December 09, 2024
08:00 AM - 08:00 PM
InterContinental Washington D.C. – The Wharf, 801 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024, Washington, DC, United States
Speakers
Agenda
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FOSI 2024 Annual Conference

Overview

From Protection to Empowerment

On December 9th, 2024, FOSI hosted its Annual Conference at the InterContinental on the Wharf in Washington, DC. This year’s theme, From Protection to Empowerment, brought together leaders from the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors to address the most pressing issues in online safety. The conference explored how protective measures can evolve into tools that empower users to confidently navigate the digital world.

The day began with a Keynote Address from Hon. Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, who underscored the importance of collaboration in creating safer online spaces. FOSI’s CEO, Stephen Balkam, welcomed attendees with opening remarks that set the tone for the day’s discussions. This was followed by the launch of FOSI’s latest research, Promoting Wellbeing in the Digital World, conducted in partnership with Kantar. Researchers presented findings on how teens and parents in the U.S., Germany, and Brazil perceive the role of digital devices in their emotional, physical, and social wellbeing.

A dynamic panel discussion followed the research presentation, featuring experts such as Dr. Amanda Ferguson from the University of Cambridge, Dr. Jennifer Kotler Clarke from Google, and Dr. Emily Weinstein from Harvard’s Center for Digital Thriving. Moderated by Dr. Nicol Turner Lee of the Brookings Institution, the panel unpacked the study’s implications for industry and policymakers, offering insights on promoting digital wellbeing.

Throughout the day, attendees engaged in thought-provoking sessions covering a range of critical topics. The Global Online Safety Regulators Network reconvened for a two-year review, with regulators from Australia, France, and the UK discussing cross-border collaboration and regulatory progress. A fireside chat with Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, provided further insights into the evolving landscape of online safety policy.

The conference also featured two sets of breakout sessions that allowed attendees to dive deeper into specific areas, such as AI-driven content moderation, financial sextortion, youth perspectives on digital safety, and children’s rights in the digital age. These panels brought together experts from organizations like Snap, Roblox, LEGO, and Thorn, providing a comprehensive look at the opportunities and challenges in online safety.

In the afternoon plenary sessions, mother-daughter TikTok creators, Erica Grit and her daughter Kamilah Ramsay, shared their experiences navigating the digital world together. Additional panels focused on gaming safety innovations, digital parenting in a rapidly changing tech landscape, and building enriching online experiences for teens.

The conference concluded with closing remarks from Stephen Balkam, reinforcing the theme of empowering users in the digital age. Attendees left with fresh insights, actionable strategies, and new connections to advance the mission of online safety.

Event Highlights:

  • Keynote Address: Hon. Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Research Launch: Promoting Wellbeing in the Digital World
  • Breakout Panels: Covering topics like AI, financial sextortion, and the rights of children in the digital age
  • Global Perspectives: Insights from international regulators and Gen Z leaders 
  • Networking Opportunities: Including a lively evening reception

 

Full videos of all mainstage sessions are available on FOSI’s YouTube channel.

Photos from the conference are now available in our event Event Media Gallery.

 

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Speakers

Hon. Alejandro Mayorkas

Alejandro Mayorkas was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by President Biden on February 2, 2021. A political refugee born in Havana, Cuba, Mayorkas is the first Latino and immigrant confirmed to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security. He has led a distinguished 30-year career as a law enforcement official and a nationally recognized lawyer in the private sector. Mayorkas served as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2016, and as the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services from 2009 to 2013. During his tenure at DHS, he led the development and implementation of DACA, negotiated cybersecurity and homeland security agreements with foreign governments, led the Department's response to Ebola and Zika, helped build and administer the Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking, and developed an emergency relief program for orphaned youth following the tragic January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Mayorkas also created the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate to better ensure the integrity of the legal immigration system.

Alan Davidson

Alan Davidson leads NTIA, the President's principal advisor on telecommunications and information policy. As NTIA Administrator, Alan oversees a federal agency with more than 500 employees working to close the digital divide, manage federal spectrum resources, and build a better Internet.Alan has spent the last 25 years working at the intersection of Internet technology, public policy, and the law. In his roles in government, public interest groups, and companies, Alan has focused on how society makes choices about the technologies we build.

