Vitaminwater wants to give you $100,000 if you can live without your smartphone for a year

[Polycount]

What just happened? Companies are always looking for ways to grab your attention, but Vitaminwater's latest contest may take the cake. On Twitter, the beverage maker announced the #NoPhoneForAYear contest, which (as the name implies) challenges one contestant to live without mobile screens for a full year, with a $100,000 prize on offer if they succeed.

Obviously, the rules of the contest are not nearly as simple as that brief summary suggests. After all, Vitaminwater isn't going to give $100,000 to just anybody.

As such, the company is weeding out the time-wasters by requiring all would-be entrants to publish a Tweet (or an Instagram post) explaining how they would spend their smartphone-free time if they are accepted into the contest.

The Tweet must be submitted by January 8, and it has to contain the #NoPhoneforaYear and #contest hashtags. It also has to be original, relevant, and it must stay up throughout the entirety of the contest.

The first phase of the contest will involve a panel of "qualified judges" reviewing each submission, and looking at things like creativity, brand relevance, overall quality, and humor to select a single entrant.

we tried to get Brandon to make this deal, but he is too busy – will you turn off your phone for a year instead? #NoPhoneForAYear #contest https://t.co/RVTF0gytnv pic.twitter.com/wFFTXl0PBX

— vitaminwater® (@vitaminwater) December 11, 2018

Once an entrant has been selected, they must submit to a background check and agree to a "contract" laying out various rules (which are unknown to the general public) they will need to stick to during the following 365 days.

Of course, Vitaminwater and its sponsors understand that some form of cell phone is effectively a must-have for the average individual to function in the modern world. Emergencies happen, and the last thing you want to do is allow yourself or a loved one to get hurt merely because of a contest.

As such, the company will be providing the sole contestant with a free 1996-era cell phone and an accompanying phone plan for them to use at will. Furthermore, all tablets and smartphones are off-limits, though it sounds like laptops and desktops are perfectly fine.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/77857-vitaminwater-wants-give-you-100000-if-you-can.html

 

[psycros]

They underestimate my power.. *laughs in Nokia*

Although..where are they going to find a 1996 phone that works on modern cell networks? Don't think they were even digital then.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

I absolutely could do it.

In fact, I can sell off my iPhone XS Max 512 for at least $1000 and then make that $100,000 and then pay off my second house's mortgage.

My willpower is unstoppable.

 

[stewi0001]

I could do this too. Sadly, I am probably a boring contestant.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Everyone thinks they can do it but nobody actually will. Not the least because they will choose someone who'll fail.

 

[gigantor21]

I wouldn't be able to do my job without it, so... :/

 

[misor]

I can do it and change all my app mobile authenticators to email (via PC brower) and text only (via dumbphone)

and I think vitaminwater already made a mistake. no smartphone for a year = no (dumb)phone for a year

 

[cliffordcooley]

They do not know me very well. After only a few questions, I would be disqualified from participation.

 

[captaincranky]

I've never owned, don't own, and never plan on buying a smartphone. I wonder if they'd give me the hundred grand in the judicial sense as, "credit for time served"...

 

[Ean Mogg]

Umm would they want me to drink their Vitaminwater?? as I've been using a bloody old phone for years and if they want me to drink this crap for advertising umm I'd have to turn $100.000 I'm afraid lol

 

[hahahanoobs]

Probably the worst contest idea I've ever heard.

I'm still trying to find the link between smartphones and water.

 

[p51d007]

Can you have a dumb phone (flip phone)?

 

[Emmettf]

Crap, I thought 100,00 was a million when I read it first. That's me out.

 

[Adi6293]

That would be so blody easy, I need a little detox from my phone

 

[cliffordcooley]

It is even easier when you are not addicted to begin with.

 

[sac39507]

I'd do it for free

 

[Dimitrios]

Just hide your real phone in the bathroom.

 

[Dimitrios]

I've never owned, don't own, and never plan on buying a smartphone. I wonder if they'd give me the hundred grand in the judicial sense as, "credit for time served"...

LOL that was good.

 

[Stiqy]

My mom has done this every year since she was born. No sweat for her.
There are tons of people who don't use smart phones, especially lower income / working poor. And they could use the $100K so I hope they pick someone who can actually win it and use it.

 

[SanityCheck]

This is an easy one for any baby boomer. I have a smart phone, but it wouldn't be any trial for me to live without it for a year as long as I had basic cell phone service. This is only difficult for a millennial who lives on his smart phone.

 

[Robb57]

I never owned a smart phone. They are to fragile and expensive and not particularly practical. Why would I want to watch a movie on little 6 inch screen and when am driving, I don't want to be disturbed. It seems to me that smart phones just keep people distracted and dumb. One might as well wear a gold Rolex to clean the barn.

 

[captaincranky]

The only thing that smartphones seem to be good for in my neighborhood, is to call your crack dealer and tell him you're out front of his house. Well OK, I suppose they work well for copping heroin or the occasional oxrcodone also.

Oh and before I forget, starting sh!t that can turn into gunfights on Facebook too.

 

[L0neRang3r00]

My mum can do that

 

[flyboydale54]

For $100,000 dollars, I would smash my phone with a sledge hammer and not touch another one for a year. Now offer me the $100K.

 

[captaincranky]

For $100,000 dollars, I would smash my phone with a sledge hammer and not touch another one for a year. Now offer me the $100K.

I think most of us would be capable of that. However, trying to write a believable essay extolling the wonders of their vitamin water, is another matter entirely.