The Council on Tech and Social Cohesion is catalyzing the field of technology for social cohesion.

A ‘catalyzed’ field will be one in which tech for social cohesion products, programs, and policies are desirable, affordable, and actionable.

Our unique value proposition:

  • Cross-Sector Collaboration: We bring together technologists, civic organizations, peacebuilders, academics, policy influencers, and investors.
  • Unique Focus: Our distinct focus on social cohesion is complementary yet distinct from other initiatives on disinformation, privacy, and trust and safety.
  • Global Orientation: We prioritize understanding tech’s effects on people in conflict-affected communities, aiming to stop online harms triggering real-world violence.
  • Proactive Approach: We propose practical approaches at the platform and governance level so that technology can strengthen trust and civic health.

Our members collaborate around thematic HUBS.

Our 2025 Hubs are:
  1. PROSOCIAL TECH POLICY: Near-term policy ideas to advance prosocial design legislation & regulation. Key activities include working on policy recommendations, engaging with regulators, and sharing best practices. Focuses on engaging with regulators and civil society, particularly in the Global Majority, to influence tech policy that aligns with social cohesion goals. Hub Hosts: Ravi Iyer (Neely Center) and Renee Black (GoodBot)
  2. PROSOCIAL DESIGN: Focused on exploring and sharing research and pilots on prosocial design. Key activities will be monthly ‘’Pro-Socials’’ pop-ups which share emerging initiatives and research in this space. Hub Host: Julia Kamin (ProSocial Design Network)
  3. DIGITAL PEACEBUILDING: Features and shares demos about how technology is being harnessed to advance peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Hub Host: Alliance for Peacebuilding.
  4. DELIBERATIVE TECH: Shares insights from practice and research on the use of deliberative tech to facilitate dialogue, bridging and inclusion in peace processes across divides and in polarized communities. Hub Host: Dr. Lisa Schirch, University of Notre Dame and Toda Peace Institute.
  5. INTEGRATION OF DIGITAL PEACEBUILDING INTO CONFLICT PREVENTION POLICY: Harnessing peacebuilding expertise to influence policy and practice. Focus on how prevention-oriented laws, policies, and programs can integrate the use and consideration of digital technologies to advance conflict and atrocity prevention and support the peacebuilding field. Hub sessions will highlight case studies and generate recommendations. Hub Host; Alliance for Peacebuilding
  6. LLMS AND AI AGENTS: Exploring emergent use cases and research around the use of LLMs and AI Agents to strengthen dialogue, facilitation and the fostering of social cohesion. Hub Host: TBD.

 

Our Vision of Success through 2026:

We work collectively for to advance the design and deployment of tech for social cohesion. We see five avenues for change that we’re reaching to influence through 2026:

  • Public Policy: Governments incentivize and support prosocial tech design.
  • Funding: Financial support comes from multiple sectors.
  • Metrics: Measurable standards for technologies promoting social cohesion are credible and accessible, enabling rewards for platforms bolstering social cohesion and accountability for platforms that foster polarization.
  • Scientific Evolution: A comprehensive repository of use cases and methodologies demonstrate how technology can build social cohesion.
  • Implementation: An increase in successful projects and evidence-based methodologies exemplifying these prosocial tech design principles, setting industry benchmarks.