Children and young people with serious, chronic health conditions and disabilities can experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges compared to their physically healthy peers. They frequently report social isolation and struggle to build and maintain peer relationships due to the complexities of their conditions. For this group, social relationships are crucial to their mental health and wellbeing, making dedicated online communities like Starlight’s "Livewire Online" program essential. The members of this community often reflect that Livewire is a safe space, promoting social connection and wellbeing, which allows them to “live their best life”.
As discussions around government regulations limiting young people's access to social media continue, it is critical to recognise the value of programs like Livewire Online and ensure they provide a safe and supportive environment. Over the years, Livewire has evolved to engage its audience more effectively and meet their wellbeing needs. This evolution was guided by co-design principles, ensuring that the voices of young people were central to its development. The recent site rebuild reflected this approach, and young people were actively involved in shaping both the platform and its evaluation.
This presentation will showcase how Livewire incorporated community input for co-design, the positive outcomes of partnering with young people in the platform's evolution, and the reported impact on their social connection and well-being. It will also discuss the challenges faced and the future plans for the platform in an increasingly complex social media landscape.