Bell-to-Bell Starter Kit
Deciding what policies to put in place regarding phones on your school campus? We have compiled some best practices and free resources to support your decision-making process.
Empowering the Next Generation of Digital Wellness Leaders
#HalfTheStory is the leading youth nonprofit advancing digital wellness through play-based, youth-led, evidence-informed programs—partnering with schools and students to build the next generation of informed, empowered digital citizens.
For Schools
(SMU) is an innovative 8-week, media-rich digital wellness curriculum designed for and by teens. It addresses critical skills such as emotional resilience, algorithmic awareness, and healthy digital habit development.
For Teens
(DCA) is a first-of-its-kind teen leadership program that equips teens with the skills and confidence to shape digital policy and advocate for healthier tech systems. Through a 5-day bootcamp, students learn to shape policy, launch initiatives, and start businesses—87% take action in their communities after the program.
Teen-led policy change—partnering with Governor Hochul to create tech policies that work. From Screen-Free Prom to the NY Teen Tech Council, we turn screen-free fear into fun and action.
A select cohort of 27+ teen leaders guiding #HalfTheStory strategy—and gaining real advocacy experience through co-designing our evidence-informed programs.
#HalfTheStory works with , , and
#HalfTheStory works with Leading Educators, Nonprofits, and Enterprises
Why #HalfTheStory?
We are leading the digital wellness movement with empirically grounded, teen-centered interventions that deliver measurable impact. We're one of the first organizations to demonstrate validated gains on the Digital Flourishing Scale for Adolescents, with sustained results that last months after our programs end. From individual empowerment to systems change, we're building the evidence base that will transform digital wellness for an entire generation.
"Crash Out" with Melinda French Gates
In 2024, we partnered with Girls Inc. to create the first-of-its-kind play-based digital wellness program for middle school students. Through extensive research, co-design, and testing sessions, we developed an 8-session curriculum that combines emotional resilience with behavior science to help young people build healthier relationships with technology.
In April 2025, students from Girls Inc. Nashville participated in a workshop with Melinda French Gates, during which they played interactive games from the program. During a candid discussion after the games, Melinda and several girls explored topics ranging from the challenges of adolescence to navigating social media's influence, providing valuable insights into the unique challenges facing young people today.
1,500+
participants reached across 16 Girls Inc. affiliates this fall
400+
student voices designed the program across 12 co-design sessions and 40+ tests
I absolutely loved participating in the Half the Story event this spring with Melinda Gates! I especially enjoyed interviewing Melinda French Gates, and collaborating with other high school students to lead activities for our younger Girls Inc. sisters. I hope to become a teen facilitator for Girls Inc. Nashville’s launch of #HalfTheStory programming this fall!
#HalfTheStory has been life-changing. It gave me the tools to speak up about algorithmic harm and mental health—and the confidence to lead. Joining #HalfTheStory helped me find my voice, connect with changemakers, and fuel my passion to make the internet a safer place.
#HalfTheStory has been life-changing. It gave me the tools to speak up about algorithmic harm and mental health—and the confidence to lead. Joining #HalfTheStory helped me find my voice, connect with changemakers, and fuel my passion to make the internet a safer place.
Monica, 16
#HalfTheStory gave me the courage to turn my passion into action—and showed me the power of youth voices at the Capitol. This program didn’t just teach me advocacy—it gave me the confidence to create real change.
Harveer, 16
1B+
media impressions shifting the global conversation on teen digital wellness
51,000+
students reached through school and nonprofit partnerships
Statistically Relevant
gains in teen digital wellbeing and civic skills, backed by research
110+
youth leaders trained across 56 U.S. cities and 9 countries
85%
of teens retained program benefits six months later
87%
took advocacy action, helping shape real policy change
At Pinterest, we believe in creating a more inspired and positive online world, and #HalfTheStory embodies that vision. We’re proud to support #HalfTheStory in shaping a generation that feels confident and healthy both on and offline.
Kathy Gu
Pinterest Impact Fund Senior Lead
Blowing Out The Candle On In The Loop's 1st Birthday
Cheering for one year of amplifying teen voices and making digital wellbeing more accessible for everyone!
Hot Takes on Instagram Features!
Madelyn dives into some of Instagram's most controversial features and what teens think about them.
Larissa May has expanded [their] focus to educational programming and is adding a more aggressive approach: marshaling social media’s main users—teens themselves—to fight for change.
