With the recent social media changes restricting under-16s from accessing several major platforms*, this work feels more important than ever. Pinterest wasn't included in the ban, and continues to be a safe, personal space where young people can explore their identity, seek support and feel understood, making it a key part of how we’ll keep showing up for young people online.

To kick things off, Pinterest hosted a Creative Showcase at their brand-new office, bringing agencies together to explore the power of Pinterest-style creativity - and to put out a playful but meaningful challenge: create standout visual work that helps young people feel seen, supported and inspired.

Agencies were invited to enter by submitting a collage that showed off their unique creative aesthetic. From there, four finalist teams were selected to move forward. Each team received a full briefing from batyr, Pinterest’s Creative Best Practice training, and support from production company Genero to bring their concepts to life. The brief was to create Pinterest-first assets that reflect lived experience, spark connection, and make mental health content feel positive, safe and real.

This competition wasn’t just about great design, it was about authentically representing the voices of young people through our storytellers. Each finalist team worked closely with batyr and our lived-experience talent to produce content that is visually striking, emotionally grounded and aligned with what young people say they want to see online.

From soft, soothing aesthetics to bold, expressive moments of honesty, the creative explored themes of self-worth, calm, connection and stigma reduction - all designed specifically for the unique way young people use Pinterest as a personal, non-judgemental space.

These four teams brought fresh energy, thoughtful ideas and real heart to the brief:

Over the coming weeks, each team’s creative will run live on Pinterest, with Pinterest conducting a full post-campaign analysis. The winning team will receive a free pass to the 2026 Cairns Crocodiles, plus the opportunity to join Pinterest on stage to share their work!

Check out all of the creative on Pinterest HERE!

This competition is more than a showcase, it’s part of a bigger shift. With Pinterest’s support, batyr is reimagining how digital storytelling and mental health support can work hand-in-hand. By collaborating with creatives who understand visual culture and by centring lived experience, we’re building content that meets young people where they are, in ways that feel real and relatable.

It’s one more step toward making mental health support not just accessible, but a natural part of young people’s digital worlds.

A heartfelt thank you to our storytellers for generously sharing their experiences, to all agencies who entered, to our finalists, and to Pinterest and Genero for bringing this competition to life. We’re so excited to share the final creative soon, and to continue building digital spaces where young people feel empowered, supported and connected.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis and is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, call 000. You can find a comprehensive list of mental health support services here.

*Information is correct at date of publishing. You can find the most up to date information regarding the social media at esafety.gov.au.