on fostering healthy social media use, creating responsible technology policies, and enhancing digital citizenship education. Teams will co-design actionable solutions that address specific challenges in their school communities and implement them with mentorship and support.

Eligibility is open to school- or district-based teams led by a staff member aged 18 or older. Teams must include at least one school or district leader, one teacher, and two students aged 13 or older, with a recommended team size of 4-6 members. Additional members, such as school counselors, librarians, family representatives, or community organization representatives, are also encouraged. Applicants must clearly identify a problem they plan to address and explain how they will use co-design principles to create their solution.

Applications open on December 6, 2024, and must be submitted by January 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Selected teams will be announced on January 17, 2025, and they will participate in a 1-day virtual co-design summit on either March 22 or April 5, 2025, where they will work with experts in social media, youth mental health, and technology design. Following the summit, teams will receive mentorship, technical assistance, and at least $1,000 in prize funding to implement their solutions. Implementation will take place between March and October 2025, culminating in a share-out convening in October, where teams will present their projects, receive feedback, and reflect on their experiences.

The challenge offers participants a unique opportunity to tackle real-world digital issues affecting their communities while gaining valuable experience in problem-solving and collaboration. By addressing topics such as youth mental health, responsible technology use, and digital citizenship, teams will contribute to a Digital Well-Being Toolkit that schools across the country can use. This initiative is ideal for schools looking to empower students and staff to create meaningful change in the digital landscape.