Julie Inman Grant

Julie Inman Grant is Australia's eSafety Commissioner. In this role, Julie leads the world's first government regulatory agency committed to keeping its citizens safer online. The Commissioner's career began at the US Congress in Washington, DC before joining Microsoft, where Julie spent 17 years in various corporate affairs roles. At Twitter, she set up the company's policy and philanthropy programs across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, before driving Asia–Pacific-wide government relations for Adobe. As eSafety Commissioner since January 2017, Julie has overseen a significant expansion of eSafety's regulatory responsibilities under the Online Safety Act and increased staffing levels. She has alsolaunched innovative programs such as the Safety by Design and Women in the Spotlight initiatives. She has also established herself as a nimble and anticipatory regulator, establishing the innovative tech trends horizon scanning program in 2020. Julie serves on the Advisory Board of the Technology Policy Design Centre. She served as co-founder and inaugural chair of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network and is a long-serving Board Member of the WePROTECT Global Alliance. She also serves on the World Economic Forum's Global Coalition for Digital Safety; represents Australia on the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Harassment and Abuse, and serves on France's Laboratory for Women's Rights Online.

Benoît Loutrel

Benoit Loutrel is board member of ARCOM, the French audiovisual and digital media regulator. He leads ARCOM's involvement in the implementation of the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) in France and actively participates in the work of the board of Digital Services, where the EU Commission and the 26 member states' regulators coordinate together the implementation of the DSA across the EU. Benoit Loutrel has a background in regulatory economics and data sciences. Before being appointed board member of Arcom, he had previous experiences at the World Bank, the French Telecommunication regulator (ARCEP), Google and the French ministry of digital affairs.

Gill Whitehead

Gill is the current Chairperson of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN), while Ofcom holds the Chair seat in 2024. GOSRN is the only network of online safety regulators in the world, working to build regulatory coherence across jurisdictions working to keep their users safe online. Up until very recently, Gill was also Ofcom's Group Director for Online Safety where she led the implementation of one of the UK's most significant pieces of new tech legislation, the Online Safety Act. Prior to this, Gill was the inaugural Chief Executive of the UK's Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF) where she established the DRCF as a world-leading approach to implementing digital regulation. Since finishing her UK role, Gill has become a Visiting Policy Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, focusing on global developments in online and AI safety.

Henry Adams

Henry Adams is Director of Trust & Safety (strategy, partnerships & policy) at Resolver, a Kroll business. He has spent the past decade working across domains to mitigate risk in high-harm settings. Henry is a former Head of Intelligence with a background in counter terrorism, national policing operations and crisis negotiation. At Resolver, he initially led global intelligence operations with a focus on rapid response services, before overseeing product development and advanced network analysis capabilities. Today, Henry leads Resolver's strategy and engagement with wider industry, as a passionate advocate for the protection of children online; and a proponent of the power in taking proactive intelligence-led approaches to online safety.

Patricia Cartes Andrés

Patricia Cartes Andrés started working in the technology industry in 2006 when she joined Google's Webspam team. After building an expertise in site integrity, she joined Facebook as one of the founding members of the company's User Operations in EMEA to combat harassment, child sexual exploitation, human rights violations and other types of harmful content. In 2013 she started working at Twitter where she led the company's global safety outreach efforts creating Twitter's Trust & Safety Council and engaging with civil society, academia, policy-makers and regulators. More recently, she built safety teams at Postmates by Uber and VSCO. She currently heads up Trust & Safety at Cantina, a social AI platform.

Charlotte Aynsley

Charlotte has a broad range of experience in the field of digital safeguarding - for 10 years she led Becta's advice and support to Government, local authorities and schools on keeping children safe online. She also worked with Dr Tanya Byron on her review of Safer Children in a Digital World - leading the implementation and co-ordination of the education recommendations in the Review as part of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS).

