Offline with Jon Favreau The Movement to Protect Kids from Big Tech
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Dec 13, 2025 Julie Scelfo, a former New York Times reporter and founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, dives into how AI and social media affect children's mental health. She shares her journey into activism, highlighting the normalization of harmful content kids face online. Julie discusses the crucial role of parents in advocating for change and compares her organization to Mothers Against Drunk Driving in its mission. With legislative wins on the horizon, she emphasizes the need for regulation and a balanced approach to technology in childhood.
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From Reporter To Activist
- Julie Scelfo shifted from reporting on youth mental health to activism after seeing rising suicide rates in tweens and whistleblower revelations from Meta.
- She felt compelled to act when companies ignored internal warnings about harm to kids.
Parenting Through Tech's Rise
- Julie describes raising three sons across the rise of smartphones and deliberately kept her youngest off TikTok.
- Despite restrictions, she couldn't fully prevent exposure because peers and other apps still circulated content.
Three-Part Strategy For Safer Childhoods
- MAMA's three-part mission targets parent education, removing phones from schools, and demanding product safeguards for kids.
- Julie argues tech used by children must meet safety standards like other consumer products.
