What is STAND Week?

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STAND Week is a media safety program for youth ages 11-14. It is a peer-to-peer school program run by student leaders. It is designed to create an atmosphere where youth feel empowered to stand firm and make healthy choices with technology. STAND Week also contains a parent education component and facilitates an open dialogue between students and their parents on essential issues.

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The power of STAND Week lies in:

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• providing education for parents/guardians,

• facilitating communication between students and their parents/guardians,

• promoting the development of youth leadership skills,

• influencing youth through constructive social proof,

• creating a positive unified atmosphere regarding healthy technology (like a media safety spirit week),

• and of course, individually empowering youth to make healthy media choices.

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If you are interested in programs for elementary and high schools go to SafeTechSolutions.org.

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Who created STAND Week?​

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STAND Week was created by the 501c3 nonprofit corporation, Project STAND. Our mission is to prevent exploitation by empowering youth, parents, and school communities to STAND and thrive by using technology in healthy ways. Learn more at projectSTAND.org.

 

Project STAND is a member of Safe Tech Solutions, a collaboration of leading non-profits that provides engaging and comprehensive K-12 media safety programs to empower students and parents to thrive in today’s digital world. Learn more at SafeTechSolutions.org.

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Why do we need STAND Week?

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Growing up in a digital world is more challenging than many of us bargained for. Compulsive screen use, harmful social media, cyberbullying, violent/degrading/abusive content, and predators are just a few of the things we are dealing with at an unprecedented level. As a result, we are seeing rising rates of screen-related addictions1, peer pressure, sleep problems2, hyperconnectivity induced anxiety3, sextortion and other forms of sexual abuse4, human trafficking5, and even suicide6. STAND Week helps students, parents, and educators address these issues.

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How does STAND Week work?

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Using a step-by-step guidebook, student leaders and their advisor plan how to implement the components of STAND Week. Each day consists of a STAND Message, STAND Pledge, STAND Brain Teaser, STAND Classroom Discussion, and STAND Home Challenge. STAND Messages are introduced by student leaders in the daily announcements. All students can sign their commitment to them on the STAND Pledges. These messages are reinforced in the STAND Brain Teasers. Deeper learning and discussion is encouraged with the STAND Classroom Discussions. STAND Week is completely customizable for each individual school and can be used in other settings as well.

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How much does STAND Week cost?

STAND Week is most cost-effective when purchased at a district level through Safe Tech Solutions, but it can also be purchased for individual schools. In 2024 we are thrilled to roll out our new and improved version of STAND Week that will be part of a 4-year rotation of programs, so students are seeing new content each year. This significantly revised program is available for $499 per school and comes with comprehensive training and orientation, ongoing support, digital assets, best practices recommendations, and a parenting guide and resources. STAND Week merchandise is also available for an additional cost.

 

If the price is prohibitive for your school, reach out at STANDWeek.org/contact to learn about scholarship opportunities.

How does STAND Week support parents/guardians?

Parental figures are the most important protective factor for their kids, therefore a significant portion of STAND Week includes educating parents/guardians and encouraging communication between students and their parents/guardians. In advance of STAND Week, parents/guardians are provided an educational media safety video to watch and learn from. Students have the opportunity to accept a challenge (with incentives) to have conversations with their parents/guardians about the media safety topics every day.

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References

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Bonomi, A. E., Nemeth, J. M., Attenburger, L. E., Anderson, M., Snyder, A., & Dotto, I. (2014). Fiction or not? Fifty shades is associated with health risks in adolescent and young adult females. Journal of Women’s Health, 23, 720–728.

Gentile, D. A., Lynch P. J., Linder, J. R., & Walsh, D. A. (2004). The effects of violent video game habits on adolescent hostility, aggressive behaviors, and school performance. Journal of Adolescence, 27. Retrieved from

https://drdouglas.org/drdpdfs/Gentile_Lynch_Linder_Walsh_2004.pdf

John, A., Glendenning, A. C., Marchant, A., Montgomery, P., Stewart, A., Wood, S., . . .Hawton, K. (2018). Self-harm, suicidal behaviours, and cyberbullying in children and young people: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20. Retrieved from

https://www.jmir.org/2018/4/e129/

O’Keeffe, G.S., & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011). The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics, Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 127(4), 800-804. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-0054

Peters, R., Lederer. L., & Kelly, S. (2012). The slave and the porn star: Sexual trafficking and pornography. The Protection Project Journal of Human Rights & Civil Society, 81-98.

Twenge, J. M., Hisler, G. C., & Krizan, Z. (2019). Associations between screen time and sleep duration are primarily driven by portable electronic devices: Evidence from a population based study of U.S. children ages 0–17. Sleep Medicine, 56, 211-218.

doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1016/j.sleep.2018.11.009

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