HOPE

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 

What is HOPE?

Social media has shaped us in so many ways unimaginable, especially young people who become online at an early age. The HOPE Podcast centers on our lived experiences, and with every issue, we imagine how we can design social media platforms to meet the needs of young people online.

The HOPE Podcast is created by Edward Thomas, Sanjna Hedge, and Vaibhava Rajesh, three youth activists discussing the positive and negative aspects of social media and exploring their own relationship with technology.