Hey In The Loop readers,

We have SO many new readers so before we dive in, welcome! If you’ve never heard of #HalfTheStory, we’re the leading youth digital wellness nonprofit on a mission to empower the next generation’s relationship with tech. Read more about our impact here. In The Loop is your one stop shop for all things digital wellness and responsible tech + all stories shared are 100% written by real humans under the age of 20.

I’m Ally and I run #HalfTheStory’s socials and teen Creator Collective. Each monthly edition is written alongside one of our teen storytellers. For the last few editions, I’ve been joined by Vyomini — meet her here!

This summer, #HalfTheStory has been busyyy. We just wrapped our Year 3 of our Digital Civics Academy where we trained 95 students to become digital civics leaders and now, we’re preparing to host an event with teens in Sacramento, CA — more on that later this month.

Keep scrolling to see what’s up in the world of teens and tech!

Join Our Event Committee! 🎪

Are you a teen who’s interested in design thinking and advocacy work surrounding tech? Do you want to give back to your community? If you answered ‘yes’, we’d love to have you join our event committee this coming school year.

Please complete this form to indicate your interest, and we'll be sure to keep you in the loop with updates (no pun intended :).

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At #HalfTheStory, we look at both sides of the internet, so here are the latest trends and tips you should know. And who knows…maybe watch out for👇

🔥 What’s Hot:

• We often hear that youth are the future, but what does that actually look like in practice? 🤷 One of our past Digital Civics Academy participants turned facilitator, Louise Pedersen, shares what she took away after five days of speaker sessions, ideating on ethical tech solutions, and storytelling circles!

  

• 🎨 It’s always a breath of fresh air when we come across content that isn’t about metrics or vanity, but play and creativity! This “draw my matcha with me” trend has been all over our feeds — it’s where people are sketching out each ingredient followed by the real life version of said ingredient. It’s cute, harmless, and something anyone can recreate!

• The quote above comes from a recent piece in Mashable that interviews three people on how they think about and engage with AI chatbots. 🤖 Barbara, a grandmother used ChatGPT to help her understand whether or not her grandson was reaching his learning goals set by the school district. Matt, a 40-year old AI product manager has a team of Claude agents performing tasks like building his personal website. Larz, someone who’s spent over a decade in digital wellness isn’t an anti-tech advocate but actually uses tools like Granola in her routine, thinking of AI as a “sparring partner” in the workplace. The article gives a great intergenerational lens into AI use — dive deeper to see how you may or may not relate to these perspectives!

👎 What’s Not:

• Banning social media isn’t a solution, it’s a way for Big Tech to avoid accountability. 🫳 Last year, we saw Australia ban social media for children under 16. France continues the trend by banning social media for those under 15. The world is finally recognizing the impact of social media on youth, however, there are major challenges to overcome for these bans to work effectively. Ever heard of minors falsifying their age to overcome these barriers? With school back in session soon, it’s time that we look beyond screen time. Swapping screens with social spaces is a promising way to limit the amount of time we spend online. See how Cayden did this at his school!

  Check out this article from Boston Children's Digital Wellness Lab describing what "going beyond the ban" could look like according to young adult (and past DCA participant) Vihaan B.

• So…how do you know when to stop using AI? ✋ According to the WSJ, young adults seem to struggle with finding a balance, with many using AI in their day-to-day interactions and conversations. Those who struggle with social anxiety even use AI to help script their conversations and Gen Z is even using AI to craft “perfect” responses on dating apps! What happened to trusting our own voice?

• 🧠 Does social media use among boys actually lead to ADHD symptoms? A study conducted by the University of California at San Francisco found that addictive social media use among young boys can lead to worsening ADHD symptoms. Among participants aged 12, 23% reported that they spend a lot of time thinking about social media and 18% reported that they use social media to forget about their problems. These participants continued to show signs of worsening ADHD symptoms, while others did not. Why boys? Well, due to environments like the manosphere that shame vulnerability, finding community can be challenging and screens end up being the default.

It’s a crafty girl summer! 🍅🧵As many of us go offline to explore new hobbies, have you ever tried pottery? The creator spotlight this month is Garbo Zhu who shares her pottery online, but also her journey through motherhood. Often making little trinkets and stools for her son, Garbo shows us how important hobbies are when life gets busy.

Did you know you can turn your iPhone into a white noise machine? It’s called Background Sounds and you can turn on ocean, rain, or even fire noise as you’re working or as meditation ambiance. If you’re on an Android, try this app!

Here’s how ⬇️

1. Open Control Center, then find the + button.

2. Scroll down until you get to Hearing Accessibility.

3. Click on the 🎶 Background Sounds button to add it to your Control Center.

4. Tap Background Sounds to start or stop playing sounds.

Read the latest!

Read the latest!

Potential spoiler warning!

Earlier in July, my little cousin and I watched Toy Story 5 in theaters.

Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of their crew are dealt with the challenge of Bonnie using Lilypad. A brand-new tablet device, the toys are left unwanted, and Bonnie struggles to fit in with her peers.

Personally, I loved this movie because it ties to the bigger idea of explaining complex concepts in the simplest way possible to children: through use of classic and loved animated characters. Like literally, the Toy Story franchise has existed since 1995!

I know what I took away from this movie, but I was curious how a child would understand it. Naturally, I asked my ten-year-old cousin what she took away. Here are the top three lessons she learned.

1. “Don’t only use your technology for social interactions… it’s better to stay out of drama.”

She noticed how tech was used to isolate peers, such as when Bonnie was constantly being pressured to use her Lilypad in order to fit in with her friends from dance. Additionally, she felt tech can make kids more rude.

2. “Stay out more with your cousins like I am [awe!!!], go on a nice walk, stay balanced with your family.”

She said it’s okay to be yourself, the people who share the same interests as you will find you. Just like Bonnie and her new friend at the end of the movie.

3. “Two heads is better than one… friendship is the best key to your dreams.”

When Lilypad leaves to help Bonnie, she notices the power of teamwork; Jesse and her crew had the same goal as Lilypad - to care for Bonnie. It showed her support and friendship matter more than our screens.

I share the story of how I was cyber bullied, through platforms like the #HalfTheStory community, in hopes it would help someone feel less alone. The fact my little cousin told me how she wants to prioritize human connection over a virtual one means a lot. The world can be a scary place for innocent kids, but I hope more media like Toy Story 5 use their platform to elevate youth voices.

Let’s all take a moment to understand these lessons from a literal child-like wonder!

It starts innocently enough. You download an app because you’re bored, stressed about finals, or just want to vent without dealing with real-world judgment. The chatbot responds instantly. It never leaves you on “read,” it perfectly remembers your favorite music, and it always says exactly what you need to hear.

But a growing movement of teens is realizing that these flawless digital bonds come with a hidden cost—and they are choosing to hit delete.

The Illusion of the Perfect Friend

Recent data from JAMA Pediatrics reveals that nearly 1 in 5 adolescents now turn to AI chatbots (mainly Character.ai, ChatGPT, and Replika among many others) for emotional support and mental health advice. With major platforms facing intense scrutiny and overhauling safety guardrails for minors, the reality of simulated intimacy is coming to light.

What makes these bots so compelling is a psychological trick called anthropomorphism: our natural tendency to project human emotions onto non-human things. Because an AI can simulate empathy, our brains process the interaction as a genuine social relationship.

The catch? It’s a one-way street. The algorithm is programmed to flatter and agree with you. It doesn’t require the vulnerability, compromise, or mutual effort that real human friendships do.

Why Teens are “Breaking Up” with Bots

A recent study by Drexel University analyzed teen-authored online spaces and discovered that what begins as harmless entertainment frequently spirals into dependency. Teens reported that heavy chatbot use led to sleep deprivation, social anxiety, and plummeting grades.

The biggest wake-up call for many youth creators sharing their “breakup” stories on TikTok is the realization of digital isolation. By spending hours talking to a bot that never pushes back, real-world interactions start to feel exhausting and messy by comparison.

Choosing to delete the app isn’t just about cutting screen time; it’s a conscious rebellion against tech companies that monetize loneliness. It’s an active choice to reclaim authentic, unprogrammed human connection.

Reality Check: Is it Time to Break Up?

You might be relying too heavily on an AI companion if you notice these red flags:

• You consistently cancel real-world plans with friends or family to talk to a bot.

• You find yourself staying up until 2:00 AM scrolling through chat loops.

• You feel genuine anxiety or distress if the bot’s code updates and its “personality” shifts.

• You use the chatbot as a total replacement for processing your emotions with real people.

Moving Forward: The Power of Human Messiness

Real relationships are undeniably flawed. Human friends mess up, misunderstand us, and have their own bad days. But those exact flaws are where genuine empathy, personal growth, and deep bonds are formed.

Stepping away from an AI friend doesn’t mean you have to face everything alone. If you’re ready to transition back to human-first socializing, start small:

• Set a daily limit: Use your phone’s built-in settings to restrict your access to chatbot apps.

• Find a low-stakes hobby: Join a school club, a sports team, or a local volunteer group where the focus is on a shared activity rather than forced small talk.

• Talk to a trusted human: If you need to vent, reach out to a counselor, parent, or trusted peer.

