Non-profit

Half the Story Project

Website:

www.halfthestoryproject.com/

Location:

Western Springs, IL

Tax ID:

82-5231180

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $210,056
Expenses: $41,859
Assets: $171,184

Type:

Technology Safety Policy Advocacy Group

Formation:

2015

Founder and Executive Director:

Larissa May

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $380,200
Expenses: $408,989
Assets: $154,449 13

References

  1. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). HalfTheStory. 2022.

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Half the Story Project (styled #HalfTheStory) is a left-of-center nonprofit that offers courses to middle and high school children that address potential harms caused by and potential addiction to social media. 1

#HalfTheStory campaigns in support of legislation that would prohibit companies from employing potentially addictive characteristics accessible to minors and would make them liable for any harm associated with such characteristics. Its executive director, Larissa May, testified before Congress and campaigned in support of California’s Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act, which would impose such regulations on technology companies. 2 3

Background

#HalfTheStory is a left-of-center advocacy organization that was founded in 2015 by Larissa May, at the time a Vanderbilt University student, after she had a mental health scare that she attributed to her phone usage. 1 It started as a social media campaign that encouraged individuals to post on social media using the hashtag #HalfTheStory while saying something they are passionate about. 4 5

#HalfTheStory advocates for regulating social media companies to address mental health issues and for education programs that teach children how to use phones responsibly. It also offers its own proprietary courses for middle and high school students that address habits and emotional impacts associated with technology usage. 5

Advocacy

#HalfTheStory campaigned in support of California Assembly Bill 2408, the Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act, that was introduced by Assemblymembers Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). #HalfTheStory’s executive director, Larissa May, also testified before Congress about the legislation. 6

The bill would prohibit social media companies from using techniques on children that are deemed addictive. It would also make them subject to a $25,000 fine and liable for damages for each child deemed to be injured due to a violation of the bill. The bill defines addicting techniques as any act that contributes to addiction, knowingly or not. It defines addiction as anything that causes or contributes to physical, mental, emotional, developmental or material harm as well as when something “indicates preoccupation or obsession with, or withdrawal or difficulty to cease or reduce use of, a social media platform despite the user’s desire to cease or reduce that use.” 3

Programs

#HalfTheStory hosts a Digital Civics Academy, a virtual summer camp for 16- to 21-year-olds that includes a course on political advocacy. The course discusses how technology platforms can be regulated to address mental health and how to organize political campaigns. The course is sponsored by the Youth Power Fund, LookUp, and the Onward and Upward Charitable Foundation. 7

Social Media U is a web program created by #HalfTheStory in 2022 that offers online courses for middle and high school students. The courses train 11- to 18-year-old students on how to use technology, use social media, and socialize in person. It provides information on how to engage with and produce content online and how to behave online and in person with respect to their self-image, claiming to teach skills associated with emotional intelligence. It also teaches students that web programs are addictive, “decrease autonomy,” and require self-regulation for healthy use. 8 In 2022, #HalfTheStory reported 2,500 children had used the program. 9

Financials

In 2022, #HalfTheStory reported $386,498 in contributions and $408,989 in total expenses. 10 Of its expenses, it reported paying $225,123 on professional fees and consultants for its program services. 11

Leadership

Larissa May founded #HalfTheStory while attending Vanderbilt University and is the organization’s executive director. As a marketing student, she also worked with several consumer brands, including Kin Euphorics and Otherland. 12

References

  1. “Once Consumed by Social Media, Now She Raises the Alarm about Kids and Phones.” TODAY.com. Accessed July 1, 2024. https://www.today.com/parents/teens/larissa-may-social-media-teens-rcna121192.
  2. [1] Wolf, Amy. “Digital Wellness Activist Larissa May, Ba’16, Empowers Teens on Their Social Media Journey.” Vanderbilt University, March 6, 1970. https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/03/06/digital-wellness-activist-larissa-may-ba16-empowers-teens-on-their-social-media-journey/.
  3. “AB-2408 Social Media Platform.” California Legislative Information, June 30, 2022. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB2408.
  4. Wolf, Amy. “What’s Your Story? Meet the Student behind #halfthestory.” Vanderbilt University, March 2, 1970. https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2016/03/02/meet-the-student-behind-halfthestory/.
  5. “About.” #HalfTheStory Life Unfiltered. Accessed July 1, 2024. https://www.halfthestoryproject.com/aboutus.
  6. Wolf, Amy. “Digital Wellness Activist Larissa May, Ba’16, Empowers Teens on Their Social Media Journey.” Vanderbilt University, March 6, 1970. https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/03/06/digital-wellness-activist-larissa-may-ba16-empowers-teens-on-their-social-media-journey/.
  7. “Advocacy.” #HalfTheStory. Accessed July 1, 2024. https://www.halfthestoryproject.com/advocacy.
  8. “Social Media U.” #HalfTheStory. Accessed July 1, 2024. https://www.halfthestoryproject.com/social-media-u.
  9. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). HalfTheStory. 2022. Part III, Line 4a.
  10. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). HalfTheStory. 2022. Part I, Lines 8-18.
  11. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). HalfTheStory. 2022. Schedule O.
  12. “Larissa May.” Collective Speakers, May 13, 2024. https://collectivespeakers.com/speakers/larissa-may/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: June 1, 2018

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $210,056 $41,859 $171,184 $600 N $210,174 $4,000 $0 $0

    Half the Story Project


    Western Springs, IL