Dinu Antonescu

Dinu Antonescu, a high school student from New Jersey and first-generation Romanian-American, believes the proper way to solve global challenges is through proper education and legislation. A key aspect of Dinu's work is with Snap Inc.'s Council for Digital Wellbeing, where he is developing a curriculum to promote digital hygiene, wellbeing, and open-mindedness among middle schoolers. Beyond his involvement with Snap, Dinu is the founder of AccessibilityAtlas, an international resource that maps disability-friendly locations. Its newest initiative, College Campus Accessibility, partners with universities and students to assess and improve the accessibility of campuses for individuals with disabilities. Outside of school and work, Dinu enjoys skiing, tennis, and spending time with family.

Pratishtha Arora

Tami Bhaumik

Tami Bhaumik is the Vice President of Civility and Partnerships at Roblox where she spearheads the platform's digital civility initiative and works to foster a global community of internet safety leaders to ensure good digital citizenship on Roblox. To establish a healthy and safe community, Tami is focused on providing kids, teens, parents, and caregivers with skills needed to create positive online experiences, in partnership with the world's leading safety and industry organizations. At Roblox, she empowers platform users to self-govern and create a confident, resilient online community with the knowledge and tools to create positive experiences for themselves and others in the metaverse.

David Bickham

David S. Bickham, Ph.D. is the Director of Research at the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. His work explores the intersection between adolescent's media use and their mental health. Using multiple methods including national surveys and Ecological Momentary Assessment, Dr. Bickham examines how specific aspects of online platforms and the relationships formed there can support or undermine young people's wellbeing. Working alongside clinicians from the Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID), Dr. Bickham has lead efforts to better understand the individual and contextual factors that predispose adolescents to experiencing problematic interactive media use. Dr. Bickham has authored numerous research articles and book chapters, has worked with many tech companies to help shape their design to enhance the mental health of their users, and has testified to federal and state lawmakers about topics related to media and health.

Mx. Ash Brandin

Ash Brandin, EdS (they/them) has been a public school educator for over a decade. In that time they found innovative ways of using student interests- including video games- to increase engagement and make learning more fun and effective. Since February 2021, their Instagram page- TheGamerEducator- has helped hundreds of thousands of families make screen time beneficial for the whole family. Ash believes screens should be part of our lives, not the center of our lives, and helps caregivers navigate the world of tech using consistent, loving boundaries. In their free time, Ash loves to hike, bake, play video games, and spend time with their family.

Scott Babwah Brennen

Stephen Balkam

For the past 30 years, Stephen Balkam has had a wide range of leadership roles in the nonprofit sector in the both the US and UK. He is currently the Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), an international, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. FOSI's mission is to make the online world safer for kids and their families.

Chris Carbone

Chris leads the Futures Practice at Kantar in North America, helping clients make sense of emerging trends and consumer behaviors to identify innovation opportunities and feel more confident about their strategic decisions. Chris has an MBA from The Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in History from Gettysburg College.

Linda Charmaraman

Dr. Linda Charmaraman is a senior research scientist at the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) at Wellesley College and received her PhD in Human Development and Education from University of California Berkeley. She is director of the Youth, Media, & Wellbeing Research Lab. Her work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, Children & Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, among others. Linda's research interests include social media and adolescent health, digital citizenship, methodologies to target hard-to-reach populations, and how social identities (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political) affect wellbeing. She has been surveying a cohort of over 1000 middle school students into their high school years and beyond since before the pandemic, focused on adolescent social tech use, health, wellbeing, and civic engagement. Media mentions include New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Good Morning America, USA Today, ABC News, NBC News, Discover Magazine, The Conversation, and others. In 2023, Dr. Charmaraman provided written testimony for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing regarding Protecting Our Children Online. She was also a proud member of the task force for the 2023 American Psychological Association's health advisory on social media use in adolescence. She is featured in a PBS Learning online toolkit series on adolescent social media use, sponsored by the New York State Education Department. Together with a youth advisory board, she co-organizes free Digital Wellbeing workshops for middle school girls from underserved backgrounds across the nation each summer (wcwonline.org/summerworkshops).