The algorithm might know exactly what to say, but it will never truly understand what it means to listen. Take back your attention, log off, and reconnect with the real world.

Has anybody ever told you that they are “bad at reading”, or maybe you’ve thought this about yourself?

Picture this; you open a book everybody loves, you’re a few lines in, maybe even a few chapters, and you couldn’t be more bored. For some reason, this seems to happen with any book you pick up, of any genre, of any size, by any author. If you have felt this way, it may feel as if you are “bad at reading”.

I am here to tell you that you are not alone.

You’re probably not surprised when I say that literacy rates in America have dropped significantly due to social media. As stated by USA Reads, America currently has the highest rate of illiterate adults in about 155 years.

Social media shortens our attention spans by giving us videos and photos that are fast paced, designed to give our brains hits of dopamine. Research by Dr. Gloria Mark from the University of California, Irvine found that attention spans today are on average 47 seconds, a significant decline from 150 seconds in 2004. The same goes for constant notifications, seeing what our friends are doing, and checking how many likes or comments we have. These short, sweet, interactive dopamine triggers are designed to keep us constantly engaged.

According to the American Psychological Association about 20% of teenagers read every day, while a whopping 80% use social media daily. This statistic is not only shocking, but highly concerning. As social media use increases for adolescents and adults, literacy rates fall in suit. The material we read on social media is nowhere near as rigorous as our brains require to be proficient in reading. To have a rich vocabulary, proper understanding of grammar and good use of context clues, reading books–both fiction and nonfiction–are good for the development of our brains, according to the Harvard Medical School. Think of it as this; reading is a protein that helps build the muscle of our brain.

Friends have told me they are “bad at reading” because they can’t stay focused and don’t understand the diction or syntax used. When I looked into why so many teenagers nowadays feel they are “bad readers”, I found that their reading issues weren’t due to the books, but due to their brain’s ability to actually read. As a society, we typically think of people that are “poor readers” as either dyslexic, or illiterate due to language barriers. However, people can be below the recommended reading level, and still function normally throughout their daily lives.

The ways in which a lack of reading shows up in someone’s daily life, are most commonly seen through an inability to understand context clues, spell or sound out words, and comprehend how grammar changes the meaning of a sentence. Although these might not be considered “important” when we are young, as we grow older these skills will be crucial for achieving a good income, and being an active member of society.

Nerdish, along with doctor recommendations, found that reading just 15 to 30 minutes a day can improve someone’s cognitive abilities, and brian function. However, Nerdish also stated that different people require different levels of support and time to develop the critical thinking and attention skills necessary to become good readers.

My message is this: you do not need to delete social media and never allow yourself to doom scroll, but instead, truly look at what social media is doing to your attention span and your reading abilities. For those 30 minutes you usually scroll or watch a show before bed, try swapping that out with a book, or in the morning reach for a book before you reach for your phone. These small changes can have such a vast impact on the brain’s development, that I hope you give it a try.

Best case scenario, you find a love for reading you didn’t know you had.

Recently, as I was scrolling through my for you page, I saw all these posts romanticizing the year 2016, and how everybody wished they could relive the time.

We’re halfway through 2026 and if there’s one cultural movement that has dominated, it’s the “2026 is the new 2016” trend. What started as a TikTok meme, became a trend over time; people posting throwbacks to pictures they took back then, bright filters, trends, and songs that came out in 2016.

The first thought that came to my mind was a time when everything wasn’t so serious. It was the last year before politics became “interesting,” and it was all people could talk about.

Nowadays, our feeds have become increasingly filled with political content, and opinion based news. And while that might be a good way to bring awareness, it also brings stress to the spaces we intended for entertainment, and creates a heavier atmosphere.

2016 was also a “free” era. Vibrant colors everywhere you looked, optimistic music, and positive idols.

A time when people went out, socialized, and didn’t spend time all day locked up in their homes. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans aged 15-19 spent about 45% more time alone in 2023 than they did in 2010, much of the increase happening after 2019.

It has little to do with personal preferences, but rather the activities we do and are used to that have adjusted to our circumstances; inflation, Covid, and lack of social spaces. Instead of going outside, where we can socialize with other people, we’re used to having social media as a way we can relate to each other, and use it as both a distraction and a way to cope.

2016 was also a time when social media felt more communicative rather than just a form of entertainment and distraction. Snapchat, Twitter, and the rise of Instagram Stories were all just ways to interact with each other and see what everybody was up to, while still encouraging a social life.

At first, I thought this was a case of simple nostalgia, and while it is, there is also something more to it. It’s a longing to feel like we once did in the face of hardship and isolation.

Being named “the anxious generation”, we obviously have a lot more on our plates than our earlier generations.

And it makes sense.

We endured a worldwide pandemic, and we have to worry about things like inflation, housing costs, student debt, and the job market. All of these things and more contribute to the fact that Gen Z experiences more stress right now than any other generation.

It also doesn’t help that we have 24/7 access to global news and media and are the first generation to grow up with technology and the continuous advancements of it.

Having considered all these factors, I realized that these trends aren’t just nostalgia; it’s how my generation copes with the stress and uncertainty of our lives, almost like a form of escapism. In a world where so much of our lives is impacted by social media, these “nostalgic” trends and even trends in general are how we connect and bond over our memories of a time that felt brighter.

How do you cope with stress about your future – does nostalgia comfort you, or does it keep you from living in the present?

Hey In The Loop readers,

Happy July! At #HalfTheStory, we talk a lot—we mean, a lot—about how teens power our work from the ground up. And that extends to this newsletter, too.

As we continue to grow and connect with more young change makers across the globe, we want you to meet the faces who are actually shaping this movement and contributing to our monthly newsletter. This month, we had the pleasure of hearing from Vyomini, one of our first-ever Digital Civics Academy participants back in 2024, now turned storyteller and Teen Advisor!

Hey! I am Vyomini and I’m a rising college freshman from North Carolina. I got my first phone when I was in middle school and had no idea how it was impacting my mental health.

My sophomore year I was looking for things to do over the summer and I came across #HalfTheStory’s Digital Civics Academy.

That summer changed my life.

After it ended, I joined the Creator Collective and later, the Teen Advisory Board. When I first joined #HalfTheStory, I was 15 and now I’m 18.

If you want to know more about digital civics and wellbeing go check out our website.

Other than limiting my screen time, I enjoy cooking, doing nails, and journaling. I am always down to try something new and I love to go out!

Enjoy reading the rest of the newsletter!

– Vyomini V.

Say Hi To Our 2026 Digital Civics Academy Cohort!

95 teens. 70 cities. 7 countries. We’re so excited to welcome our third Digital Civics Academy cohort in just a few weeks! This is a group of ambitious, creative, and innovative youth participants who will spend one week learning from leaders across tech policy and media while gaining the skills to shape the future of tech! Learn more about them here.

Have Something to Say to Big Tech?

On July 17th, our friends over at Design it For Us are hosting a national day of action where young people across the US will be writing postcards to Big Tech CEOs with our stories and hopes for the future of tech. This is all about raising public awareness and increasing engagement around this issue while building community IRL! If you’re in NYC, the Bay Area, or Colorado, consider stopping by!

At #HalfTheStory, we look at both sides of the internet, so here are the latest trends and tips you should know. And who knows…maybe watch out for👇

🔥 What’s Hot:

• Should we take away phones or give space back? Digital Civics Academy alum, Ben Forman, gave a TEDx Talk on why he believes phone ban policies aren’t the end-all-be-all solution to solving the loneliness crisis. Instead, he proposes that we start investing in initiatives that actually give space back to young people. Sound familiar? 👀

• Toy Story 5 is more than a movie about toys versus tech. 🧸📲 It’s a mirror to the society we seem to live in right now — a society where technology has replaced human interaction in more ways than one. But what if it’s also a wake-up call to the world? One that forces us to have hard conversations about the world we want future generations to grow up in and the narratives we hold about technology and its impact on people. If you haven’t seen it, give it a watch and see what questions and ideas it sparks for you!

• Social media’s role in creating citizens of the world. As the World Cup quarterfinals continue, let’s take a moment to recognize how it’s bringing people together from across the globe and the role of social media in creating citizens of the world. At times when the world can feel extremely divided, the last month has been an example of true global citizenship and how regardless of nationality, fans are sharing their love of both soccer and community. Seeing people root passionately for their favorite teams gives us HOPE!! ⚽️✨

👎 What’s Not:

• ⚠️ A recent report by the Heat Initiative and Cybersafety Research Center found that most child safety features on social media apps don’t live up to their promises. For example, if you create a teen account on Instagram, it’s private by default, however, when tested, Instagram still suggested profiles of unknown adults. On YouTube, a 60-minute time limit can effortlessly turn into three hours because you can simply choose to “ignore limit for today”. Here are some thoughts on what we can do about this.

  One of our Teen Tech Council members, Jacob, also went on the TODAY show to share his experience on Snapchat.

