Welcome

Welcome! Today, I’m excited to introduce the JOMO (campus) program, a transformative digital wellness initiative on your campus. Let’s first start by understanding what Digital Wellness means. It is the mindful management of technology to help us be more present to the joys around us. In order to visualize this ‘joy’, take Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and flip it on its head. That’s JOMO - the Joy of Missing Out.

We’re designing approaches to technology that support people in finding joy in missing out on mindless social media consumption and distractions from your screen so you can make space for what really matters most to you. This approach includes regularly decluttering our digital environments, setting achievable wellness goals, and reflecting on activities that bring life and joy. By leaning into community, creativity, and care, we can reduce reliance on technology's false promises of comfort, control, and convenience.

By re-negotiating our relationship with technology, we can measurably improve mental health, productivity, and academic performance.


The JOMO Philosophy

At JOMO, we are less focused on limiting screentime than on helping you create the positive conditions for other — more life-giving — engagements to thrive and flourish. (Read Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life by Albert Borgmann)

The JOMO Manifesto is at the heart of our mission. Read and download your copy here.

Science Behind JOMO

Nearly one in three teens say they are “almost constantly” on social media, according to a December 2023 Pew Research Center survey. Kids, with their developing brains and susceptible minds, are among the most vulnerable online, and many products exploit this vulnerability.

The US Surgeon General has announced: “It is time to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents.” (US Department of Health: Social Media and Youth Mental Health Advisory)

Research shows that excessive screen use can lead to anxiety, depression, and decreased attention spans, especially among children and adolescents. By fostering digital wellness, we support students' mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being.


How JOMO(campus) program works

Our mission at JOMO(campus) is to promote digital well-being for every student, empowering school communities to deepen learning and engage with technology in healthy ways that allow joy, connection, focus, and flourishing in classrooms, hallways, and homes.

This program aligns with your school's mission and vision, supporting your mandates for student well-being and academic success. Here’s a high-level overview of how it works:

  1. Teacher Involvement:

    • Role Modeling: As staff and administrators, you will model digital wellness behaviors.

    • Facilitating Challenges: You will guide students through a 4-week digital wellness challenge, dedicating 30 minutes each week to these activities.

    • Access to Resources: After the challenge, you will have access to a library of digital wellness lessons to integrate into their classes as they see fit.

  2. Support System:

    • Campus Integration: You’ll see JOMO messaging throughout the school and community, reinforcing the program’s principles.

    • Community Engagement: We provide posters, social media content, newsletters, and internal signage to promote digital wellness.

  3. Complementing Existing Policies:

    • JOMO supports and enhances your current technology policies, whether it's phone-free classrooms, limited phone use, or using tools like Yonder pouches.


Your Role in JOMO's Success

To make digital wellness a success on your campus, it starts with YOU. As educators and administrators, you will:

  • Model Digital Wellness: (You will) Lead by example, showing students healthy digital habits.

  • Facilitate the Program: (You’ll) Guide and work along with students through the digital wellness challenge and use the provided resources to enrich your teaching.

  • Engage with the Community: (You commit to) Participate in and promote the JOMO activities within your school and community.


Why JOMO Matters

As Laurie Fritsch JOMO Staff and Director of Wellness at Virginia Tech said , “ Digital well-being must be at the forefront of our work with students. Partnering with JOMO(campus) helped us fast forward this priority by five years.”

Creating a culture of digital well-being is a strategic and sustained effort that benefits everyone in your school community. It helps students thrive academically and personally by promoting a balanced use of technology.


We asked students to share the impact they experienced from the JOMO(campus) program:


These are some of the impacts students have experienced from the program:

“My main takeaway is that the smallest changes can have a massive impact on the time I have available.” 

“JOMO opens your eyes to a problem you didn’t know you had.”

“My main takeaway is that the smallest changes can have a massive impact on the time I have available.” 

“[JOMO] really makes me think, could I be using my time better?” 

“I reduced my screen time by 300%”


Now that you’ve embarked on your JOMO journey, you are fostering a healthier, happier and flourishing school environment. Ready to begin your journey towards a joy-filled, digitally-well campus?

Together, with joy, we can significantly improve social connectedness and academic focus for your students, building a digital well-being culture on campus.

Christina Crook, Founder + CEO