Blair Durkee

Blair Durkee is the Associate Director of Gaming at GLAAD. She has a M.S. in Computer Science from Clemson University, where she started her career in LGBTQ advocacy. Joining GLAAD as a consultant in 2018, she was instrumental in the creation of the Outstanding Video Game category at the GLAAD Media Awards, the formation of GLAAD's Gaming Advisory Council, and the expansion of GLAAD's consulting work on LGBTQ-inclusive titles like Xbox's "Tell Me Why," the first major studio game to feature a playable transgender protagonist. Blair is a transgender woman based in South Carolina, and as a lifelong tech-enthusiast and gamer, she is passionate about harnessing the power of video games to create a better world for LGBTQ people.

Nikki Burns

Nikki has the privilege of shaping play-filled futures at the LEGO Group as a Senior Manager of Government and Public Affairs for the Americas. In this role she leads digital policy related to responsible digital engagement with children as well as brand protection. Prior to joining the LEGO Group, Nikki lead domestic policy and advocacy work at Thorn, a tech company on a mission to end online child sexual exploitation and abuse. With over 15 years of experience in government relations and advocacy, both domestically and internationally, her expertise lies in driving strategic policy transformations and fostering meaningful stakeholder relations. Outside of work, Nikki loves spending time with her favorite people, her husband and their two daughters, preferably outdoors.

Liz Dank

Liz is a seasoned policy expert with almost 20 years of experience in the fields of law and gender-based violence. She recently joined Uber as the Senior Public Policy Manager for Women's & Personal Safety. Prior to Uber, Liz was a Global Issue Policy Manager at TikTok, where she developed content policies for exploitation and abuse and authored TikTok's Community Guidelines. Before joining the tech industry, Liz had a 17-year career as an attorney in New York City government. She spent 11 years at the NYC Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, where she oversaw the Office's strategic direction, developed innovative prevention and intervention programs, and drafted critical legislation to enhance support for survivors, including laws related to paid safe leave and image-based sexual abuse. Before the Mayor's Office, Liz investigated and prosecuted gender-based violence and child abuse incidents at the Queens County District Attorney's Office and litigated child protection proceedings at the NYC Administration for Children's Services.

Anastasiya Dzyakava

Since 2017 Anastasiya is founder of the largest organization in Ukraine dedicated to child online safety - NGO #stop_sexting. The organization proudly represent Ukraine in prominent global alliances for online safety and were honoured with the UN Award. The organization has educated over 900,000 children, parents, educators, police officers, psychologists, and social workers about children eSafety and online sexual abuse, developed over 60 educational programs and created the world's first virtual reality quest that illustrates the experience of a child who has endured online sexual abuse.

Anne Collier

A writer and youth rights advocate, Anne Collier is founder and executive director of the nonprofit Net Safety Collaborative and has been chronicling developments around youth, technology and wellbeing at NetFamilyNews.org since 1999. She has served on three national task forces on youth and digital safety in the US; spoken on the subject in many countries; advised numerous tech companies and youth-serving NGOs around the world; piloted a social media helpline for schools; contributed to many books, news publications and academic journals; and, with scholars at Stanford University, co-edited a book on youth, social media and mental health published this year by the American Psychiatric Association (https://www.appi.org/Products/Child-and-Adolescent-Psychiatry/Social-Media-and-Youth-Mental-Health).

Viraj Doshi

Viraj Doshi is the Platform Safety Lead at Snap Inc., focusing on the safety and digital well-being of the Snapchat community. His work involves engaging with external audiences, advising on internal safety-related products and policies, and raising awareness of online risks through programs and initiatives. Prior to Snap, he worked at Meta leading proactive efforts on youth well-being and content moderation including the global outreach efforts for Meta's oversight board. Before joining the tech industry, Viraj worked at 270 Strategies in Washington D.C. and Mumbai, helping international political and advocacy organizations, as well as companies, develop grassroots and digital campaigns. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, he spent a year on a Fulbright grant in Colombia researching the impact of education methodologies on civic participation.

Eric Ebenstein

* Denotes member of FOSI Board Eric Ebenstein is a Senior Director of Public Policy at TikTok where he is responsible for US strategic policy initiatives and government affairs at the federal, state and international levels. He has more than a decade of experience working on regulatory and policy issues for technology companies.