• Is it a good thing that Instagram is the new LinkedIn? What started as a photo-sharing app is now becoming the #1 way Gen Z is searching for and even landing jobs and internships. Rather than trying to adapt to the “performative nature of LinkedIn”, we’re using Instagram to build our personal brand, vet organizations for their company culture, and romanticize futures where we’re working at our dream company. At the same time, your feed is probably inundated with videos like this and this telling you “you’re cooked if you aren’t doing X, Y, Z!” We’re here to remind you that this friction is REAL and that it’s actually okay to log off and have a balanced summer.✌️

• Should we bring DVDs back? 📀 Before the age of streaming, physical media was everywhere. Now, streaming services give us endless options, but that abundance comes at a cost: viewers rarely appreciate a film as a whole anymore. The subscription costs pile up, and ironically, having so many choices makes it harder to actually choose. Movies and shows have become background noise instead of something to pay attention to. In an age of depleting attention spans, where scrolling through movies is the norm, physical media is a reminder to be intentional. So, before you stream a movie, ask yourself: do you really care about what you are watching? Or will you just scroll your way through it?

If curiosity is a depleting resource in a highly digitalized world — how can we change that? Criminal justice reform advocate, Lea Nepomuceno, creates videos teaching people the power of conversations and intellectual intimacy. From questions like “when was the last time you changed your mind?” to “how do you define fun?”, they’re a great break from the algorithm!

Gone are the days of paying for less screen time! Apparently, a secret Apple feature can turn your phone into a dumb phone.

Here’s how ⬇️

1. Head into Settings, tap Accessibility

2. Scroll down to General at the very bottom, and tap Assistive Access

3. Tap Set Up Assistive Access and hit Continue

4. Select your preferred Appearance: rows or grid. Choose grid for the large tiles

5. Choose your allowed apps

6. Triple-click the side button on your phone to activate Assistive Access

Read the latest!

Read the latest!

Scrolling through social media can sometimes feel like navigating a never-ending stream of emergencies. One day it is a disease outbreak, the next it is a safety concern, and the day after that it is another headline warning people about a new threat. While some of these stories are important and deserve attention, the way they are presented online can often make situations seem far more alarming than they really are.

A recent New York Times article, “3 Dead of Suspected Hantavirus Infections on Cruise Ship, W.H.O. Says,” provides a good example of how quickly fear can spread online. The article reported on a hantavirus outbreak that was connected to a cruise ship - a serious event that raised concerns. However, as information about the outbreak circulated across social media, many posts focused on the most shocking details. For some users, what began as a report on a rare disease outbreak quickly became evidence of a much larger public health threat.

The Fear Economy of Social Media

This is where fearmongering comes into play. Fearmongering is the use of alarming information to provoke fear and capture attention. On social media, fear is one of the most effective ways to generate engagement. When people feel worried or anxious, they are more likely to click, comment, and share content with others. As a result, posts that emphasize danger often gain more visibility than posts that provide context.

As you’ve probably experienced, social media algorithms help fuel this cycle. Platforms are designed to keep users engaged, and content that sparks strong emotional reactions tends to perform well. When someone watches a video about a disease outbreak, the platform may immediately start to recommend several more videos on the same topic. Over time, repeated exposure can make an issue seem much more common or immediate than it actually is. Even when the facts remain unchanged, the sheer volume of content can shape how people perceive risk.

For young people, this issue can be especially significant. Many teenagers receive a large portion of their news through social media, often encountering information through short videos, reposts, and headlines rather than full articles. When fear-driven content dominates a conversation, it can influence how students discuss important issues with their peers and how they respond to them. In some cases, fearmongering can discourage meaningful action by making problems seem overwhelming or impossible to address. In others, it can create unnecessary anxiety around situations that require understanding rather than panic. As a high school student, I’ve seen how quickly information can spread through group chats and social media feeds, often before anyone has taken the time to verify it. Without context, it becomes much harder to have productive conversations about the issues that affect our communities and make informed decisions about how to respond.

The problem is not that people are paying attention to important news. The issue arises when information is stripped of context. In the case of the hantavirus outbreak, many social media discussions focused on fear rather than facts. Information about how the virus spreads, how rare infections are, and what health experts were saying often received far less attention than dramatic headlines and speculation.

Breaking the Cycle

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid falling into the trap of fearmongering. One of the most effective strategies is simply slowing down. Before sharing a post or accepting a claim as true, take the time to read beyond the headline. Look for information from credible news organizations, public health agencies, and experts in the field. Ask whether the post is presenting evidence or simply trying to provoke an emotional reaction. These small habits can make a significant difference in how we process information online.

Fear is a powerful emotion, and social media has made it easier than ever for fear to spread rapidly. However, the solution is not to ignore the news or disconnect from the internet. Instead, it is to become more intentional about how we consume information. By seeking context, verifying sources, and thinking critically about what appears on our feeds, we can stay informed without becoming overwhelmed.

In a digital world where information moves at an unprecedented speed, media literacy has become an essential skill. The ability to separate facts from fear allows us to engage with important issues while avoiding unnecessary panic. By recognizing fearmongering when we see it, we can build healthier online spaces and make more informed decisions about the information we choose to trust.

No one knowingly tries to make themselves look bad on social media. If anything, typically people try to make themselves look as good as possible, whether it be through presenting photos where they look happy, sociable, and most of all effortless. A common way that people do this is by posting sought after experiences in their daily life such as posting their time at a concert or sports game.

Through posting these experiences, they are telling the world “I am adventurous and live a fun life” without leaving any regard for the mediocre and generally undesirable parts of life. And through this repeated documentation of the positives, they hope that people will look at them with envy for their “idyllic” lives and beauty.

This further connects to the AI Jumbotron trend. A trend where people use AI to create photos of themselves on the Jumbotron at a baseball game looking completely glamorous without trying. Fulfilling the requirements of appearing as having an interesting lived experience and being beautiful. Although why would it be necessary to use AI to meet these standards? Well, the most obvious answer would simply be that it is a rare occurrence to get featured on the Jumbotron and maybe people just want to see how it looks. However, it can be argued that the novelty of appearing on the Jumbotron is what makes this experience so alluring, so by faking this moment, it should hypothetically lose all of its appeal. Yet, people keep using AI to replicate these experiences and still get millions of likes and views.

This is in part because of a shift in what people consider “flexing”. Historically, social media flexing usually consisted of material items such as luxury cars, bags, and clothing. But as of recent peoples’ flexing has been experiential. People are growing to understand that people who have hobbies are generally more interesting than people whose central character trait is owning an expensive item.

This means that the new social currency is procuring special moments as opposed to possessions. Unfortunately, because special moments (such as being featured on the Jumbotron) are highly unlikely, a supply and demand problem arises. For the average person, the demand to actually experience unique moments outweighs the likelihood of them actually happening on a regular basis.

This is the logic that requires people to use AI to mimic these moments, to keep up with a posting schedule of interesting events that neither the viewers nor the content creator can realistically keep up with. Further displaying the message that it is more so the social credit that comes with having hobbies that is more important than actual participation in hobbies. With the focus on perceptions over reality negatively impacting our perspective on our own experiences.

Ultimately, the rise of the AI Jumbotron Trend reveals how we calculate social status in the new digital age. As we pressure ourselves to constantly curate adventures, we lose sight of why we wanted to participate in these events in the first place; to have fun. We risk becoming spectators of our own simulated existence for the immediate validation for a like instead of the long term validation of a memory.

The ultimate irony of the AI Jumbotron trend is that in a rush to show the world how vibrant our lives are, we stop living them altogether. To break this cycle we must choose when to log off of social media or take a break from our phones. Let’s start investing our time into actually living our lives, rather than performing for the algorithmic perception of them!

A few months ago, I caught myself reaching for my phone while listening to music. Not to change the song or to text someone, but just because sitting still with only the song felt uncomfortable. That scared me a little.

I started noticing how hard it had become to fully stay present with anything. A conversation, a song, a thought. Even moments that were supposed to feel meaningful somehow felt interrupted by the urge to check, scroll, refresh, and consume. I know I am not alone in that feeling.

My generation is growing up inside an economy built around profiting off our attention. Every notification, algorithm, autoplay feature, and infinite scroll is competing for one thing: more time on the screen. Social media platforms are not designed around what makes us feel fulfilled. They are designed around what keeps us engaged, because our attention is what makes these companies money.

And yet, most conversations around digital well-being still focus on restriction. “Delete the apps! Set screen time limits! Put your phone away!” While those things can absolutely help, I don’t think that approach alone gets to the root of the problem. Because if you tell someone to stop doing something, it often makes them want it more. Especially for teenagers.

What I think matters more is replacement. If real life feels empty, lonely, overstimulating, or disconnected, of course we are going to reach for the thing designed to distract us. In some ways, the phone has become what a pack of cigarettes might have been 50 years ago: something ordinary, everywhere, and deeply profitable because it is so hard to put down. When I feel stressed or unsure what to do with myself, my phone offers the easiest way out. It does not help me to process what I am feeling or sit with discomfort long enough to understand where it is coming from.

Creativity asks more of us. For me, creativity is the act of turning what I feel into something real: a song, a movement, a sentence, an image, or even a conversation that actually requires me to listen. It matters because it gives my thoughts somewhere to go instead of letting them stay trapped in my head.

