EXPERT: Keeping Kids Safe in an Addictive Digital World with Julie Scelfo

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussions of suicide, eating disorders, pedophilia, self harm, and sex trafficking. Please take care while listening and skip any portions that may be difficult for you. Hello Brave Friends! Welcome to today's Expert episode, #264, with Julie Scelfo, journalist and founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction. These are conversations with experts in fields relevant to caregiving parents. In this episode, Susanna Peace Lovell and Jessica Patay sit down with Julie to discuss the growing impact of social media, artificial intelligence, and addictive technology on the mental health, safety, and well-being of children and teens. Julie explains how algorithms and platform design can keep young people engaged while exposing them to harmful content, and why the responsibility for keeping kids safe online cannot fall entirely on parents. She discusses the similarities she sees between the tech industry and other industries that have profited from addictive products, and why she believes stronger accountability and regulation are urgently needed. The conversation also explores the mission behind Mothers Against Media Addiction and the growing movement of parents advocating for safer technology. Julie shares why protecting children requires more than parental controls and individual family rules—it requires systemic change and digital environments that are safe for kids by design. Together, Julie, Susanna, and Jessica discuss legislative and policy efforts, the responsibility of technology companies, and practical ways parents can become more aware and engaged while navigating an online landscape that continues to evolve rapidly. This conversation is an important reminder that parents shouldn't have to fight this battle alone. Creating a healthier digital world for children will require informed families, collective advocacy, industry accountability, and meaningful policy reform. We see you, and we love you! We are incredibly grateful to Rise Educational Advocacy for sponsoring Season 11 of Brave Together Podcast and for supporting our mission to strengthen and encourage caregiving moms. Find more information about Rise here.  Find more about Julie Scelfo here.  Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here. Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough here. Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Together here. Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Together here.  Find FULL episodes and clips of our podcast on Youtube here. Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.  JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.  Donate to support all of We Are Brave Together's programs and offerings here.  Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast? Follow us on Instagram , Facebook and Youtube.  Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org  If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here. Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance! Disclaimer

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