Kelly Stonelake spent nearly 15 years at Meta — rising to Director of Product Marketing and a senior role on Horizon Worlds — before becoming one of the most prominent whistleblowers in the fight for kids' online safety. She walked away from millions in unvested stock rather than sign an agreement protecting Meta from accountability, and has since testified before the FTC, the Washington State Senate, and been a key voice throughout the civil trials where Meta and YouTube were just found guilty of knowingly harming children. In this episode, Kelly breaks down what she witnessed from the inside, why the current wave of lawsuits feels different, and what every parent needs to understand about how these platforms are actually built.

Follow Kelly on LinkedIn and subscribe to her Substack:

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellystonelake/

- https://overturned.substack.com/

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has made child safety a cornerstone of his work—from creating the state's first Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, which has rescued over 200 children, to launching investigations into platforms like Roblox for child exploitation. He shares what prompted the Roblox investigation, details from a recent conviction involving grooming on Snapchat, and what parents need to know about how predators are using online platforms to target kids.

Stories, resources, and other links discussed in this episode: 

- Learn more about AG Chris Carr: https://law.georgia.gov/biography-attorney-general

- Roblox investigation: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-02-17/carr-investigates-roblox-reports-child-exploitation

- Snapchat story: https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-02-14/carr-hart-county-man-convicted-trafficking-teen-targeting-victim-snapchat

- Online Human Trafficking Training: https://youtu.be/REpBhJ42D4g?si=RFleZrreihAfQpvb

- To submit a request for an in person human trafficking training with the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, please fill out this form: https://law.georgia.gov/contact-us/human-trafficking-prosecution-unit-scheduling-request-form

- Learn more about the SimplyReport app from the Safe House Project: https://www.simplyreport.com/

- Stay up to date with KOSA: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1748/text

Bark's 2025 Annual Report analyzed a record 11.1 billion online activities—and the findings reveal a troubling paradox. While predator alerts in monitored spaces dropped 60%, national sextortion cases are surging. The danger hasn't disappeared; it's just moved where parents can't see it. We break down the biggest risks facing kids today, from the 650% spike in disordered eating content among tweens to why predators are migrating to shadow spaces—and what parents can do about it.

Check our Bark's 2025 Annual Report: https://www.bark.us/annual-report-2025/

Dr. Jean Twenge, psychologist and author of 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, has spent decades studying how technology is reshaping childhood. Her research provided some of the earliest evidence linking smartphones and social media to rising rates of teen depression and anxiety. She shares the 'aha' moments from her work, what the data really shows about teens and tech, and the rules every parent should follow in a high-tech world.

Visit Dr. Twenge's website to find her books, discover her research, learn about speaking engagements, and more. 

- https://www.jeantwenge.com/

Don't forget to join the conversations happening in our Facebook group, Parenting in a Tech World!

- https://www.facebook.com/groups/119842088645840

Melissa McKay, president of the Digital Childhood Institute, made headlines when her viral post forced Google to reverse its policy of emailing kids instructions to remove parental controls at age 13. She shares the story behind that win, why Roblox is doing the same thing, and what parents need to know about protecting their kids when tech companies prioritize profit over safety.

Learn more about the Digital Childhood Institute and connect with Melissa: 

- https://www.digitalchildhoodinstitute.org/

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-mckay-766511380/

Don't forget to check out Melissa's viral posts about Google and Roblox:

- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/melissa-mckay-766511380_google-emailed-my-youngest-child-today-to-activity-7415942684038586368--hLN

- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/melissa-mckay-766511380_first-google-and-now-roblox-parental-activity-7427016148744937472-slLw

Selma Blair gets candid about parenting her 14-year-old son in an always-connected world. She shares how she's navigated tech and social media as both a public figure and a mom, the conversations she's had about online safety, and her advice for parents trying to find balance in a digital age.

Paul Raffile is a cybercrime expert and online safety advocate who's been on the front lines of catching sextortion scammers and exposing platform failures. He shares what parents need to know about sextortion, which apps pose the biggest risks, and the shocking reality of what social media companies allow to happen on their platforms.

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raffile/

Resources, stories, and other things mentioned in this episode:

- Paul's experience with Meta: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/may/16/meta-rescinds-job-offer-human-trafficking-expert

- The UK Documentary: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7351341928799424512/

- The Yahoo Boys: https://www.yahoo.com/news/inside-hustle-kingdom-where-overseas-173053781.html

- Meta's "Teen Nudity Controls": https://transparency.meta.com/policies/age-appropriate-content/

- The story of Jordan Demay and sextortion: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/06/sextortion-samuel-samson-ogoshi-jordan-demay

- The Take it Down Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146

- The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA): https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1748/text

Dr. Nidhi Gupta — physician, author of Calm the Noise, and founder of the Phreedom Foundation — breaks down how tech is impacting our health and what families can do to take back control. She shares the science behind constant notifications, her 'aha' moment that led to writing the book, and the three rules every family should start with tonight.

Learn more about Dr. Gupta and the Phreedom Foundation on her website, and order your copy of Calm the Noise:

https://reconnect.expert/

https://info.bark.us/calm-the-noise

Ben Gillenwater — aka The Family IT Guy — brings 30 years of cybersecurity expertise to the parenting table. He shares how his background shaped the way he protects his own kid online, what parents can expect from his online community, and the one change that can make the biggest difference in your family's digital safety.

Connect with Ben:

- On his website: https://www.familyitguy.com/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/family_it_guy/

- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@family.it.guy

Resources mentioned in this episode:

- How to Set Up Roblox Parental Controls: https://www.bark.us/tech-guide/gaming-roblox/

- Roblox App Review: https://www.bark.us/app-reviews/apps/roblox/

- The Top 5 Hidden Dangers of Roblox: https://www.bark.us/blog/hidden-dangers-roblox/

- Why Parents Are Banning Roblox: https://www.bark.us/blog/why-parents-are-banning-roblox/

- Ben's meditation app, Being: https://www.familyitguy.com/being/

- NCMEC and the Cyber TipLine: https://www.missingkids.org/home

https://report.cybertip.org/

Stories discussed in this episode:

- Jordan DeMay, sextortion: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/06/sextortion-samuel-samson-ogoshi-jordan-demay

- Adam Raine, ChatGPT and suicide: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/29/chatgpt-suicide-openai-sam-altman-adam-raine

• - 764 Group: https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/asac-maxwell-764-psa-final-with-audio-and-captions.mp4/view

Heather Dubrow, star of The Real Housewives of Orange County and mom of four, joins us to share her real-life wisdom on raising kids in the digital age. From screen time struggles to teaching inclusivity, this episode is full of honesty, perspective, and a little Housewives flair.