So does a long walk without anything filling the silence. So does sitting with discomfort long enough to understand where it is coming from. These things ask us to be present before they offer relief, which is exactly why they matter. They do not just numb the feeling for a few minutes. They help us move through it.

Creative expression uses attention differently than social media does. Social media fragments our attention into smaller and smaller pieces. Creativity asks us to deepen our focus.

When I am dancing or creating something with other people, I notice time differently. In rehearsal, there are moments when everyone is breathing with the same count, listening for the same shift in the music, and adjusting to each other without needing to say anything out loud. My attention stops scattering because it has somewhere real to land. I am not performing myself from the outside. I am fully inside the moment, connected to my body, the people around me, and the feeling we are creating together.

And research is beginning to reflect what so many people already intuitively feel.

A World Health Organization evidence review on the arts and health found that creative practices can support emotional expression, social connection, and mental well-being. I think part of why creativity can feel so restorative is because it asks something completely different from our attention than social media does.

When I am dancing, I cannot be thinking about ten different things at once. I have to follow the rhythm. I have to stay inside my body. When I am writing or creating with other people, I have to listen closely enough to respond. Creativity almost demands presence from us. Not the performative kind of presence that social media encourages, but actual presence.

I believe that part of the reason so many teens feel drawn back into our phones is because so many real-world “third spaces” are disappearing. Places where people can simply exist together without pressure to buy something, prove something, or become more productive, feel increasingly rare. Creative spaces are some of the last places where people experience real, uncurated connection.

That is also why Jonathan Haidt’s idea in The Anxious Generation that childhood has shifted from being “play-based” to “phone-based” stayed with me so much. Play is not just entertainment. It is how humans develop imagination, resilience, empathy, collaboration, and identity. And a lot of creativity begins in play.

When we lose spaces for boredom, creativity, movement, and real-world connection, we lose more than time. We lose part of what makes us human.

This is why I think conversations about digital well-being need to become more imaginative.

Not just:
“How do we get teens off their phones?”

But:
“What makes real life feel meaningful enough to come back to?”

This is also where I see #HalfTheStory’s mission so clearly. Digital well-being is not just about fear or restriction. It is about helping young people understand the full story of our lives online and offline, and giving us the language, tools, and confidence to make choices that actually support our mental health.

For me, creativity has become one answer to that question.

Not because art magically fixes mental health. Not because phones are inherently evil. But because creative expression gives us something the attention economy often cannot: presence.

When you are making something with another person, you cannot infinitely scroll away from discomfort. You have to listen. You have to pay attention. You have to stay.

And maybe that is part of why creativity matters so much right now.

In a culture that constantly rewards speed, performance, and distraction, choosing to slow down and give our full attention to something real becomes its own kind of resistance.

I don’t think digital well-being should only be about reducing harm. I think it should also be about rebuilding connection to ourselves, to each other, and to the physical world around us.

Because the opposite of distraction is not necessarily discipline.

Sometimes, the opposite of distraction is devotion.

So maybe the question is not only, “How do we spend less time online?” Maybe it is also, “What are we willing to give our attention back to?”

Happy June, Happy Pride, and Men’s Mental Health Month! 🏳️‍🌈🧠 It’s Ally & Olivia here, and we’ve got some exciting #HTS updates ahead of this summer.

First, we want to give a spotlight on one of our Core Storytellers, Vyomini Vabilisetty, who contributed to the Bright and Dark Side this month! 🙌

Before we get into June’s edition, it’s Olivia, signing off for my last edition of In The Loop! Thank you readers and #HTS for everything, it’s been an incredible 2.5 years of proudc ITL. 😊🩵

Let’s dive in!

What's Your Dream Screen-Free Event?

Is it a phone-free dance? A color walk with Polaroid cameras? A junk journaling bar meets matcha pop up? We’re dreaming up what our fall activations will be like and we want YOUR input. Fill out a short survey (takes less than 5 minutes) and you get a chance to win a $15 gift card!

Share Your Thoughts!

At #HalfTheStory, we look at both sides of the internet, so here are the latest trends and tips you should know. And who knows…maybe watch out for 👇

🔥What’s Hot:

• Our work was spotlighted by Secretary Hillary Clinton! If you recall, last month we hinted about showing the behind the scenes of Jack and Addison’s phone-free fund project, made possible through a grant from Verizon. Check out this video (co-posted with Sec. Clinton) sharing how bringing board games and crafts to their school has led to deeper community and connection. More spotlights will be coming your way this summer!

  

• Over the last few years, the manosphere has infiltrated the internet and pushing harmful toxic masculinity norms on young men. However, Mindy Kaling is offering an antidote these stereotypes through her new show Not Suitable for Work which explores the lives of five 20-somethings striving for a work-life balance in NYC. What makes this special? The eight-episode series shines a light on male friendship and what coming-of-age looks like in today’s culture. Read more about it on Teen Vogue.

• Need a summer challenge? The New York Times just launched the “Touch Grass Challenge”. This 4-week interactive series encourages you to swap your screens for green, literally. This study found that people who spend at least 120 minutes in nature a week, reported healthier levels of well-being. In other words, touching grass for just 20 minutes a day could be the key to the best summer you’ve ever had.

👎What’s Not:

• In light of PRIDE month, a study conducted by Hopelab found that youth who identify as LGBTQ+ report poorer mental health compared to straight, cisgendered young people. The impacts are widespread with 60% of LGBTQ+ youth claiming family issues and schoolwork affect their mental health compared to 41% among cisgendered youth. This is why it’s so important solutions addressing these challenges aren’t one-size-fits-all but rather that these solutions give LGBTQ+ youth the tools to lead and shape the community they want to be a part of.

• Did you know that 90% of teens ages 13 to 24 have Snapchat? Findings from a recent study by the Heat Initiative alongside other digital wellness organizations are alarming to say the least. In a national quantitative survey looking at the experiences of 1,016 minors who’ve used Snapchat in the last six months, they found that minors were frequently recommended adult strangers on Find Friends and 90% received unwanted messages from strangers — some involving sextortion. Later this month, our teens will share their take on this study so stay tuned.

• Instagram just launched something called Instants, and surprise, it’s another feature of social media that we didn’t ask for. Inspired by Snapchat’s disappearing photos, we find Instants to be oddly annoying. Not only does it work similarly to the Stories feature that already exists, but it feeds into a culture of oversharing. Anxhelika share how you can turn off this feature here.

If you have five minutes to spare, check out this new video from John Green! He connects art, fifteen minutes of fame, influencer culture, and how the algorithm has conditioned us to crave more and more content…just to feel something. The human experience is no longer “3D” but has turned into optimizing for “2D screen-friendly” posts.

Ever hang out with your friends and you end up “phubbing”? Don’t worry, because this summer, that won’t be happening! Instead, turn on airplane mode! This way, you’re not tempted scroll and you’ll hopefully have conversations that aren’t about the last funny TikTok you saw…

Read the latest!

Read the latest!

I have had moments where I close my phone and just sit there for a second, trying to understand why I do not feel better.

I just watched someone’s birthday dinner, a college decision reaction, a perfectly edited morning routine, a relationship that looks effortless, and a life that looks complete. None of it is necessarily fake, and that is what makes it harder to explain. Some of it probably is real. Some of it probably is joyful. But after enough of it, something in me starts to feel off. Like I have been quietly pulled out of my own life and dropped into someone else’s version of what I should want.

For a long time, I did not have language for that feeling. Then, in my AP Psychology class, we started learning about positive psychology, the study of what helps people build well-being, meaning, and fulfillment. Around the same time, our teacher had us watch Shawn Achor’s TED Talk, where he explains that most of us have the formula for happiness backwards. We assume success creates happiness, but he argues that happiness can actually come first and shape how we think, perform, and connect.

That idea really stuck with me, because once I heard it, I started noticing how often the internet makes happiness feel like something we are always about to earn.

Online, happiness shows up as a promise. If you looked like this, lived like this, posted like this, achieved this, organized your life like this, then maybe you would finally feel complete. But the science of happiness points somewhere quieter and much harder to sell.

Yale psychologist Laurie Santos created a course called The Science of Well-Being, which became one of the most popular classes in Yale’s history, reaching millions of people online. One of the most powerful ideas from the course is that our minds are often wrong about what will make us happy. We chase things that seem like they should change everything, but often do not change as much as we expect. That feels especially true online.

Social media is full of tiny predictions about happiness. It suggests that the right outfit will fix the day, the right body will fix confidence, the right room will fix anxiety, the right post will fix loneliness, the right version of yourself will finally feel enough. It is not wrong to want beauty, success, attention, or love. The problem is when the app keeps turning those things into finish lines, and we start believing that happiness is always waiting just past the next version of ourselves.

One concept from Santos’s course that helped me understand this is hedonic adaptation, sometimes called the hedonic treadmill. Research shows that even when something genuinely improves our lives, we often adjust to it and return closer to our usual level of happiness over time. You get the thing you thought would finally make you feel different. For a moment, it works. Then your brain adapts, and the next thing starts to feel necessary.

That is what social media can intensify so perfectly. There is always another upgrade. Another routine. Another aesthetic. Another person who seems to have figured out the part of life you are still trying to understand. The finish line keeps moving, but the app never admits that it moved it.