Vera Eidelman

Vera Eidelman is a staff attorney with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, where she works on the rights to free speech and privacy in the digital age. She focuses on the free speech rights of protesters and young people, both on and offline. She has litigated cases in defense of young people's free speech rights, including before the Supreme Court; challenged restrictions on everyone's right to speak and access information online; and pushed back against efforts to protect kids from purportedly harmful materials, whether in the form of online age verification or book bans.

Amanda Ferguson

Dr Amanda Ferguson is a Senior Resarch Associate in the Digital Mental Health Group at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge. She is also a Clinical Psychologist (Supervised Practice) at the Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Clinic at St Joseph's Hospital Hamilton. Dr Ferguson studies whether and how technology use impacts trajectories of mental health in young people, using longitudinal, experimental, and qualitative methodologies. Her recent work investigates how changes to the uncertainty of social information in online spaces (e.g., social media) impacts the development of beliefs about the self and others.

Kerry Gallagher

Kerry Gallagher, JD is an innovative teacher, school administrator, lawyer, TEDx speaker, keynote speaker, education consultant, downhill skier, hiker, mom, and wife. She has 23 years of experience as a professional educator. Kerry currently serves as Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning and classroom teacher at St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts; and Director of Education at ConnectSafely, an internet safety non-profit in Palo Alto, California. Kerry is co-author of several ConnectSafely award-winning guidebooks for parents and teachers on topics that include social media, data privacy, education technology, copyright, and more. Accolades for her work include awards from the Family Online Safety Institute, St. Anselm College, MassCUE, SmartBrief, and Tech&Learning. She's been recognized as a FutureReady Schools Instructional Coach, ASCD Emerging Leader, Adobe Education Leader, PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator, and EdSurge Columnist. Her passions include digital wellness, innovative professional learning, and effective integration of curriculum, pedagogy, and technology. She is on social media @KerryHawk02.

Audace Garnett

Audace Garnett has extensive experience in facilitation, providing technical assistance nationally and internationally, and supporting crime victims and domestic violence survivors. She began her career in 2004 at a non-profit organization named Barrier Free Living where she provided advocacy to survivors with disabilities. Audace has also worked at the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office where she served as the Teen Services Coordinator in the Victim Services Unit. After six years at the district attorney's office, she then went on to work at a Teen Dating Violence prevention and intervention program named Day One NY where she trained adult professionals around the intersection of teen dating violence and domestic minor sex trafficking. She is currently a Technology Safety Project Manager with Safety Net at the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) where she focuses specifically on the intersection between domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and technology.

Kamilah Ramsay

Kamilah Grit is 14 years old and enjoys creating fun TikToks with her parents on their TikTok @mrandmrsgrit.

Amanda Goharian

Amanda Goharian is the Senior Research Manager at Thorn, where she leads the organization's youth-centered research portfolio. Her work focuses on the intersection of technology and online child sexual abuse, with a particular emphasis on emerging risk areas. With expertise in self-generated CSAM and online grooming pathways, her work at Thorn has been instrumental in understanding how young people experience and disclose harmful online interactions. Her research has been published in the Journal of Adolescence, Journal of Online Trust & Safety, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Before joining Thorn, Amanda served as a technology research consultant for the U.S. federal government.

Kishonna L Gray

Dr. Kishonna L Gray is a Professor of Racial Justice and Technology in the School of Information at the University of Michigan. She is also a Faculty Associate at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Professor Gray previously served as a Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar and Visiting Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Comparative Media Studies and the Women & Gender Studies Program and a Faculty Visitor at the Social Media Collective at Microsoft Research (Cambridge). She is the author of Intersectional Tech: Black Users in Digital Gaming, Race, Gender, & Deviance in Xbox Live, and is the co-editor of two volumes on culture and gaming: Feminism in Play and Woke Gaming.

Laura Higgins

Laura Higgins is Senior Director of Community Safety and Civility at Roblox & Visiting Senior Fellow in Digital Safeguarding at University of Suffolk. With years of experience building safeguarding, online safety and civility programs, Laura speaks on digital safety topics across the globe & regularly appears in the media sharing her expertise with industry, regulators, parents and kids.

