Teen Tech Council
Bans are only the starting line in the AI age.
Teens must help shape what comes next.
The Teen Tech Council (TTC) is building national civic infrastructure for youth voice from technology product creation to policy and regulation.
Expanding to California!
After launching in New York, we’re bringing our Teen Tech Council to California. In partnership with the Office of the First Partner, we’re inviting you to co-create a statewide initiative to impact policy on AI and responsible technology use in your state.
- Join our virtual cohort and develop a new network of like-minded peers
- Build skills in AI literacy, human-centered design, and leadership through an action research project of your choosing
- Develop a digital wellness solution that will shape the future of technology and AI in your community
- Gain access to future leadership opportunities with #HalfTheStory
We made the case in New York
In 2025, #HalfTheStory partnered with Governor Kathy Hochul to kick off a leadership program powering the next generation of digital wellness advocates to go beyond phone bans alone, shifting culture in schools across the state.
- >70 teens turned lived experience into community-led solutions.
- Teen leaders created phone-free spaces and experiences that brought peers back together.
- Teens’ collaborative projects reached 17,000 students across the State of NY.
We wanted to create a phone-free, digital-camera themed scavenger hunt because we wanted to bring a really fun, unforgettable, low-commitment after-school activity to our school. We know making IRL connections and memories with peers is so important in our digital world right now. We think this event will mean a lot to our school community, and it has the potential to become a beloved yearly tradition.
I wanted to create something for students that don’t belong to a sports team to still have something meaningful to do after school other than going home and doom scroll. My club aims to shift students mindsets around digital wellness and help them commit to bettering their life.
Abdullah A.
16, Buffalo
I noticed that the phone ban took away students' phones without introducing them to healthy alternatives and many students scroll on social media as a coping mechanism for school stress. By introducing “Craft Carts” to my school, students will have the opportunity to see how arts and crafts are a better method for stress relief than scrolling on social media.
Fiona M.
17, Manhattan
We wanted to create a phone-free, digital-camera themed scavenger hunt because we wanted to bring a really fun, unforgettable, low-commitment after-school activity to our school. We know making IRL connections and memories with peers is so important in our digital world right now. We think this event will mean a lot to our school community, and it has the potential to become a beloved yearly tradition.
Lukas D.
15, Scarsdale
I wanted to create this project because students are often overwhelmed and deserve a space where they can breathe, reset, and feel calm during the school day. This detox room will give our community a supportive spot to recharge and take care of their mental health.
Olivia H.
16, Long Island
How Larz May Is Turning Phone Free Schools Into A Youth Led Culture Shift
Forbes article, January 2026.
Gov. Hochul, Sec. Clinton lead push for screen-free New York schools
Mashable article, July 2025.