about The SMART Social Project

don’t scroll past real life

Why now?

Screens are reshaping daily life, and in Oshkosh, the effects are clear: rising stress, shrinking sleep, and kids comparing themselves to curated feeds.

Why it matters

When the Women’s Fund asked local mental health professionals what’s driving declining well-being, the answer was consistent: smartphone use, social media, and online behavior are worsening issues like depression, bullying, isolation, and loneliness.

Enter: The SMART Social Project

The Women’s Fund stepped up, and The SMART Social Project was created to raise awareness and equip our community with practical tools for healthier tech use. It’s a wake-up call: we don’t need to eliminate phones, but together we can build a balanced, purposeful, real-life connection to the world around us.

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the negative effects on our brains are undeniable

Reward systems are confused.

Sleep is interrupted.

The ability to differentiate reality from misinformation compromised.

Negative self-talk is reinforced.

Elevated stress response causes anxiety and depression.

what’s really happening in the brain?

Behind every scroll, swipe, and post, the brain is adapting.

  • addiction / compulsive checking

    WHAT’S HAPPENING
    Apps are built to trigger dopamine spikes through likes, streaks, and endless scroll. Over time, the brain craves more, turning repeated checking into an automatic habit.

  • misinformation

    WHAT’S HAPPENING
    Emotional, high engagement content short circuits critical thinking and makes sensational information stick. This makes widely seen or liked content seem trustworthy, even if it’s false.

  • sleep deprivation

    WHAT’S HAPPENING
    Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin and late-night engagement disrupts circadian rhythms, leaving students tired, unfocused, and emotionally strained.

  • social comparison

    WHAT’S HAPPENING
    Highlight reels distort self image, and because emotional centers are still developing, teens are more likely to spiral into rumination, mood swings, and increased depression risk.

  • cyberbullying

    WHAT’S HAPPENING
    Cruelty online activates the brain’s stress hormone cortisol, keeping kids in a heightened state of threat. Repeated exposure increases sensitivity to stress, raising the risk of anxiety and depression

what SMART Social means

Being SMART on social means using technology with intention. It’s how we build healthier habits, stronger connections, and a kinder community.

the SMART focus areas

Every month, SMART Social shines a spotlight on one issue where screens impact our lives. 

By focusing on these themes, we’re helping families, schools, and businesses take one step at a time toward better balance.

inside our classrooms

Phones don’t just affect attention in my classroom. They affect how students treat each other, how they see themselves, and how willing they are to participate. I see more anxiety, more comparison, and far less real engagement than I did just a few years ago. It’s become harder for students to focus and stay present.”

— Oshkosh Teacher

Stories like this aren’t rare. They’re happening across our community, in homes, classrooms, and workplaces. The SMART Social Project is here to help turn small changes into lasting habits.

campaign impact

The SMART Social Project is already sparking conversations across Oshkosh, around dinner tables, in classrooms, and in community spaces.

We’re tracking impact in three areas:

Community Awareness
Families, schools, and businesses engaging with campaign content

Behavioral Change
Tech-free family nights, reduced doomscrolling, healthier bedtime habits 

Shared Ownership
Local partners stepping up to sponsor and host events in support of a healthier community

about the women’s fund of the oshkosh area community foundation

The Women’s Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation champions wellness, equity, and connection. For decades, the Fund has invested in creating opportunities for women, girls, and families.

By launching The SMART Social Project, the Women’s Fund is once again sparking the change our community needs most: reclaiming our time, attention, and health from the pull of screens.

This project is more than a campaign. It’s a movement made possible because the Women’s Fund chooses to lead, rooted in a belief that by convening our community partners and mobilizing our community, we can create real change for Oshkosh.

Screens have helped us stay connected, but they’ve also made it harder to be fully present. I’ve seen patience shrink and attention drift when screen time gets too high. What worries me most is the impact on kids — the pressure to be liked and seen online, and the real withdrawals when devices go away. It’s pushed us to be more intentional about unplugging and rebuilding real, face-to-face connection.”

– Kelly Chartre,
The SMART Social Project Taskforce Member

together, let’s be SMART

The SMART Social Project belongs to everyone: parents, teens, educators, employers, neighbors. No one is too young or too old to rethink how screens shape our lives. 

THIS IS YOUR INVITATION
Come to an event, take the pledge, share your story, or simply put your phone down and look up. Every moment matters, and together we can build a kinder, healthier Oshkosh.

This is our moment, Oshkosh.
Let’s not scroll past it.

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