VitaminWater has begun advertising for a new contest, tentatively named “Scroll-Free for a Year.” The company created this contest as a challenge of sorts to those who are overly-dependent on their smartphone feeds.
The challenge is fairly simple: no smartphones or tablets for 365 straight days. 90s-era cell phones are permitted for the sake of making calls, as are computers and voice-activated devices like Amazon Echo. Make it through the entire year, and you walk away with $100,000, though if you manage to make it at least six months, you’ll receive a consolation prize of $10,000.
What is less simple is the entry process; to enter, a prospective contestant must share a post on Twitter or Instagram explaining what they would do with their free time instead of fiddling with a phone. Entries will be judged based on originality, brand relevance, and humor, among other factors. All US citizens who are 18 or older and own a smartphone are eligible, though VitaminWater has stressed that those who actually need a smartphone for work, medical purposes, or personal emergencies should not apply. Any selected contestants will also be subjected to a lie detector test in order to ensure their stories are truthful.
Twitter entries have been flying in with users making promises to dedicate their time to noble pursuits (and fantasizing on what they would spend the prize money on).
