How Parents and Adult Allies Can Support Youth in Digital Wellness featuring Joann Bogard

In this episode, Sanjna and Vaibhava share the insights of an interview with Joann Bogard, an activist and prominent advocate for internet safety. Joann raises awareness about the dangers of viral online challenges and has been instrumental in pushing for legislation to protect children. She played a key role in passing the 'Mason's Education Act' in Indiana, which promotes internet safety education in schools

Joann Bogard is a co-chair and Founding Member of the Online Harm Prevention Work Group. Her 15-year-old son, Mason, passed away after he participated in a social media trend called “the Choking Game” in 2019. Joann’s goals include spreading awareness, educating others, holding tech companies accountable for designing their products with kids in mind and advancing state and federal legislation. She has a Facebook page to spread awareness about the latest trends and tips for parents (Mason’s Message).

Host: Sanjna Hegde, Vaibhava Rajesh
Audio Engineer: Gabriella Frenes, Rushil Ladhawala