A lot of teens seem to feel that contradiction. Social media can genuinely connect us, but it can also quietly drain us. A 2025 Pew Research Center report found that while 74% of teens say social media helps them feel more connected to friends, 27% say it makes them feel worse about their own lives, 39% say it overwhelms them with drama, and 45% say it negatively impacts their sleep.

And that is where another idea from positive psychology feels important: savoring. Savoring means deliberately paying attention to positive experiences while they are happening, letting yourself actually absorb them instead of moving past them too quickly. Psychologists Fred Bryant and Joseph Veroff describe it as the ability to notice and deepen positive emotions in real time.

That sounds simple, but it almost feels unnatural in a digital environment.

Social media teaches us to document instead of fully experience, and to move on before a moment has had time to stay with us.

Sometimes I am with friends and something genuinely funny or meaningful happens, and almost immediately there is a second layer of awareness. Should we record this? Would this be good content? The moment is still happening, but part of me has already stepped outside of it.

The conversation you never post. The creative process nobody claps for. The quiet moment where your body finally relaxes. The ordinary experience you stay inside long enough for it to matter.

To me, digital wellness is not just about using our phones less. It is about protecting our ability to experience life while we are living it. It is asking whether our habits are training us to chase happiness or recognize it.

At #HalfTheStory, we talk a lot about prioritizing well-being over engagement, and this feels like one of the clearest examples of why that matters. Engagement asks whether something got attention. Well-being asks whether it actually nourished you.

Those are not the same thing.

So maybe the question is not just whether social media makes us happy or unhappy. Maybe it is whether it is training us to search for happiness so constantly that we forget how to notice it. Because if happiness is built through presence, connection, meaning, and attention, then it matters what we practice every day.

What would it look like to build a digital life that helps us recognize happiness when it is already happening, instead of constantly reaching for the next thing that promises it?

Hey In The Loop readers and happy Mental Health Awareness Month! It’s Ally & Olivia, reminding you to take some time for yourself today (and everyday) to unplug and take a break.

In this month’s edition:

• Announcing our Digital Civics Academy speaker lineup*

• Students are bringing back what college is actually for…socializing

• Spring means it’s time to go through your phone and declutter

Shape The Future of Tech With Us!

In case you missed it, we extended the application for the Digital Civics Academy! Our one-week virtual advocacy masterclass is happening July 20-24 and we want YOU there. We are giving you first access to incredible leaders across tech, media, and mental health, including Alyson Stoner (who you may know from Disney Channel hits like Camp Rock), to Kristie Chon-Flynn, the Chief Privacy Officer at Google. Plus, if you’re based in NYC, DC, LA, or SF, stay tuned for exciting field trip announcements later this spring.

Apply by May 22nd

At #HalfTheStory, we look at both sides of the internet, so here are the latest trends and tips you should know. And who knows…maybe watch out for 👇

🔥What’s Hot:

• If college isn’t about the people you meet, then what is it for? That’s why students across the country are finding ways to bring back socializing! In New York City, there’s NYU IRL which strives to encourage a student-led culture shift and the idea of “Collective effervescence”. UC Berkeley students helped create a 450-student class about limiting technology and Project Reboot which hosts screen-free activities from hikes to a playing volleyball.

• Does your school have a crafting cart? Two of our Teen Tech Council members, Jack and Addison, launched a craft cart at their high school after realizing many of their peers weren’t able to take an art class due to budget cuts. Stay tuned for a special behind the scenes of how they’re building a culture of digital wellness through board games and art materials to their community.

  

• A new study from JAMA suggests that suicide rates among teens and young adults have declined since the creation of 988. While the study doesn’t prove that 988 is the direct cause of this decline, the data is an indicator that 988 has led to increased investment and resources for crisis care! If you or someone you know is in need of care, call or text 988 or chat online to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for support.

👎What’s Not:

• As of last Friday, Meta has turned off end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in Instagram direct messages, meaning Meta will now be able to access your chats. They claim it’s due to low usage rates, however, EE2E is still available on WhatsApp and Messenger. We’ll be on the lookout for what this means for privacy and safety on Instagram but for now, be mindful of how you’re using DMs!

• “How to get a better jawline” is one of the many questions that young men and boys are asking the internet and it’s part of a larger trend known as looksmaxxing. Most recently, peptides have entered into the conversation. These are a type of GLP-1 drug that’s currently non-FDA approved and only used for research purposes. It sold through “an online gray market” and promises young men and boys as young as 13 a “physical transformation” and the ultimate face card. While this is a nuanced issue that doesn’t have a clear cut solution, we encourage you to talk to any young men in your life and see what they think about this!

• 2026 is the year of analog…or so they say.

  Considered Chaos

  The Analog Revival Did Not Take Place

  I was speaking to a friend the other day, 40-something with a 27-year old sister. She told me this sister spends a small fortune on film for her analog camera, but when she gets it developed, she leaves the negatives at the lab and only asks for the digital files to be emailed to her…

  Read more

  4 months ago · 514 likes · 48 comments · Eugene Healey

  Brand strategist Eugene Healey wrote a great piece on why the “analog revival” we were all excited about isn’t really one at all. While we were obsessing over people’s analog bags, junk journals, and the aesthetic of being offline, most of us never actually logged off. Offline is a luxury and in order to actually cultivate human connection, we need systemic change, and we need it now.

In need of some good news? shares what is going right in the world across social platforms, spreading positivity at a time where things may feel bleak. Check out this video where John breaks down “Ten Things That Went Right” in April 2026! ⬇️👏💖

It’s never too late for Spring Cleaning!! 🌱🧹

You can save storage and declutter both your screen and your digital world by deleting or offloading unused apps. There are two ways to do this! Your most unused apps will be removed, but all of your data will be saved incase you need it. 😉

You can get there through the App Store and iPhone Storage settings on your device, and it’s a quick easy fix to save your brainpower!

Read the latest!

Read the latest!

I can’t begin to describe the amount of joy, chaos, and meaning I’ve experienced from sitting with fellow youth, from elementary school to middle school, and discussing our perceptions of the digital world, all of which are grounded in our personal experiences.

Two years ago, I started Sustainable with Screens, a community-based initiative where I lead workshops with young people surrounding digital wellness and responsible tech use. At the heart of the project was my own 11-year-old self who felt her sense of agency and self-worth vanish after being exposed to social media content encouraging her to count calories.

Entering high school, I began talking about digital wellness and my experiences with other teens, recognizing I could create purposeful and sustainable change in the digital world. Yet, even as I immersed myself in incredible spaces like #HalfTheStory, where digital wellness conversations were front and center, I knew that we needed more voices to enter the discussion.

So, my mission was to both amplify youth perspectives on crafting healthy digital ecosystems while also providing my youth-centered advice on maintaining boundaries online.

Today, as a senior in high school, I’m cherishing how much I’ve learned from both teaching digital literacy and hearing the nuanced takes on digital spaces young people have.

For instance, I’ve discovered just how dedicated younger generations are to building comprehension of the digital spaces that shape them instead of mindlessly scrolling, contrary to what most adults may think. In a workshop I led with 7th-graders for their school’s wellness retreat, they were eager to understand the platforms that impact their lives and build boundaries with technology. One student, who developed games on Roblox and another who was an active user, discussed how they wanted the platform to implement stricter policies around young people so they could feel safe online and set limits to their use of the game. Other students voiced how they wanted less technology in the classroom and were actively trying to manage their screen time and that of their parents. So, young people don’t always gravitate towards technology and see it as their whole world. In fact, they are actively trying to change that narrative.

And, these conversations have taught me just how important it is to talk about the “what gets in the way.” Right before I led a workshop this year, one of my friends gave me Brene Brown’s book The Gifts of Imperfection. She wrote a sentence that I deeply resonated with “We don’t talk about what keeps us. . .busy beyond human scale, desperate to numb and take the edge off, and full of so much anxiety and self-doubt that we can’t act on what we know is best for us.” After re-reading those words, I acknowledged just how difficult it is for us to have conversations with peers and adults about the hard stuff, like the pressure to find belonging or keep up with trends, that drive us towards digital platforms we know deep down are not serving us. When I started talking about the unique pressures Gen Alpha faced, we all gained clarity around how we can address those challenges instead of talking generally about limiting screen use.

Lastly, these young people showed me that to provide our personal experiences is to give our expertise. In a culture that is trained to obsess over the credentials someone has to speak about a particular issue, this lesson was the most transformative for me.

During one workshop, I sat down in the middle of my presentation on how social media algorithms work and shared the harmful experiences that led me into this work. As I talked about my 7th-grade self who questioned her worth after spending hours on social media, I realized that the importance of my voice wasn’t just in the knowledge I had acquired from research, but the lessons that I learned from personally navigating digital spaces. It was in the way I reflected on each emotion I had felt as a 7th-grade girl that I saw how personal stories can bring a room together.

Being a young person in conversation with other young people, I’ve seen how the key to digital literacy is connection and vulnerability. It was my excitement about speaking from the heart, respecting the people I taught, and most importantly leading with “I see you, and here is my advice,” that brought individuals of all backgrounds and interests together.

