HalfTheStory launches screen free prom campaign
Non-profit HalfTheStory is working with students across the U.S. on a screen-free prom campaign, asking teenagers to ditch their phones at prom events.
The first screen-free proms will take place at Highland High in Salt Lake city and Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco.
Each school taking part will provide lockers for attendees to check their phones into at the start of their prom events. Polaroid cameras and photobooths will be available to allow students to capture memories without screens.
Teenagers on the HalfTheStory Teen Advisory Board were inspired to action after seeing prom events filled with students texting rather than dancing. By removing screens from the events, the campaign aims to create more mindful and memorable experiences for high school students.
"Our collective phone use is currently leading to a significant sense of disconnection. We don't have any student events that are also screen-free. I'm excited to see my peers come together without the distraction of phones, and truly dance like no one's watching," explains Louise, age 17.
"I always say, 'teen work makes the dream work,' and watching our teens take Screen Free Prom from idea to reality has been a dream come true. Every teen should have the opportunity to attend a prom without digital distraction, and we are so honored to bring our Screen Free Prom campaign to life across the country," adds Larissa May, Founder and Executive Director at HalfTheStory.
The first Screen Free Prom in San Francisco was sponsored by Pinterest, one of HalfTheStory’s supporters. The non-profit’s Teen Advisory Board also worked with Pinterest to create a Screen Free Prom toolkit to help teens replicate the event at their own schools.
"As phones become more prevalent across the country, we have the opportunity to proactively shape a future where young people learn to think critically about what they consume online, and when they consume it. At Pinterest, we want to help empower young people to become responsible digital citizens, and are proud to be a part of HalfTheStory's Screen Free Prom," explains Alise Marshall, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at Pinterest.
Last year, HalfTheStory partnered with Girls Inc. to launch a new initiative aiming to address the growing need for digital wellness education. The initiative focuses on young girls from underserved communities across the United States and aims to equip girls with the tools needed to navigate technology and social media in a healthier, more balanced way.
