Project Override

A club program for high school students from the Organization for Social Media Safety.

The Organization for Social Media Safety provides interactive presentations to students and parents across the country, educating them on the foundations of social media safety and providing critical skills and vocabulary to navigate their own experiences. Project Override was developed as an extension of this initiative, allowing communities to continue their facilitation of social media safety principles long after our presenter leaves the building, using our evidence-based curriculum to build connection, community, belonging, and a norm of safety. This program was specifically designed to:

• Empower students to act as role models in their communities, demonstrating healthy and safe habits on social media to their peers and younger students.
• Facilitate opportunities for socialization without the obstruction of cell phones and social media.
• Lead critical conversations among their peers regarding their experiences on social media, the broader landscape of safety on these platforms, and potential paths of improvement.
• Spearhead a movement of young people seeking healthier relationships with social media.

About the Program

This is a student-led club program intended for grades 9 through 12. Leaders will curate their chapter’s year using an extensive bank of activities from four categories:

• Discussion & Debate
• Creativity & Production
• Community Engagement
• Peer Learning & Mentorship

The Peer Learning & Mentorship category requires coordination with a younger cohort of students. We recommend a middle school from the same district to ensure meetings can be facilitated regularly. Our other categories include activities which may extend into the broader school community, bringing key principles to non-members for their reflection and consideration.

Clubs will have direct access to the Organization’s staff for support throughout the year, as well as additional resources to facilitate deeper learning. A faculty advisor will also serve as an intermediary between chapters and the Organization, supervising club activities and supporting any administrative requirements. Each month, clubs will build their programming from thematically focused resources.