Digital Wellness Lab Student Advisory Council 2026–2027: Teen Opportunity with Boston Children’s Hospital

The Digital Wellness Lab Student Advisory Council 2026–2027 offers eligible U.S. high school students an opportunity to contribute their perspectives on digital media, technology and youth well-being. The council is run by the Digital Wellness Lab, which is affiliated with Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and gives students opportunities to engage with research, experts and other young people.

The official Digital Wellness Lab page currently says that applications for the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Council are expected to open in late summer 2026. The older application page does not yet provide the final 2026–2027 deadline or updated application form.

The Digital Wellness Lab Student Advisory Council 2026–2027 is designed to give young people a meaningful voice in conversations about digital media and technology.

The Digital Wellness Lab works at the intersection of research, healthcare, technology and youth well-being. Its Student Advisory Council brings together high school students who can share their experiences and perspectives on growing up in an increasingly digital environment.

The Lab says the council helps inform its research, resources and initiatives concerning young people’s experiences with technology. Its work is connected with Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, giving participants exposure to researchers and professionals working in healthcare, technology and academia.

The programme is particularly relevant to students interested in technology, psychology, public health, media, education, research, social impact or youth advocacy.

What Student Advisory Council Members Do

Council members serve as youth advisors and participate in discussions about important issues affecting young people online.

According to the Digital Wellness Lab, participants have opportunities to:

Discuss their experiences with digital media and technology.
Learn about current research on digital media.
Explore healthy and mindful technology use.
Provide recommendations for healthier digital platforms and experiences.
Connect with technology, healthcare and academic professionals.
Build relationships with other students interested in digital wellness.
Contribute ideas that can inform the Lab’s work.

Students may also have opportunities to create Teen Voices content about the ways digital technology can affect young people’s mental, physical and social well-being.

Previous council members have contributed articles, videos and other content addressing topics such as artificial intelligence, social media, digital literacy, online relationships and technology use.

Eligibility Requirements

The most recently published application information states that applicants should meet the following requirements:

Be a current high school student.
Be between 14 and 18 years old.
Attend a U.S. high school or equivalent homeschool programme.
Have an interest in discussing digital media and technology.
Be willing to contribute personal perspectives and ideas.
Be prepared to participate in council activities.

The programme is currently not open to students outside the United States, according to the published application information. Students under 18 also require parental permission to participate.

The Lab emphasizes that there are no specific requirements concerning the type of media a student currently uses or how frequently they use it. The programme seeks a broad range of perspectives from young people.

Because the 2026–2027 application cycle has not yet published its final application details, prospective applicants should check the official programme page when the new application opens.

Programme Commitment

The previous council structure required participants to commit approximately 15–20 hours during the academic year.

The 2025–2026 programme included nine virtual meetings, educational panels and a final presentation. Students were also expected to participate in group discussions and complete an individual Teen Voices project.

The exact schedule and commitment for the 2026–2027 council may change, so applicants should rely on the new application materials once released.

Meetings have been conducted virtually, allowing students from different parts of the United States to participate. The published programme information also states that meetings and activities are moderated by adult team members from the Digital Wellness Lab and Boston Children’s Hospital.

Areas of Focus

The council has previously explored a wide range of digital wellness issues.

Potential discussion areas have included:

Digital literacy and misinformation
Artificial intelligence
Social media
Online identity and representation
Online communities and belonging
Digital relationships
Healthy technology boundaries
Peer pressure and influencer culture
Cyberbullying and social exclusion
Internet-based activism
Positive uses of digital technology
The relationship between digital media and young people’s well-being

The topics can evolve as technology and the digital environment change.

Additional Opportunities

Beyond regular council discussions, previous participants have had opportunities to support additional Lab activities.

These have included advising on research studies and survey questions, interviewing peers about their digital experiences, contributing to Lab resources, identifying emerging digital topics and participating in research discussions with technology and media supporters.

Students may also represent youth perspectives at public events, workshops or related activities.

The experience can therefore provide exposure to areas such as research communication, youth advocacy, technology policy, media literacy and digital wellness.

How to Apply

The official Digital Wellness Lab currently states that applications for the 2026–2027 Student Advisory Council will open in late summer 2026. The previous application cycle used an online application process.

Interested students should:

Visit the Digital Wellness Lab Student Advisory Council page.
Check when the 2026–2027 application becomes available.
Review the updated eligibility requirements.
Prepare the requested application information.
Obtain parental permission if required.
Submit the application before the official deadline.

Digital Wellness Lab Student Advisory Council

Applicants should avoid relying on old application dates because the dates shown on the currently available application page relate to the 2025–2026 cycle.

Important Information for Applicants

This is not presented by the Digital Wellness Lab as a conventional employment position. It is a student advisory opportunity that allows young people to contribute their perspectives to research and discussions surrounding digital media and youth well-being.

The programme is also not currently described as a paid job. Its primary value is participation, learning, networking, youth voice and contribution to the Lab’s work.

The Digital Wellness Lab’s recent work demonstrates that the council is an established part of its youth engagement strategy. The Lab reported that its 2025–2026 council included 17 high school students and five returning student mentors and covered subjects including belonging, artificial intelligence, technology reliance, global policy and young people’s mental health.

Final Thoughts

The Digital Wellness Lab Student Advisory Council 2026–2027 could be an interesting opportunity for eligible U.S. high school students who want to contribute to conversations about technology and its influence on young people.

Rather than simply studying digital wellness from an adult or academic perspective, the council gives young people an opportunity to share their own experiences and ideas. Previous cohorts have contributed to research discussions, content creation and conversations with professionals from technology, healthcare, academia and related fields.

At the time of writing, the official programme page indicates that 2026–2027 applications are expected to open in late summer 2026, but the final opening date and deadline have not been published on the available official page. Prospective applicants should therefore monitor the official Digital Wellness Lab website for the application announcement.

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