By Sally Gambrell Bridgford Larissa & Sally Over the past few weeks, I, like many of you, have been inundated with news updates and alerts that have had me more attached to my phone than I would like. I can only imagine what the digital world must feel like for the young people in our lives right now. In recognizing the broader issue of our healthy (or unhealthy) digital habits and how they may limit our ability to live a Great Life, I want to introduce Larissa May, founder and CEO of #HalfTheStory, who is leading a digital revolution for our young people and creating an online ecosystem that works better for us all. As we all look to find more opportunities for connection and supporting all of our mental health and well-being, The Gambrell Foundation’s work with #HalfTheStory will support creating new standards for all of our digital engagement. I spoke with Larissa about her work with #HalfTheStory and how she sees the future of digital wellness. 1. Can you tell me more about what inspired you to start #HalfTheStory? Ten years ago, sitting in my Vanderbilt University dorm room, I hit rock bottom — caught in the grip of an addiction that plunged me into the darkest period of my life. Desperate for answers, I dragged myself to the Campus Psych Center. The doctor went through the standard checklist: alcohol, romantic partners, and drugs. But not once did they ask about the real drug — the one sitting in my pocket. My phone. That night, everything clicked. I realized I wasn’t alone — I was just one of millions of young people silently struggling with the crushing weight of technology. I knew I had to transform my pain into purpose. I had my lightbulb moment: social media is only #HalfTheStory. During my senior year, what started as a simple art project exploded into something bigger: a nationwide movement that spread across college campuses. This became #HalfTheStory, a non-profit dedicated to helping teens build healthier relationships with social media and technology. 2. How does your work help young people overcome challenges with their relationship to social media? As the first youth-led non-profit of its kind, #HalfTheStory focuses on progressing education and advocacy work surrounding social media and tech use. Through its evidence-based education program, Social Media U, students in rural and urban communities across the U.S., U.K., and Canada are taught the skills needed to have a healthy relationship with their screens and are empowered to understand and advocate for their digital health. In 2024, #HalfTheStory announced a new national education partnership with Girls Inc. to support girls in underserved communities across the country. 3. What does digital wellness look like for you and the young people in the #HalfTheStory network? Digital wellness means using technology in a way that supports emotional health and positive digital habits. This means teaching kids emotional resilience skills to thrive in the digital age. I’ve learned that digital wellness is an inside job. In other words, what is going on inside our heads often impacts our tech habits, and our tech habits do the same to our emotions. Digital wellness is wellness, and like every other form of wellness like physical, emotional, or sleep, the only constant is change! We are always evolving. 4. What’s it like working directly with young people to champion solutions for our digital world? Essential! I always say that teen work makes the dream work. #HalfTheStory teens are critical to our business and our success. They inform the work we do, from helping design the education programs we put into place, to coming up with marketing campaigns, to running our socials and writing our substack. Part of the reason #HalfTheStory’s educational programming is so effective is because we always make sure there is a teen in the room where decisions are being made about them. In practice, our impact comes to life through teen-powered programs that create real change. Our Screen-Free campaigns are completely youth-led and owned. Teens design and run their own digital wellness challenges in their schools and communities. They’re not just following a script — they’re creating innovative ways to help their peers build healthier relationships with technology. #HalfTheStory’s Youth Civics Academy takes our mission to the next level. We empower young leaders to engage with policymakers and tech companies directly. Our teen advocates have testified before state legislatures, contributed to digital safety bills, and participated in roundtables with major social media platforms. They’re not just talking about change — they’re actively shaping the future of tech policy. 5. What does it mean to you to Live Greatly? My friends refer to me as “livinlikelarz.” I like to think I live each day like it’s my last — to live with a heart wide open, shoot for the stars, let dreams come true and break free! I’ve always lived with purpose at the center, which makes it easy to never feel like I’m “working!”
