Episodes

  • Harrison's Journey Toward Digital Intentionalism

    Harrison's Journey Toward Digital Intentionalism
    Nov 21 2024
    In today's episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Donna is joined by Harrison Haynes who shares his personal story of being groomed while playing video games online and his journey toward healing and digital intentionalism. They discuss big tech’s inability to protect children online and stress what parents need to know to protect them from harm.
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    1 hr
  • Preventing Online Crimes Against Kids

    Preventing Online Crimes Against Kids
    Nov 14 2024
    In this episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Donna speaks with Special Agent Courtney Goode about the grim reality of online crimes against children. They discuss law enforcement's role in combating sexual predators, traffickers, pornographers, and sextortionists who target children, and how to report suspicious activity. Their conversation underscores the need for parental involvement, early prevention, and offers practical tips on monitoring online behavior, establishing rules, and fostering open communication between parents and children.
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    1 hr
  • AI, Online Child Exploitation, Prosecution & Prevention

    AI, Online Child Exploitation, Prosecution & Prevention
    Nov 7 2024
    John Pizzuro, CEO of Raven and former commander of the New Jersey ICAC Task Force, joins Donna to discuss the legislative challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in online child exploitation. Topics include Raven’s mission to bridge gaps between legislation and law enforcement, the complexities of end-to-end encryption, and the implications of AI in generating child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Emphasis is placed on the urgent need for updated technology, better training, increased funding, and practical parental guidance to protect children from online predators.
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    1 hr
  • The Children's Internet Safety Presidential Pledge

    The Children's Internet Safety Presidential Pledge
    Oct 31 2024
    This episode features Donna and Michael Letts, founder of InVestUSA. They delve into the grave issue of online child exploitation, and how the bi-partisan 2024 Children's Internet Safety Presidential Pledge is a step toward safeguarding children online. The discussion highlights the lucrative and global nature of child trafficking networks, the need for comprehensive law enforcement and military efforts, and major judicial reforms. They emphasize the importance of financial transparency and accountability in dismantling these criminal organizations.
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    1 hr
  • Big Tech Accountability and The Dirty Dozen List

    Big Tech Accountability and The Dirty Dozen List
    Oct 24 2024
    Donna is joined by Lina Nealon, Vice President and Director of Corporate Advocacy for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. They discuss Big Tech’s role in facilitating sexual exploitation. and break down NCOSE’s “Dirty Dozen” campaign, which calls out platforms like Snapchat, Spotify and Roblox for their inadequate safety measures to protect kids and teens. They also examine key legislative efforts, highlighting bipartisan support for reform to hold tech companies accountable.
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    1 hr
  • Digital Addictions: Safeguarding Young Minds

    Digital Addictions: Safeguarding Young Minds
    Oct 17 2024
    In this episode, Donna is joined by mental health expert Rens de Koning to discuss the pressing issue of digital addiction and its impact on young minds, particularly in the context of online sexual exploitation. They explore the alarming statistics regarding children's access to pornography, the evolution of explicit content, and the role of social media in shaping mental health. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of open communication between parents and children, the need for prevention strategies, and tips for recognizing the signs of addiction.
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    1 hr
  • How to Protect Kids in a Sexually Toxic Pornified Culture

    How to Protect Kids in a Sexually Toxic Pornified Culture
    Oct 10 2024
    Donna is joined by guest Gene McConnell, founder of Authentic Relationships International. They delve into the impact of early exposure to pornography on children and share personal stories. They highlight the connection between shame and broken relationships, and stress the importance of open communication between parents and kids, in addition to using technology tools like filtering, monitoring, and time-limiting software on devices to protect children online.
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    1 hr
  • Michael Reagan's Story: Child Survivor to Safety Advocate

    Michael Reagan's Story: Child Survivor to Safety Advocate
    Oct 3 2024
    On today's episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes-- Donna is joined by Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. The discussion centers around his personal experiences with childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted family friend and the lasting impact it has had on him. He shares about ongoing fear and shame that accompanied the abuse due to blackmail with images. He emphasizes the importance of parents listening to their children and recognizing warning signs, while also advocating for legislative reform to protect children in the digital age. Hear about the alarming increase in online child exploitation and the importance of public awareness and legislation to combat this issue. The episode is a call to action for parents, lawmakers, and society to protect children from both physical and online abuse.
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    1 hr