Justin Hendrix

Justin Hendrix is CEO and Editor of Tech Policy Press, a new nonprofit media venture concerned with the intersection of technology and democracy. Previously, he was Executive Director of NYC Media Lab. He spent over a decade at The Economist in roles including Vice President, Business Development & Innovation. He is an associate research scientist and adjunct professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

Jessica Janze, PhD

Jessica Janze, PhD, is a psychologist in the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute. Her professional expertise centers on conducting comprehensive assessments and providing therapeutic interventions for individuals dealing with psychological disorders, particularly children, adolescents, and their families. Dr. Janze has extensive experience in addressing anxiety, mood, and trauma-related disorders. Her career has spanned various care settings, including schools, inpatient and outpatient hospitals, and community mental health centers. She is well-versed in crisis management, conducting risk assessments, and offering essential support to families during challenging periods. Certified in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), Dr. Janze also teaches these interventions. Additionally, her background in yoga and mindfulness instruction allows her to incorporate mindfulness-based practices into her therapeutic approach.

Austin Jenkins

Austin Jenkins covers tech policy for Pluribus News, a two-year-old digital news site focused on emerging policy trends in states and state legislatures. Previously, Austin spent nearly two decades covering the Washington State legislature and state politics for the Northwest News Network, a regional consortium of NPR stations. Austin earned his B.A. in government from Connecticut College and his Master in Communication from the Communication Leadership program at the University of Washington.

Vaishnavi J

Vaishnavi is the founder and principal of Vyanams Strategies (VYS), helping companies, civil society, and governments build healthier online communities for young people. VYS leverages extensive experience at leading technology companies to develop tactical product and policy solutions for child safety and privacy. These range from product guidance, content policies, operations workflows, trust & safety strategies, and organizational design. An expert in online child safety, privacy, and age-appropriate design, Vaishnavi has held significant roles in the tech industry. She was the global head of youth policy at Meta, supporting age-appropriate content and product policies across Instagram, Facebook, VR, and messaging services. She previously led Twitter's video content policies, was their first head of safety policy in APAC, and served as Google's child safety policy lead for APAC. Vaishnavi is a recognized commentator on child safety and privacy, featured in BBC, NPR, CNN, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Rolling Stone. Learn more about VYS's work at www.vyanams.com, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter for insights on building healthier digital experiences for young people at https://quire.substack.com.

Pranav Karthikeyan

Pranav Karthikeyan is a high schooler from New Jersey. Pranav has been fighting misinformation and raising awareness about media literacy since 5th grade. As a student leader of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) and Media Power Youth, he is passionate about empowering and engaging youth voices to create safe digital spaces and make digital experiences productive and positive for everyone. He also enjoys school, soccer, meeting new people, and listening to their stories.

Kate Kennedy

Ms. Kennedy is currently the DHS Know2Protect Campaign Director where she leads all lines of effort for this national public awareness campaign. In this role, Ms. Kennedy oversees campaign brand development, partnership activations, media efforts, strategic communications, to include the FY24 campaign launch, and stakeholder engagement. During her tenure, Ms. Kennedy has been instrumental in leading the overhaul of HSI's Project iGuardian initiative which under her guidance has become the official in-person educational arm of the Know2Protect campaign. Prior to this assignment, Ms. Kennedy was the strategic communications advisor at the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, overseeing the Center's brand development, communications and stakeholder engagement strategy and special outreach initiatives.

