Mission:
To empower young people with digital tools that can make their life, their community, and their world better.

Background:
Think MTV, an online community and rallying point for young activists ages 14 and older, was launched in beta in September 2007 by MTV, with financial and other support from the Case, Bill & Melinda Gates, Goldhirsh, and MCJ foundations. The genesis for the site was a Think MTV study, Just Cause (81 pages, PDF), which found that while young people care deeply about activism and are concerned about the challenges facing their generation, many don't know how to get involved. Think MTV hopes to narrow the "activation gap" by encouraging young people to keep informed through mobile phones, online forums, broadband video, digital cameras, and other modern "tools of engagement," while connecting them with nonprofit organizations and civic groups to address pressing social issues. Since its launch, the fledgling "Think" community has attracted more than eight thousand members.

Outstanding Web Features:
Taken together, the sections of the Web site sum up the "Think" approach: Get connected, get educated, get heard, get active, and get rewarded. As part of the registration process, users can create a profile — either as an individual, or for a nonprofit organization, government agency, high school, or university — and meet other activists. They can also stay abreast of current events in the Issues section; upload audio, video, and images in the Get Heard section; voice their opinions individually or as a group in the Get Active section; or collect "action badges" and prizes, including tickets to MTV events and exposure on MTV and other national media outlets, in the Get Rewarded section.