The stakes are high — and so is the opportunity.
Young people are online, whether or not we meet them there. The digital landscape presents serious and specific risks for boys and young men – including extremist radicalization, financial sextortion schemes, and misogynist influencers who package regressive ideologies as self-improvement. Research shows that rigid gender expectations shaped by these online spaces are linked to higher rates of violence, bullying, and negative attitudes toward women and gender-diverse people.
And yet, evidence shows the same digital spaces where these harms occur can be reimagined for connection and prevention. When online communities encourage honesty, community, and empathy, they strengthen young people's sense of belonging and emotional well-being. We've seen it firsthand.
Youth who participated in NGM's online community, NGM Alliance, described shifts that stayed with them long after they logged off:
"I came into the server high key homophobic… the NGM[A] server genuinely helped me with that." — Zane, 15
"It has helped me know not to think bad about it. I know that it's normal, that you can talk about it… it's not something I have to be ashamed about." — Elias, 17, on mental health
As more of life happens online, youth-serving organizations need to show up in digital spaces – not just in classrooms and gyms. Many of us know how to run great in-person programs, but online can feel confusing or risky.
This workshop exists to change that.
We'll draw on Next Gen Men's experience running NGM Alliance, our Discord community with 900,000+ messages over almost six years. You'll learn our "Systems of Care" model, based on Martin Brokenleg's Circle of Courage, and how to use it day-to-day to build trust, encourage participation, and keep people safe.
You'll leave with practical tools for:
Structuring and gatekeeping an online community young people actually want to be part of
Moderation principles that balance safety with trust, without making youth feel policed
A clear approach for responding when things go wrong — quickly, fairly, and restoratively
Strategies for embedding youth voices into your community's structure from the start
📣 Space is limited to 25 participants. Register early to secure your spot.