Uber Takes On the Universe to Help Teens Manifest Their Best Year Yet

As the new school year kicks into gear, millions of high schoolers are taking to social to put their hopes and dreams into the universe: 'I will get straight A’s.' 'I will make varsity.' 'Becca from AP bio will finally notice me.'

The only problem? The universe is notoriously slow on delivery. So, rather than leave it all to chance, Uber teen accounts are stepping in to help.

Created in partnership with Mother New York, 'Manifest Your Best Year Ever' is helping teens turn their biggest manifestations into reality - with a week of free Rides and Eats to get them there. (up to 4 Rides + 2 Orders, new users only, other Terms Apply).

Brought to life across film, OOH, audio, and social, the campaign taps into one of manifestation culture’s favourite rituals: speaking things into existence. Directed by comedy pair Adam & Dave of Arts & Sciences, the campaign’s hero films follow two teens in deep manifestation flow states: one determined to become an 'absolute unit'', and the other striving to be a punctual queen.

And, to bring the campaign directly to teens, 'Manifest Your Best Year Ever' is going on the road, activating at 10 high schools across the country, from Seattle and Chicago to Miami and New York City. At each stop, a larger-than-life manifestation portal will invite students to turn their goals for the year into custom memes - snapping a photo with friends, choosing from dreamy backgrounds and affirmations, and watching their creation come to life on a real-time digital Vision Board. Students can print or text their meme to save and share, unlock their free week of Uber Eats and Rides, and take home custom giveaways designed to keep the manifestation energy going long after the activation leaves campus. This portion was in partnership with CNC Agency.

“The back-to-school season is all about fresh starts, new goals, and manifesting your best year yet,” said Marisa Siegel, head of mobility brand marketing. “With Uber teen accounts, we’re helping teens get more out of their school year - from getting to class and activities to spending time with friends - while giving parents a helping hand and greater peace of mind.”

"Manifestation has become such a big part of teen culture today. Scroll through any 16-year-old’s FYP, and you’ll likely find yourself in a world of affirmations and vision boards. So, with back-to-school season bringing all that new-year-new-me energy, we felt like it was the perfect opportunity to fully lean in,” said Sollin Saele, creative, Mother New York.

"The universe is always taking requests. It’s just not great at delivering on them. Thankfully - for gym bros and punctual queens - Uber Teen does,” added Tremayne Gary, creative, Mother New York.

Lastly, Uber teamed up with Home From College to mobilise a network of student ambassadors to serve as trusted, peer-to-peer advocates for Uber Teen throughout the semester. Ambassadors will bring Uber Teen directly into the moments and conversations already happening within their school communities, educating peers on the benefits of signing up and helping make the product feel relevant, accessible and easy to understand.

“Back-to-school is such a defining moment for teens. It’s a chance to reset, reconnect and imagine what they want the year ahead to look like,” said Julia Haber, co-founder and CEO of Home From College. “What makes this campaign so exciting is that it meets teens in that mindset while bringing them directly into the experience. We’ve seen first hand that the most meaningful way for brands to connect with this generation is to listen to them, involve them and show up in ways that feel genuinely relevant to their lives.”

Uber teen accounts is parent-linked experience to help teens get where they need to go with more independence and always-on safety features, while giving parents a way to stay informed every step of the way. Plus, this week Uber is adding another feature to give parents peace of mind: live video streaming. With this, parents can check in and see how their teen’s rides are going on demand by accessing a live video stream of their ride.