Emily Cashman Kirstein

* Denotes member of FOSI Board Emily leads child safety public policy at Google, working to ensure that children have safe and enriching online experiences. Prior to joining Google, she led the policy team at Thorn, a tech-focused nonprofit committed to ending online child sexual abuse, establishing the organization as a sought after policy partner and thought leader both in the United States and globally. Previously, she served for seven years in multiple roles as a key aide to U.S Senator Jeanne Shaheen and worked as senior staff on several political campaigns in her home state of New Hampshire. Emily is an alum of the College of the Holy Cross and holds a Master's in International Relations from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Jennifer Kotler Clarke

Dr. Jennifer Kotler Clarke is a social/developmental scientist with expertise in child and adolescent engagement with and learning from media and technology. She currently leads the Kids and Family UX research and content strategy teams at Google. She and her team are dedicated to using research insights and applying learning science to help craft safe, delightful, and enriching digital experiences for youth and those who care for them. Prior to her role at Google, Jen served as the Vice President of Content Research & Evaluation at Sesame Workshop. She led a team of researchers who, along with product work, spearheaded studies designed to illuminate issues important for children's positive development. Jen received her Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Nicol Turner Lee

Dr. Nicol Turner Lee writes at the intersection of technology, race, and social justice. She is a senior fellow and director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution, and the founder of the AI Equity Lab. A tech policy expert and storyteller, her work has appeared in the Washington Post and New York Times, and on NBC, CNBC, NPR, and the PBS NewsHour. She has served as an adviser on technology policy issues for government agencies, including the National Academies of Sciences and the Federal Communications Commission. She received a PhD from Northwestern University, and resides in Alexandria, Virginia.

Michelle Lopes Maldonado

Delegate Michelle Maldonado is a former tech lawyer and business leader who founded the Virginia General Assembly's Technology & Innovation Caucus. She leads on AI/new and emerging tech issues in the House of Delegates focusing on AI, privacy, and blockchain. Delegate Maldonado also serves on the Joint Commission on Technology & Science, NCSL's Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity & Privacy, and the Multistate AI Working Policy Group (MAP-WG) comprised of state legislators from across the country. She is a graduate of Barnard College and has been recognized as a "2024 Impact Maker" by Virginia Business Magazine.

Maya A. McKenzie

Maya A. McKenzie, Esq. is Senior Counsel of Tech Policy at The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) – the voice and advocate of the video game industry – where she leads video game console makers and publishers in the development of legislative and regulatory policy on emerging issues in technology including privacy, e-commerce, and trust & safety. Prior to joining ESA, Maya was an associate at DLA Piper LLP and Paul Hastings LLP and where she focused on privacy and cybersecurity. Maya graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Alabama State University and earned her Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Lama Mohammed

Lama Mohammed is the inaugural Tech Policy Fellow at NYU's Center for Social Media and Politics (CSMaP). At CSMaP, Lama works to insert the Center's rigorous research into policy conversations around social media, technology, and democracy. Before joining CSMaP, Lama was a Senior Associate at the Glen Echo Group — a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs and relations firm specializing in technology policy. Lama worked on policy and communications for nonprofit organizations operating within the artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and privacy spaces. Before joining the Glen Echo Group full-time, Lama served as the firm's Fellow, building upon her previous cybersecurity policy experience with D.C. government relations firms and the United Nations. In addition to her role at the CSMaP, Lama is an Affiliate at All Tech Is Human, where she has co-authored reports on AI and human rights, building a better tech future, and technology and democracy, as well as a mentor at Girl Security, the only non-profit working to advance girls, young women, and gender minorities into pathways across the national security sector to ensure a more equitable security future for the world. Lama was also a former Senior Fellow and New York Regional Chair at the Internet Law & Policy Foundry, where she managed the organization's social media accounts, designed the graphics, and frequently hosted and moderated Foundry podcast episodes and webinars. As an emerging voice in the technology policy community, Lama has spoken at various conferences and panels, including the 2024 Stanford Trust and Safety Research Conference and the 2023 IAPP Global Privacy Summit, where she highlighted the privacy issues unique to the youth generation. Lama has also facilitated a security training on AI and currently coaches students about starting a career in responsible technology.

Candela Montero

Candela Montero is Vice President of Trust, Safety and Support at Epic Games where she leads the company's online safety public policy efforts globally. Prior to Epic, Montero led external affairs and oversaw social impact efforts at Netflix. She also spent nearly a decade at The Walt Disney Company where she led public affairs initiatives and corporate social responsibility at different divisions of the company.

