POV: You Spend Your Summer with a Dumb Phone and Digital Camera
Gen Z just wants lower screen time and more fun IRL
HAPPY JULY! 🌴
Somehow, we’re halfway through 2025 and closer to 2050 than we are to 2000. Make that make sense…what does make sense, though, is the fact that tech has drastically transformed the way humans live and interact. That’s why In The Loop exists! To make these things more digestible and have more mindful tech use in your life!
This month we’re diving into:
Nostalgic tech 📸
Screen-free concerts 🎤
And more!
Let this be your reminder to take a break from scrolling and pick up that hobby you’ve been dying to start!
🏛️ WELCOME OUR 2025 DCA COHORT 🏛️
It’s official! 65 students from 56 cities, 20 states, and 6 countries, are joining us later this month for the second annual Digital Civics Academy. These young leaders have already made waves in their own communities and we’re so excited to meet them and kick off a week of movement building and memory making!
🌱 #HalfTheStory is Digitally Unwell! 🌱
Last week, we announced that #HalfTheStory is now supported by The Unwell Foundation, started by Alex Cooper! Through our work with Girls Inc. we are working hard to bring digital wellness programming to girls across the nation so they can take charge of their relationships with tech and each other.
🔔 New York State is Rolling Out “Bell-To-Bell” 🔔
At the end of June, Governor Hochul of New York announced that schools statewide will be implementing “distraction-free learning” via a bell-to-bell policy this fall. #HalfTheStory’s goal is to make sure teens voices are prioritized in the roll-out and implementation of this new policy, so stay tuned for more!
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:
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter spoke out recently about phone use at her concerts, discussing the possibility of having fans lock their phones in pouches during the show. While Carpenter says she understands why some fans may be upset, she mentioned how much more human-to-human connection and meaningful moments she has experienced as an audience member at screen-free concerts—and we agree! 🎸
Teen Vogue’s Group Project series is spotlighting how Gen Z is craving more offline connection! From unionizing at work to reviving letter-writing and knitting circles, young people are turning away from algorithm-driven friendships and building real community. Whether through dance, intentional living, or political organizing, these stories prove that meaningful connection doesn’t need a screen. 💌
Nostalgic tech is taking over! ☎️ HTS Teen Advisory Board Member and Content Creator, Nina, discusses with us how Gen Z is shifting priorities and questioning what kind of tech is the coolest. Watch here!
👎What’s Not:
AI may be leading to a decline in critical thinking skills.🧠 According to research conducted at MIT’s Media Lab, young adults who frequently used ChatGPT had the lowest brain engagement and consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels compared to their peers. However, there is hope that AI could enhance learning if we are equipped with the tools to navigate it.
Is Instagram anxiety taking the fun out of birthdays? 🎂Many teens have reported feeling lonely, disappointed, or left out on their birthdays due to the pressure of getting tagged in “birthday shoutout” social media posts. Since you can see how many birthday Instagram Stories someone receives, teens who get fewer or none at all feel as though all eyes are on them. In-person birthday wishes and spending quality time with friends feel a lot more meaningful than an Instagram Story, don’t you think? 🥰🥳
For the past year, phone bans have been a constant topic of conversation, but did you know that 21 states in the U.S. have implemented some form of phone policy in schools? 📲 Emily and Harveer from our Digital Civics team break down 5 of those policies in the video below!
While we’re on the topic of nostalgic tech and a phone-free lifestyle, try turning your smartphone into a dumb phone.✌️📵 It sounds crazy, but you can actually download an app that removes the attention-grabbing platforms like TikTok and Instagram and transforms your phone into a simple screen that has only the essentials. Check out the tutorial below!
Remember dopamine menus? 🥐 The list of things that bring you joy and don’t include doomscrolling? If you’re feeling sluggish and in need of some more natural boosts of dopamine, watch this video for inspiration!
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! 🤩
