The PERIL Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is now accepting applications from young people aged 18 to 24 who want to contribute their perspectives to research on online culture and emerging challenges affecting young people.

The Youth Advisory Council brings together 8–10 young people who meet virtually every two to three months to discuss issues such as online polarization, online harms, misogyny, extremism and other emerging trends in digital culture.

This is a low-lift volunteer opportunity designed to give young people a meaningful voice in research without requiring a major time commitment outside scheduled meetings. Council members bring their lived experiences and perspectives, while PERIL brings its research and expertise. Together, they work toward research and solutions that better reflect the realities facing young people today.

What Is the PERIL Youth Advisory Council?

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is an advisory group established by PERIL to ensure that research and proposed solutions are informed by the experiences and perspectives of young people.

The council consists of approximately 8–10 young people between the ages of 18 and 24.

Members meet virtually every 2–3 months and contribute their perspectives on developments in online culture and issues affecting young people.

The council may provide feedback on:

• Research questions
• Research findings
• Proposed solutions
• Emerging issues and trends
• Concerns affecting young people
• How research reflects Gen Z experiences

The goal is to ensure that PERIL’s work is not developed without considering the voices of the people most directly affected by the rapidly changing online environment.

Why the Youth Advisory Council Matters

Young people are among the most active participants in today’s digital environment. Social media platforms, online communities and digital communication increasingly influence how people form relationships, consume information and understand social and political issues.

At the same time, young people may encounter challenges including:

• Online harassment and abuse
• Polarization
• Misogynistic content
• Extremist content
• Harmful online communities
• Stereotyping and discrimination
• Rapidly emerging online trends
• Other forms of digital harm

Research into these issues can benefit from the direct perspectives of young people who understand how online culture develops and changes.

The YAC therefore provides an opportunity for young people to contribute directly to research and help ensure that research questions and proposed solutions are relevant to real-world experiences.

What Will Youth Advisory Council Members Do?

Membership is intentionally designed to be a low-lift volunteer role.

Members are not expected to undertake extensive research work outside the meetings.

Instead, participants primarily contribute through their perspectives, discussion and feedback.

Their responsibilities include:

1. Attend Quarterly-Style Virtual Meetings

Members participate in virtual meetings approximately every two to three months.

Meeting schedules are developed collaboratively with members, taking their availability into consideration.

This makes the opportunity suitable for young people who may be studying, working or managing other responsibilities.

2. Share Your Perspective

Members are expected to bring their personal perspectives and experiences to discussions.

This could involve talking about how young people interact with online culture, discussing emerging trends or highlighting concerns that researchers may need to consider.

3. Respond to Research Prompts

During meetings, members may be asked to respond to questions or research prompts.

Participants can provide their thoughts based on their experiences and understanding of issues affecting young people.

4. Provide Feedback on Research

YAC members may review and provide feedback on:

• Research questions
• Project findings
• Proposed solutions
• Emerging research priorities

Their feedback can help researchers better understand whether their work reflects the realities experienced by young people.

5. Identify Emerging Concerns

Members can help surface issues that may be affecting young people but have not yet received sufficient attention.

This is particularly important in online environments, where trends and communities can develop quickly.

Key Areas of Discussion

The Youth Advisory Council will explore trends in online culture, including several sensitive and rapidly evolving areas.

Online Polarization

Online platforms can contribute to increasingly divided conversations and communities.

YAC members may help researchers understand how polarization appears in young people’s online experiences and how young people perceive these changes.

Online Harms

The council may discuss different forms of harm occurring in digital spaces.

Young people’s perspectives can help identify emerging problems and provide insight into how these experiences affect individuals and communities.

Misogyny

Misogynistic content and communities can have significant effects on online culture.

YAC members can contribute perspectives that help researchers understand how young people encounter and respond to misogynistic ideas and behaviours online.

Extremism

The council may also discuss online extremism and emerging extremist trends.

Young people’s perspectives can help researchers better understand how online environments evolve and how harmful ideas may spread or influence young audiences.

Emerging Online Trends

The scope of the YAC is not limited to the issues currently identified.

The council can also help identify new and emerging concerns affecting young people as online culture continues to change.

What Is the Time Commitment?

One of the key features of this opportunity is its low time commitment.

Members meet virtually approximately every 2–3 months.

Participants are expected to:

• Attend the scheduled meetings
• Prepare to contribute their perspectives
• Respond to research prompts
• Provide feedback during discussions

There is no expectation that members work on projects outside the meetings.

This makes the council potentially suitable for young people who want to contribute to meaningful research while continuing with university, employment, volunteering or other commitments.

