Over the last 10 years, young people’s lives have dramatically changed—like, a LOT—because of the influx of digital and AI technologies. Today, nearly all teens (95%) have access to a smartphone—up from 73% in 2015. Teens who report being online “almost constantly” has doubled from 24% in 2015 to 46% in 2025 (Pew Research). Today, AI is being integrated into everything kids do… from helping write an essay, to helping them navigate life as a “friend.”
More and more, teachers, parents, and teens themselves are struggling with issues brought up by tech, phones, and social media. They’re seeing the impact of phone addiction, bullying, social isolation, and mental health issues and thinking: We didn’t ask for this. How can we do better? How can it change? Over the past few years we’ve seen a growing conversion and movement around media, tech, and phones. We hear from teens that the “double-edged sword” of tech is that it indeed can be beneficial, but can also be very problematic.
At #HalfTheStory, we’re on a mission to transform digital wellbeing in schools. We aim to empower young people to take charge of their devices by building emotional resilience and healthy tech habits in an always-on tech-saturated world. We support teachers and parents to help guide young people in their digital wellness. Over the past school year, we have:
Redesigned and improved Social Media U digital wellness curriculum, including 30 turnkey, easy-to-implement lessons for middle and high school
Resources your school can share with families and caregivers
Hosted the first Screen Free Prom
Continued our second year of our summer program, the Digital Civics Academy, empowering teen leaders to be advocates for better tech
Partnered with Girls Inc. sites nationwide to foster digital wellness education
We are also launching the first Teen Tech Council with the state of New York and the Clinton Foundation, as part of their Distraction-Free Schools statewide initiative.
And that’s why we’re launching our Teaching Teens With Screens newsletter! Whether you’re wondering about the real impact of tech on kids and teens, or find it hard to keep up with the latest tech kids are using, we will keep you tuned in to these issues….all from a balanced perspective. Our goal is to move away from “screen fear” and move towards “screen freedom”!
#HalftheStory is a 501(c)(3) non-profit on a mission to empower the next generation’s relationship with technology. We believe digital wellbeing is a fundamental human right.
