The "Tik Tok" that will encourage responsible behavior during Covid-19

HIT, through the FUTURE Entrepreneurship Center, together with the Department of Visual Communication, initiated a Hackathon on the subject of returning to routine, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The goal was to develop means for creating social responsibility among youth regarding the way they conduct in the corona era.

With more than 5 million people vaccinated and the uplifting of many of the restrictions, a certain complacency or euphoria can be felt in Israel regarding the corona virus. However, while the disease rate is declining in Israel in the general population, the number of patients aged 16-19 is increasing. The numbers show that only about half of the youth have been vaccinated and they, like in other age groups, are also less and less strict about the regulations.

The FUTURE center together with representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Department of Visual Communication, have initiated the hackathon titled "Not going back to 100 meters", where participants were asked to develop ways to encourage youth to behave socially responsible: to get vaccinated or at least to abide by the regulations: the instruction was to address their concerns, understand their frustration from the past year "that took their youth," and translate this frustration into responsibility and not into "breaking the tools."

The full-day hackathon was attended by 20 students who worked in 5 teams. The target audience was Alon High School from Ramat Hasharon students, who provided information about their feelings, what caused them anxiety, made them upset, or slow down.

In order to assist the participants, mentors were recruited and strolled between the groups for the purpose of answering questions, counseling and guidance. Among them were lecturers from the Department of Visual Communication, Representative of the Ministry of Health's Information Division: Ms. Karni Berzis, Representatives of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Ms. Tali Malach and Ms. Shira Baum.

The projects were judged at the end of the day according to 5 built-in criteria: concept, suitability for the target audience, potential for online publicity innovation and creativity and an added value. The judging panel included:

• Ms. Einav Shimron - Vice President, Information Department, Ministry of Health.
• Mr. Erez Bachar - Lecturer in the Department of Visual Communication
• Ms. Dana Cole - Owner of the digital advertising agency 'Dibur'
• Dan Banaim - a high school student from Tel Aviv
• Yonatan Madrar - 22 years old from Tel Aviv.

At the end of the activity day, the teams presented impressive, innovative and diverse products, aimed at the target audience. Students used a variety of platforms to create a dialogue with teens about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. From Tik Tok videos to bots in a variety of Apps. The team that had won first place consisted of 4 students: two from the Faculty of Design from the Departments of Interior Design and Industrial Design, a bachelor degree and the Master's degree students in Technology Management.

The group suggested to adopt an existing "Tik Tok" pattern and adapt it to the topic of vaccines. Using network celebrities to promote it. The judging panel found their proposal with great potential for virality and chances of influencing the youth.

The other projects were also praised when representatives of the Ministry of Health were impressed by the final products. "The hackathon products provided an excellent solution to the challenges posed by the representatives of the Ministry of Health. They are relatively simple to implement and address the defined target audience directly and indirectly," Ms. Malach concluded.

Posted: 05/04/2021