One-Year Membership

YAC members serve for an initial one-year term.

Members have the option to renew their membership once.

Participants may also leave the council at any time. If a member decides to step down, they simply need to inform the team.

This structure provides flexibility while allowing members to contribute meaningfully over an extended period.

Is the Youth Advisory Council Paid?

No.

The YAC is an unpaid volunteer opportunity.

There is no salary or stipend mentioned in the opportunity information.

However, members have the opportunity to contribute directly to research, provide feedback to researchers and help shape work addressing important issues affecting young people.

The experience may also provide an opportunity to develop skills in:

• Research engagement
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Giving constructive feedback
• Advisory participation
• Understanding online social issues
• Collaborative discussion

Support for Sensitive Discussions

Some of the topics discussed by the Youth Advisory Council may be sensitive.

These include issues such as online harms, misogyny, extremism and other difficult experiences.

Participation in any particular discussion is entirely voluntary.

Members can choose not to participate in a conversation if they do not feel comfortable discussing a particular subject.

According to the opportunity information, support resources are shared with all members upon joining.

This approach recognises that participants may have different experiences and comfort levels when discussing sensitive topics.

Who Should Apply?

The opportunity is particularly suited to young people who:

• Are between 18 and 24 years old
• Have an interest in online culture
• Want to contribute to research
• Are interested in issues affecting young people
• Have perspectives on digital communities and online experiences
• Want to help researchers better understand Gen Z experiences
• Can participate in virtual meetings every 2–3 months
• Are comfortable sharing perspectives and providing constructive feedback

Applicants do not need to be professional researchers.

The purpose of the council is specifically to bring young people’s perspectives and lived experiences into the research process.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly.

Applicants should apply by email.

Application Email

Applications should be sent to:

perilresearch@american.edu

Email Subject Line

Use the following subject format:

YAC Application First Name Last Name

For example:

YAC Application Jane Smith

What to Include in Your Application

Applicants should provide the following information:

1. First and Last Name

Provide your full name.

2. Age

You should state your current age.

Applicants must fall within the specified 18–24 age range.

3. Location

Provide your city and state.

The supplied opportunity information specifically requests city and state rather than country or continent.

4. Why Are You Interested in Joining the YAC?

Applicants should explain why they want to become a member of the Youth Advisory Council.

The response must be no more than 300 words.

A strong response could explain your interest in:

• Online culture
• Youth issues
• Research
• Digital communities
• Online harms
• Social issues
• Giving young people a voice
• Contributing to research and solutions

5. What Do You Hope to Get Out of the Experience?

Applicants should explain what they hope to gain from participating in the council.

This response should also be no more than 300 words.

You might discuss goals such as developing research-related experience, learning from researchers, meeting other young people, contributing to meaningful projects or developing your communication and advisory skills.

6. Resume or CV

Applicants should also attach their resume/CV.

Application Review Process

Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis.

The process includes:

1. Submission of the application by email
2. Review of applications
3. Shortlisting of candidates
4. Invitation to a short interview for shortlisted applicants
5. Selection of Youth Advisory Council members

Because applications are accepted on a rolling basis, interested applicants do not need to wait for a single annual application period.

Is There an Application Deadline?

There is no fixed deadline stated.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly.

This means interested applicants should consider applying as soon as possible rather than waiting for a specific closing date.

Why Join the PERIL Youth Advisory Council?

The YAC offers young people an opportunity to move beyond simply being subjects of research and instead become contributors to the research process.

Members can help researchers understand what matters to young people and how emerging online issues are experienced in everyday life.

The opportunity can provide participants with the chance to:

• Have their perspectives heard
• Contribute to research questions
• Give feedback on research findings
• Influence proposed solutions
• Help identify emerging issues
• Learn about research and advisory work
• Connect with other young people
• Contribute to discussions about safer online environments

Perhaps most importantly, members can help ensure that research about young people is informed by young people themselves.

Click HERE  to read more.

Conclusion

The PERIL Youth Advisory Council provides an opportunity for young people aged 18–24 to contribute directly to research examining online culture, polarization, online harms, misogyny, extremism and other emerging issues.

With only virtual meetings every two to three months and no expectation of work outside meetings, the YAC has been intentionally designed as a low-lift volunteer opportunity.

Members serve for one year, with the possibility of one renewal, and can provide meaningful input into research questions, findings, proposed solutions and emerging concerns.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly, giving interested young people the opportunity to apply throughout the year.

For young people who want their experiences and perspectives to play a role in shaping research and conversations about the digital world, the PERIL Youth Advisory Council offers a meaningful way to shape the conversation and advise the research.

Click HERE for more volunteering opportunities.