Youth-led framework addresses teens’ mental health and social media use
Today’s teenagers may find themselves at a crossroads:
Annual Impact
Report: Breaking
Through
Transforming Digital Wellness with Teen Centric Innovation
Friends and supporters,
As I look back on 2025, I am filled with the joy that only true impact can bring. What began as a bold idea–to put teens at the center of reshaping the digital world–has turned into a movement that is not only growing, but accelerating in ways I once only dreamed about back in my dorm room when this was purely an idea on paper.
This fall, #HalfTheStory made history in New York. Together with Governor Kathy Hochul, we launched the New York State Teen Tech Council and hosted our first-ever statewide Training Day in NYC. Over 50 teen leaders from Buffalo to Long Island came together for a screen free pep rally, storytelling in our Listening Lab, and a full day of programming devoted to turning their spark into action. And the best part? Announcing our $300,000 Phone Free Fund, which will distribute grants directly to teens so they can redesign the digital culture of their own schools. To witness their creativity, courage, and clarity of vision was nothing short of life-changing.
I often say that teens are not the problem—they are the solution. And this year proved it. Their ideas are shaping the future of digital wellness, from reimagining school spaces to building joyful, screen-free traditions.
What gives me the most hope is the momentum and potential for scale. From new partnerships with Girl Scouts and YMCA, to groundbreaking research underway with Georgetown’s Thrive Center, we are building the evidence base, the infrastructure, and the blueprint for a national digital wellness movement for teens, by teens.
Future is bright and less blue light,
Larissa May
Founder & Executive Director
Teen Tech Council
971M+
impressions changing the story of digital wellness through PR and storytelling.
660,070+
digital reach across social platforms and teen-authored In The Loop Substack
60,000
youth reached across all programs in 2025
54,091
students served through Social Media U (SMU)
2,695
youth engaged through Teen leadership programs (DCA, TTC, and our TAB)
1,450+
youth reached via CTRL Your Scroll program in partnership with Girls Inc.
CTRL Your Scroll: Beyond the Screen
Supporting emotional regulation and digital wellbeing in middle school
CTRL represents one of the most comprehensive evaluations of a digital wellbeing curriculum for adolescent girls to date. Ongoing analyses are informing curriculum refinement and will guide national scaling across the Girls Inc. network, including insights on changes in digital flourishing, emotion regulation, and sleep hygiene, measured using validated, strengths-based tools such as the Digital Flourishing Scale for Adolescents (DFS-A).
We are actively evaluating the program through a rigorous, mixed-methods study in partnership with the Thrive Center at Georgetown University, which includes pre/post youth surveys, facilitator feedback, attendance, and implementation fidelity data.
1,450+
middle school youth reached across 16 Girls Inc. affiliate sites nationwide
8 Session
hands-on curriculum grounded in play-based learning and real-world reflection
Why This Work Matters
We believe digital wellness is a right, not a privilege. Technology now functions as a “super” social determinant of public health for young people. It shapes their sleep, mental health, social relationships, civic engagement, and identity development.
Yet most digital wellbeing efforts still:
- Treat teens as passive recipients rather than partners
- Lack validated outcome measures that are strengths-based and work for teens
- Fail to scale through systems teens already trust
#HalfTheStory exists to change that.
Youth-Reported Outcomes
76%
say continuing healthy tech habits is important
76%
would recommend SMU to a peer
66%
report improved relationships with technology
Scale
54,091
students served in 2025
24
schools contracted with across the U.S., UK, and Canada
Proven Impact Through Rigorous Evaluation
Students who completed Social Media U showed a 23% increase in digital flourishing, reflecting healthier relationships with technology, stronger emotional regulation, and improved overall wellbeing. Students also reported significantly better sleep hygiene—an early indicator of broader mental health benefits.
By measuring change before and after the program, we continuously refine SMU to strengthen impact as we scale, with additional evaluation planned for 2026.
Proven Impact Through Rigorous Evaluation
Teens participating in the Digital Civics Academy experienced strong improvements in digital wellbeing and civic leadership skills, with the largest gains in digital civic competency. These improvements were largely sustained six months later (85% retention), showing that DCA creates durable, real-world impact.
Teens report increased confidence in:
- Contacting elected officials
- Organizing petitions
- Participating in digital policy conversations
Youth-Reported Outcomes
97%
would recommend DCA to peers
87%
plan to engage in advocacy locally
Scale
132
teen leaders trained to date
56+
cities across 5+ countries
Our Ask To You
We are currently accepting sponsors for the third annual Digital Civics Academy. To learn more, contact larz@halfthestoryproject.com.
Impact
74
teens served on the New York teen tech Council
40+
school districts statewide represented
50+
teen leaders attended launch day
The feedback from our Training Day said it all:
100%
Teens reported feeling safe & supported—one of their most meaningful days ever
100%
Teens showed up, locked phones & left with new friends: phone-free fun works!
Participants reflected
11+
racial/ethnic identities
6
faith traditions
3
sexual/gender identities
overview
28
Teen advisors Ages 14-19 (M=16.5)
42
42 monthly meetings (to date)
9.5
Average Attendees Per meeting + Teen Leader
Teen-Led Media & Content
2600+
subscribers to In The Loop Substack
29
Teen creators in the creators collective
31,000+
creators collective followers reached across social platforms.
Research & Thought Leadership
One of the largest bodies of adolescent digital flourishing research. #HalfTheStory is working to build the field’s most comprehensive evidence base on:
- Digital flourishing scale for adolescent (DFS-A) scores
- Youth digital wellbeing measurement framework
- Digital civics and advocacy skills
What Makes This Research Different
- Teen-informed and co-designed measures
- Mixed-methods evaluation that value teen voice
- Real-world implementation at scale
This growing evidence base positions #HalfTheStory to shape national standards for how digital wellbeing is defined, measured, and scaled. Future reports will include expanded mental health outcomes (PHQ-2) and peer-facilitated models beginning in 2026.
How Larissa May Is Turning Phone Free Schools Into A Youth Led Culture Shift
What happens after a school goes phone free?
Partnerships That Enable Scale
By partnering with institutions that already reach millions, #HalfTheStory scales impact without reinventing infrastructure:
- Discovery Education – Potential to reach 50M+ learners
- YMCA of California – Statewide reach into schools and communities
These partnerships allow research-backed innovation to move faster, farther, and more equitably.
Movember Collaboration
The Apollo Collaboration
California YMCA Youth & Government Collaboration
Junior Achievement Collaboration
Alliance of New York State YMCAs Collaboration
Looking Ahead: 2026 Priorities
In 2026, we will deepen what works and scale what matters—advancing youth leadership, strengthening the evidence base, and expanding systems-level impact.
These priorities reflect our commitment to building a national, youth-powered digital wellbeing movement grounded in research, equity, and real-world change.
- Expand youth-led research pipelines
- Scale Teen Tech Council nationally
- Refine our adolescent digital wellbeing measurement framework
- Launch peer-facilitated models in CTRL and DCA
- Continue shaping national and local tech policy with teens at the table