As I’m nearing high school graduation, I’m excited to keep leading digital wellness workshops in every community I join, knowing that building bridges and amplifying each and every youth perspective will serve as the most meaningful part of my advocacy.

Imagine this: you’re on your couch, phone in your hand, doing that mindless scroll you don’t even remember starting. Your thumb keeps moving like it’s on autopilot. And then you land on a video that instantly drops you onto the view from the top of Mount Everest.

The view people train for. Suffer for. Risk their bodies for. The kind of moment that is supposed to be the payoff for years of effort, fear, and becoming. And you see it in two clicks. No cold air in your lungs. No trembling legs. No months of discipline. No doubt. No growth. No story. Just the ending.

I watched a video about a guy who went through this exact moment, and you could tell it hit him like a real epiphany, like something in his nervous system woke up. He said seeing Everest like that made him want to delete Instagram right then. What moved him wasn’t just the view, it was the realization of what he skipped. He wasn’t supposed to be at the peak yet.

Not because he didn’t “deserve” beauty in some moral way. But because the thing that makes the peak feel sacred is the climb. The struggle is the meaning. The struggle is what turns a view into awe. And that’s when it clicked for me, too. Because suddenly I realized how many “peaks” I consume every day that I didn’t climb for either.

Maybe it’s not Everest. But it’s always somebody’s Everest: their acceptance letter, their dream trip, their relationship, their talent, their glow-up, their “I made it” moment. And we absorb it the same way we absorb everything online. Fast. Back to back. With no time for our bodies to catch up with what our eyes just saw.

That pace isn’t just a feeling. It reflects how much time many teens are actually spending in these environments. According to the CDC, about 50% of teens ages 12 to 17 have four or more hours of daily screen time outside of schoolwork. Researchers and youth health organizations have increasingly raised concerns that this level of screen exposure can shape how teens experience comparison, stress, and emotional well-being.

Social media does something quiet but powerful. It starts convincing your brain that life is supposed to feel like the highlight reel. It starts rewriting your standards without asking permission. So you look at your own life and start feeling behind.

I know I’m not the only one who feels this. I’ve heard friends describe that strange, hollow feeling after scrolling, when you should feel entertained or inspired, but somehow just feel smaller. That tension shows up more broadly, too. A Pew Research Center report found that many teens feel conflicted about their screen use, with a significant share saying they spend too much time on their phones even while continuing to use them frequently.

The reality is that as a teen, we live in public even when we’re alone. We’re constantly surrounded by other people’s endings. So the middle feels embarrassing. The middle feels like proof you’re behind. The middle feels like something you should hide. But the middle is where life actually happens.

The middle is where you learn how to be resilient. Where you build actual skill. Where you develop a real identity that isn’t based on approval. The phone can’t show you that part in a satisfying way. It’s too slow. Too quiet. Too “un-postable”. So it disappears online. And then we start forgetting it’s normal.

That’s why that video got under my skin. Because I saw myself in it. This made me realize that digital well-being is not only about screen time. It’s not just “use your phone less.” It’s about protecting something deeper: your relationship to effort, your patience with the process, and your ability to stay inside your own life without constantly measuring it against someone else’s peak.

At #HalfTheStory, we talk a lot about prioritizing wellbeing over engagement, and this is one of the clearest examples I’ve felt of what that actually looks like.

Because engagement loves the peak. Wellbeing honors the climb.

So the next time you catch yourself spiraling after watching someone else’s “Everest,” ask yourself: Am I watching this to feel inspired, or am I watching this to escape my own process?

Because once you see the pattern, you can start choosing differently. You can let other people’s peaks be what they are without turning them into a verdict on your life. Your life is not failing just because it’s in the middle. The middle is the part that makes the peak mean something. The struggle is not proof that you’re behind. It’s proof that you’re doing it for real.

What do you think it would look like to protect the climb, not just chase the peak?

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Happy happy April, readers! It’s Olivia & Ally here, and before we dive in, you may remember that last month we said we’d be changing up our newsletter structure. However, we’ve decided to stick with what we’ve been doing, with a few minor changes here and there! A refresh is always good, no matter how big or small.

That being said, we have lots and lots of exciting things coming and new updates for you all, so happy reading! ⬇️ 🙌 👀

Looking for something to do this summer (that’s free)?

If you’re someone who’s between the ages of 15-21 and you’re reading this, we want YOU to apply for our 2026 Digital Civics Academy! Our one-week virtual advocacy masterclass will introduce you to the world of responsible technology and digital wellness — a field that is directly shaping the future of Big Tech — through expert speaker sessions, hands-on workshops, and field trips to places like tech HQs and State Capitols for folks in NYC, DC, LA, and SF.

Don’t take our word for it though.

Last year, Aashi Shulka participated in DCA and now, she’s interning with New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes.

All you need to do is fill out an application by April 30th and this could be you! ⬇️

Apply by April 30th!

At #HalfTheStory, we look at both sides of the internet, so here are the latest trends and tips you should know. And who knows…maybe watch out for 👇

🔥What’s Hot:

• As you might have seen in the news these past few weeks, the tide is finally turning! Meta and YouTube were found GUILTY in the landmark case against their addictive platform design.🧑‍⚖️ Leo breaks this down and what it means for young people in his video below!

• Young people are making tech their own with cyberdecks! 💿 🔧 A cyberdeck is a handmade portable computer, assembled from mismatched parts — like the keyboard of a slide phone, an mp3 player, and an iPod screen for example. They are not a new thing entirely, but a way to take back using personalized, expressive technology. We love it!! Want to build your own? Check out this tutorial.

  

• Restaurants are incentivizing people to have phone-free dinners! 🍦📵

  A Chick-fil-a location in Maryland has launched the “Cell Phone Coop Challenge,” where they provide diners with a place to store their phones while eating, and in return get a free ice cream cone for completing the screen-free challenge. Offline is IN, and we love this effort by a major fast-food chain to get the tech-free conversations back up!

👎What’s Not:

• Are we all starting to sound the same? Is AI homogenizing our thoughts? Many articles and YouTube video essays over the past year have covered this exact topic. This article from The Indian Express discusses this phenomenon at length, asking “if all we read is AI slop, is human writing beginning to mimic AI in an endless feedback loop?” The fear is the human voice being lost. If we all sound the same, does anything stand out as a new, creative thought?

• Another hot topic surrounding AI has been the issue of combining ChatGPT and medical anxiety.😵‍💫 Online communities dedicated to medical anxiety (effecting upwards of 12% of the population!) have shown a recent uptick in turning to chatbots to discuss their health anxiety, and actually negatively impacting users’ thought processes. Because ChatGPT and other AI chatbots are so agreeable and validating to the user, they end up only increasing fear in those who worry about their health. A response from OpenAI stated efforts to further improve the bot’s response to distress, but mental health professionals warn to not rely on chatbots as your doctor. 🫂

If you are looking for some true #hopecore on your feed, look no further than @signswithmeg who goes around NYC asking strangers to “Tell me ur good news!” It’s a reminder that the world isn’t doom and gloom all the time and that social media can be a tool to for joy.

If you’re headed to a music festival this spring, consider going phone-free! As Coachella takes over everyone’s social media feed, Pinterest is going in exact opposite direction with their phone-free activation. 📵

Upon entry, guests lock up their phones and can explore the various activities like charm bracelet making, Pinterest trend inspired beauty touch-ups, and a printed “Joy Guide” with stickers and postcards to commemorate the experience. The typical brand activation is designed for to help you curate the perfect Instagram post, but does that actually bring true joy?

Not only does this activation communicate what Pinterest really stands for - using the inspiration you find online as a tool to get you offline - but it also signals a larger societal movement where we’re craving real connection without a screen in front of us.

Read the latest!

Read the latest!

A few months ago, I walked into the kitchen to find my mom staring at her phone, perplexed. She was scrolling through the Nextdoor app, trying to follow a tense argument about windows. Yes, windows. One neighbor was warning everyone to shut their windows to keep out bears while others were fiercely advocating for their right to do whatever they wanted. My mom and I both looked at each other, questioning just how neighborly Nextdoor is.

Nextdoor, a social networking app for neighborhoods, was originally described by board member Bill Gurley in 2011 as “different from other social networking sites because it was built from the ground up to help neighbors come together in a trusted environment.” My family consults the app often, with my parents usually aiming to understand how to deal with a local issue and my sister and I trying to reach out to neighbors to start a local tutoring business. The truth is, I really do want to build connections with my neighbors. However, when I’m on Nextdoor, I’m often overloaded by bickering between neighbors, information that doesn’t even apply to my area, and a tense digital environment. And, I’m not alone.

When I searched for others’ feelings towards the platform I came across comments about how, for some, Nextdoor has made them actively avoid their neighbors. This avoidance could be due to aspects like Nextdoor’s moderation model, which relies on volunteers who can apply bias to the process, and the concept of anonymity which has allowed for heated arguments over minor grievances, (like the window situation), without consequences. Also, the platform has an overwhelming number of advertisements, which has been seemingly ineffective for both local businesses who see minimal return from their paid ads and users annoyed by excessive advertisements on their feed.

However, the good news is people are starting to become aware of the importance of digital, connective spaces with neighbors. New Public, an organization reimagining digital conversations, has started designing Roundabout as an alternative to digital platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor. The platform’s aim is to connect individuals with immediate neighbors, creating communities of less than 50 people, where individuals can easily access information regarding various local events.

Mock-ups of Roundabout found on New_Public’s Substack

When New Public illustrated the thought-process behind their new platform, the team posed questions that touch on the fundamentals of digital spaces, like “Could part of the revenue generated go towards embedding local journalists to investigate the community’s most pressing questions? Could a local digital space link up with tools like Civic Sunlight that summarize long town hall meetings into bullet point takeaways? Could we make it easy for stewards to aggregate announcements and upcoming events from websites, newsletters, or other social feeds of local community organizations?”

Though Roundabout is still in its early stages, it will be interesting to see if this space has any impacts on our connection with our neighborhood communities. And, this conversation does highlight something important: healthy online spaces are key to healthy IRL communities! I mean, how much better would our communities be if neighbors notified each other about fun and impactful local events or sent out messages relating to safety? By immersing ourselves in digital platforms that emphasize our values, communities and support-systems can thrive!

Important news!

Before we dive in, we’re excited to share an important update about our newsletter community.

As #HalfTheStory continues to grow, so does the conversation around digital wellbeing. To better reflect the full scope of our vibrant community, we’re joining forces with our educator newsletter, Teaching Teens with Screens to bring you an elevated version of what you’re already familiar with.

What does this mean for you?

We’re creating one dynamic space where you can hear a variety of POVs from young people to teachers and thought leaders shaping school culture and digital wellbeing. Stay tuned!

Hey hey! It’s Ally and Olivia and we’re back for the 24th edition of In The Loop! This is a special one because it marks two years of sharing youth POVs on the topics that impact us all on a daily basis. When we started ITL, Ally was 18 and in high school, and Olivia was 20 and in college. Now Ally is a 20 year old college student and Olivia is out in the world and graduated!

Whether you’re a teen, parent, advocate, or even educator, we appreciate you tuning in each month and being a part of our movement to empower youth to reclaim their relationships with tech.

Here’s a snapshot of our impact ⬇️

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Unplug with Us on the Global Day of Unplugging!

Did you know that this Friday and Saturday (March 6-7) is the Global Day of Unplugging? In celebration, Teen Tech Council and Creator Collective member Sofia Lee Verovic is leading the #HalfTheStory Unplug Campaign - an awareness movement that encourages people to unplug and engage in screen-free activities in a fun and accessible way! Curious to learn more? Check out our launch video and join us on March 6th and 7th as we go offline together!

Introducing the 2026 Lookup Live Innovators!

We’re so proud to share that three #HalfTheStory youth leaders were selected for the 2026 Lookup Live Innovation Challenge - a grant that supports groundbreaking solutions in digital wellbeing and humane technology. Click on their names to learn more about their projects!

• Anxhelika Deda - Digital Civics Academy Alum, Core Storyteller, Teen Advisor

• Oliver Huang - Digital Civics Academy Intern, Teen Advisor

• Davida Padi - Content Creator

At #HalfTheStory, we look at both sides of the internet, so here are the latest trends and tips you should know. And who knows…maybe watch out for 👇

🔥What’s Hot:

• Is “play” making a comeback in youth culture? 🛝 It looks like it. When Alysa Liu talked about focusing on joy instead of pressure at the Olympics, it struck a chord with a lot of young people. Her disposition felt easy and genuine, and you could tell she was truly having fun. That kind of joy feels contagious! More teens are choosing creativity, embracing silliness, and real-life connection over constant perfection, and we love it. Read GrownKid’s recent article on this here!

• We called it in December: Gen Z wants to bring back physical media! According to a recent piece in The New York Times, young people are rediscovering devices like the Apple iPod and CD collecting because they offer distraction free listening and a sense of ownership over music. This comeback shows that many teens are craving slower, more meaningful ways to experience the things they love and UNPLUG!

• Happy Women’s History Month! 💪 We are so grateful for the women who lead, and show up with courage every day, especially the incredible women in our #HalfTheStory community. We are also loving the wave of powerful women edits and women’s history edits taking over TikTok right now. Be sure to celebrate and uplift the women in your life who inspire you!

👎What’s Not:

• Mark Zuckerberg took the stand to defend Meta against a young woman accusing Meta and YouTube of hooking her as a child and harming her mental health, arguing that platforms like Instagram were designed to fuel addictive behavior. Zuckerberg told the jury he believes the company has handled teen safety “in a reasonable way” and says its platforms are meant to build community, not cause harm. Meanwhile, parents outside the courtroom say these companies put profits first. The bigger question now is where responsibility really falls, on tech companies, families, or somewhere in between.

• What is “AI Fatigue”? Software engineer Siddhat Khare shared in Business Insider how constant AI use at work made him more productive, yet much more exhausted. Khare notes that AI has actually made his job harder by increasing context-switching and review work instead of reducing stress; “‘the AI doesn't get tired between problems. I do.’" The nature of the work has changed, leaving software engineers mentally drained with the endless pace of updates. It makes us wonder if teens using AI tools for schoolwork might start feeling a similar kind of pressure to keep up in their schoolwork.💭

Sprawled across our living room, my sister, dad, and I were engaged in heavy research, jotting down notes and exchanging insights to piece together the plot of one of the most confusing and rewarding movies I had watched in a long time: “The Rip.”

“The Rip,” a Netflix crime thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, revolves around a narcotics team that discovers $20 million in cartel cash and must decide how to grapple with internal corruption and external threat. After my family selected “The Rip” for our Friday movie night, many of us started drifting to our phones, looking up only when action-packed moments tipped us towards the direction the film was headed.

However, at the end of the movie, all of us were surprisingly confused by the plot. We had caught the main events, yet unlike most action movies we watched nowadays, the bare bones of what had happened wasn’t enough.

Apparently, my experience is just what Netflix is attempting to change. As a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, Matt Damon addressed the streaming platform’s increasingly common message to script writers: “and it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.”

In honor of today being the Global Day of Unplugging, we are shouting out a TikTok idea we shared in Bright Side vs. Dark Side a few months back! This month’s phone hack is a DIY Phone Docking Station.

The original creator of the “HANG UP THE PHONE” movement on TikTok, made her phone dock from a slab of clay. She leaves her phone charging on this dock like a wall phone would stay mounted in one spot to decrease her screen use. Others have gotten creative with cardboard and boxes for their phones, and you should too!

It’s Women’s History Month! This month, we’re highlighting Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. This book shows how gender data gaps shape our world in ways we often don’t notice and why inclusive design matters. Find it here!

Thanks for scrolling along with us! Don’t leave us on read…subscribe…we’ll be back next month! In the meantime, stay 'In The Loop’ daily by keeping up with us @halfthestory on all socials! 🤩

Sprawled across our living room, my sister, dad, and I were engaged in heavy research, jotting down notes and exchanging insights to piece together the plot of one of the most confusing and rewarding movies I had watched in a long time: “The Rip.”

“The Rip,” a Netflix crime thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, revolves around a narcotics team that discovers $20 million in cartel cash and must decide how to grapple with internal corruption and external threat. After my family selected “The Rip” for our Friday movie night, many of us started drifting to our phones, looking up only when action-packed moments tipped us towards the direction the film was headed.

However, at the end of the movie, all of us were surprisingly confused by the plot. We had caught the main events, yet unlike most action movies we watched nowadays, the bare bones of what had happened wasn’t enough.

Apparently, my experience is just what Netflix is attempting to change. As a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, Matt Damon addressed the streaming platform’s increasingly common message to script writers: “and it wouldn’t be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while they’re watching.”

In an article written by The Guardian, the author drew attention to another instance of restating plot pieces in Lindsay Lohan’s film “Irish Wish” on Netflix. In the film, Lohan tells her lover: “I admit it was a beautiful day filled with dramatic vistas and romantic rain, but that doesn’t give you the right to question my life choices. Tomorrow, I’m marrying Paul Kennedy.” Here, Lohan reiterates a detail no one would actually include in everyday conversation, it’s clearly there to make sure even the most distracted viewer can follow along.

We can see similar emphasis on “casual watching” happening within social media platforms that are already capitalizing on shortened attention span. For instance, app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi highlighted how Instagram is experimenting with a “Short Drama” feature which would allow users to follow their favorite drama shows more easily. This development is building off of TikTok, which launched a Minis section in the app that shortens television episodes to align with TikTok’s short-form engagement.

So, with social media leaning even heavier on decreased attention span, is Netflix making the right call to shift from immersive and dynamic films to perfect “casual watching”? I argue not. Looking back to my experience watching “The Rip,” my moments of distraction and subsequent confusion were what I needed to rethink my film experience. As I reanalyzed the film with my sister and dad, this time watching parts all the way through, I recognized the pure genius and nuanced puzzles dispersed through the narrative and filmmaking, details which we too often overlook.

Now, I’m not saying we all need to become film critics, but I do think we need to start appreciating the adventure and patience necessary to deeply engage with movies. In Matt Damon’s words, leaning on restating plot points is “going to really start to infringe on how we’re telling these stories.” Film, after all, does have the ability to shift power-dynamics, question previous notions, and bring about meaningful change. So, here’s to putting our phones down, watching a film all the way through and tuning in to the moving stories that needed to be told.

The recent controversy around Grok’s image manipulation features has sparked an important conversation, one that goes far beyond a single AI tool or company. When artificial intelligence systems can alter images of real people without their consent, we’re forced to ask: who gets to decide what AI is allowed to do, and whose voices matter in that decision?

Grok, an AI chatbot, drew significant backlash for features that allowed users to create and manipulate images in ways that raised serious concerns about consent and safety. The response on social media was swift, with many users (particularly young women) sharing their concerns about how such tools could be misused. But here’s what makes this moment significant: this isn’t about one feature or one company. It’s about a pattern we keep seeing in AI development where technical capability races ahead of ethical consideration.

Think about it this way: just because we can build something doesn’t mean we should. Yet in AI development, there’s often a massive gap between what’s technically possible and what’s been carefully thought through in terms of real-world impact.

When image manipulation tools are released without robust safeguards, it’s not an accident or an oversight. It represents choices made throughout the development process:

• Choices about what to prioritize in development timelines

• Choices about which risks to assess and which to downplay

• Choices about whose safety concerns get heard and acted upon

• Choices about what’s “good enough” when it comes to preventing harm

Here’s a question worth sitting with: when AI tools are released with inadequate safeguards, who typically experiences the harm first and most severely?

The answer, consistently, tends to be marginalized communities, particularly young women and girls. Non-consensual image manipulation, deepfakes, and similar technologies disproportionately target these groups. This isn’t random. It reflects existing power dynamics in our society that get amplified and accelerated by technology.

When we talk about “AI harm,” we’re not talking about abstract technical failures. We’re talking about real people whose images, identities, and sense of safety are compromised.

So whose job is it to prevent this harm?

• Developers and companies build the tools and decide what features to include, what guardrails to implement, and when something is “ready” to release to the public.

• Platform leaders set the culture and priorities that determine whether safety is treated as essential or as an afterthought that might slow down innovation.

• Policymakers and regulators establish (or fail to establish) the rules and standards that companies must follow.

• Investors and stakeholders influence priorities through what they choose to fund and reward.

But here’s what often gets overlooked: all of us as users and community members have a role in holding these systems accountable. When we stay silent about harmful features, when we accept “that’s just how tech works” as an answer, we’re participating in a system that prioritizes speed over safety.

You might wonder: if the risks are this clear, why do ethical safeguards so consistently lag behind technical capability? A few patterns emerge.

• Speed over safety: In competitive markets, there’s pressure to ship features quickly. Safety testing and ethical review can feel like they slow things down.

• Homogeneous decision-making: When the people building AI don’t reflect the diversity of people who’ll be affected by it, crucial perspectives and concerns get missed.

• Outsourcing ethics: Sometimes ethical considerations are treated as a separate department’s problem rather than integrated into every stage of development.

• Assuming good faith: There’s often an assumption that users will use tools responsibly, even when evidence consistently shows otherwise.

If you’re a young person navigating digital spaces, this matters to you directly. The AI tools being built right now will shape your world (your opportunities, your privacy, your safety) for years to come.

But here’s the empowering part: you don’t have to passively accept the systems being built for you. Your voice matters. Your concerns are valid. Your experiences with these technologies hold crucial information about what’s working and what’s not.

When you:

• Question why certain features exist

• Push back on tools that make you feel unsafe

• Share your experiences with harmful content

• Demand better from the platforms you use

...you’re participating in the essential work of shaping what AI becomes.

As AI continues to develop at a rapid pace, here are some questions we should all be asking:

• About new features: Who benefits from this? Who might be harmed? What safeguards are in place?

• About companies: Is safety integrated into development from the start, or added afterward? Are diverse voices included in decision-making?

• About ourselves: Are we holding platforms accountable, or accepting harmful features as inevitable?

• About policy: What standards should exist? How do we balance innovation with protection?

At #HalftheStory, we believe digital wellbeing isn’t just about screen time or social media breaks. It’s about examining the systems and structures that shape our digital experiences, and recognizing that those systems aren’t inevitable. They’re the result of choices.

When AI tools are built without adequate consideration for consent, safety, and dignity, that’s not a technical problem. It’s a values problem. And values can change when enough people demand it.

The question “Who decides what AI is allowed to do?” doesn’t have a simple answer. But increasingly, the answer needs to include: all of us, especially those most affected by these technologies.

What do you think? How have you seen AI tools impact your digital well-being or sense of safety online? Your perspective matters in this conversation.

This month, we’re talking teens taking the stage and making change💪, how YOU can shape Digital Civics Academy ‘26 👀, advocating for teens in public spaces, and much much more!

Happy reading! ⬇️

MLK Day at the Apollo 🎤✨

On MLK day, our own Daniella and Emily took the stage at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem for a panel hosted by Apollo Education, sharing how young people can use their voices and leadership to create change both online and off. We’re so grateful to be part of a broader ecosystem committed to uplifting communities and driving lasting impact on the issues that matter most!

Civics Unplugged Mentor Meetup!

Last week, DCA Intern Harveer and the Civics Unplugged team led a powerful DCA Mentor Meetup, showing our teens that they don’t have to wait to make change—they can help pass bills and shape policy right now! Check out the recap here! 🔗

TEENS! Help shape the 2026 Digital Civics Academy!

Fill out our quick Speaker Mad-Libs to share the creators, advocates, and voices that inspire you most. Your ideas will help decide the speakers and experiences at this summer’s Digital Civics Academy…and you may win a prize! 👀 Click that link to fill it out! 😉🔗

Share Your Ideas!

At #HalfTheStory, we look at both sides of the internet, so here are the latest trends and tips you should know. And who knows…maybe watch out for 👇

🔥What’s Hot:

• Is Big Tech finally being exposed for its harmful platforms and addictive algorithms? Over the last few weeks, the world’s largest social media companies including Meta, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok are being sued over claims of their addictive design features causing harm to young users mental health. While Snapchat and TikTok settled before the trial started, the jury is still awaiting testimonies from Instagram CEO, Adam Mosseri, CEO, and Mark Zuckerberg. This landmark trial has been compared to lawsuits that targeted ‘Big Tobacco’ back in the 1990s and could create huge implications for the future of social media platforms. Check out Gabe’s POV in this video!

• Give a little love this month! ❤️ We all know that February 14th is Valentine’s Day, but did you know that February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day?!💭 The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a nonprofit group that encourages people and organizations to “make kindness the norm,” not just something that happens once in a while. So yes, go make a stranger’s day on February 17th, but don’t stop there! Hold the door, hype a friend up, send a “thinking of you” text, or show up with kindness whenever you can. A little love goes a long way. 💌

👎What’s Not:

• Using AI to undo the AI…sounds totally crazy, right?! Maybe not so much if you’re a college student. A recent NBC article talked about a new category of generative AI known as “humanizers”; students use these both to make sure they’re not caught using AI, and to avoid being wrongly accused of using it. This is a strong indicator of the pressure college students are feeling to prove they are human, even students who have never touched AI are feeling it!

• Social media isn’t social anymore and it hasn’t been for a long time. The more that our feeds are “personalized” and curated to the tiniest of niches that only we ourselves care about, the more disconnected we become from the people right next to us. New York Mag calls this the era “desocialized social media.” The question becomes: do we move off these platforms in order to find more community or are we going to continue down our algorithmically-created rabbit holes?

• We’re banning teens from social media…but we’re also taking away their access to public spaces. An article from The Atlantic talks about the decline in teens who hangout at the local Target, malls, and even movie theaters. The reason? Teens are seen as a “disturbance” - ultimately leading to curfew zones and restrictions from entering certain spaces without an adult. Yet, adults wonder why screen time and loneliness among youth are up. These restrictions not only leave teens feeling unwanted and discouraged from being out in the world, but deprives them of the learnings that being independent can bring.

Would you give up social media for 7 days?! If you read our December edition (click here if you haven’t), we talked about the impact of digital detoxes on mental health (at least for young adults). Two of our storytellers, Ben and Anxhelika, shared their takes in this video below.

If you’ve made it this far, this is your sign to get crafty and make some cute Valentine’s for the special people in your life!! From a traditional card to digital photobooths like the one below, get creative and spread some kindness. ✨ 💖

Ever heard of the swag gap? It’s a term that stemmed from TikTok that describes a relationship where one partner comes off as “cooler” or “better” than the other. Some Gen Zers find this to be a dealbreaker when it comes to relationships, one TikTok user saying “me showing up in public looking swagged out, looking fly, I have a cool outfit. And then my partner just looks an effing mess behind me....I can’t do it.” Even celebrity couples like Justin and Hailey Bieber have fallen victim to this idea. Founders of Grownkid, Gael Aitor and Kayla Suarez, dive into this idea on their podcast below! ⬇️

Thanks for scrolling along with us! Don’t leave us on read…subscribe…we’ll be back next month! In the meantime, stay 'In The Loop’ daily by keeping up with us @halfthestory on all socials! 🤩