Dr. Megan Moreno

Dr Megan Moreno is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the Principal Investigator of the Social Media and Adolescent Health Research Team (SMAHRT); their research focuses on the intersection of technology and adolescent health and strives to incorporate youth into their projects and processes. SMAHRT maintains two youth advisory boards and has led a summer research program for adolescents for the past decade. Dr. Moreno has authored over 200 research articles as well as written and edited several textbooks. Dr. Moreno currently serves as the Co-Medical

Kati Morton

Kati Morton is widely recognized as a leading mental health advocate and educator. She holds a masters in clinical psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She has a passion for education and empowerment, and shares helpful insights through her YouTube channel www.youtube.com/katimorton. Her first book, "Are u ok?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health," was released in December 2018, followed by her latest book, "Traumatized: Identify, Understand and Cope With PTSD and Emotional Stress," which was released in September 2021. She hopes that by speaking candidly about mental health, and encouraging her viewers to reach out to get the support they need, we can remove the stigma associated with getting help.

Ioanna Noula

Dr Ioanna Noula is a senior researcher and advisor in the areas of citizenship, children's rights, and tech policy and a visiting fellow at the UCD Centre for Digital Policy. She is a Trust and Safety innovator. In 2018, against the backdrop of emerging regulation for digital services, Ioanna co-founded the Internet Commission, an independent UK-based non-profit organization pioneering trust and safety audits of online platforms including the BBC, Sony PlayStation, Tinder, Meetic and Twitch. As a citizenship and childhood studies scholar she has held academic positions at UCL's Institute of Education and LSE's Department of Media and Communications. Ioanna's current work breaks ground in the advancement of children's rights through an innovative approach to the implementation of Internet regulation: a regulatory sandbox for Children's Online Redress (CORsandbox.org). Aided by an alliance of organizations representing a number of countries, COR brings together technology companies, regulators, civil society organizations, researchers and - in accord with Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - youth to innovate for rights-based response and redress under the EU Digital Services Act.

Jinan O’Connor

Jinan brings over 25 years of expertise in education, leadership, and nonprofit engagement to her role as Vice President of Brand Partnerships and Engagement at DonorsChoose. She champions the organization's mission by forging meaningful connections with partners, amplifying the impact of DonorsChoose through public events, and inspiring support for teachers and students nationwide. Jinan's career began in the classroom as an elementary Special Education teacher after graduating from Spelman College. She went on to earn her Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education and has held transformative leadership roles, including Vice President of Implementation and Professional Learning and Northeast Executive Director for Turnaround for Children, Northeast States Director for AVID, and School Improvement Consultant for the Southern Regional Education Board. An advocate for equity, belonging, and community impact, Jinan's passion for empowering educators and students drives her to create opportunities that change lives and shape futures.

Kemi Ojikutu

Kemi is a 17-year-old social justice activist from Pennsylvania dedicated to enacting change. As the ambassador of the Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading's Stand Together Against Racism (STAR) initiative, she utilizes education and dialogue to address and combat racism. Her efforts have impacted hundreds through projects, events, and workshops. With STAR, she has addressed a wide range of topics, from Allyship, through STAR's Ally Workshop training, to cultural celebration, notably through The Power In Our Differences Campaign—a collaborative effort with an anti-racism student group in South Korea to celebrate diversity globally. She was recently recognized for her work and dedication through The Princeton Prize in Race Relations. She is also on the Born This Way Foundation's advisory board, where she creates stories for Channel Kindness and works with the organization to destigmatize mental health. In everything she does, Kemi strives to inspire others to stand together and be the change they wish to see.

Mike Pappas*

* Denotes member of FOSI Board. Mike Pappas is the CEO/Co-founder of Modulate, which works with studios like Activision, Riot Games, and Rec Room to foster safer and more inclusive online voice chat. Mike's work at Modulate ranges from developing new partnerships within the industry, monitoring trends and new opportunities for Modulate's unique technology to have a positive impact, and reinforcing an internal and external culture of passion, respect, and personal growth. Outside of work, his passions include creating themed cocktail lists, long-distance running, and playing Nintendo games.

Casey Pick

Casey Pick is currently the Director of Law and Policy for The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and mental health organization serving LGBTQ young people. She leads The Trevor Project's work to advance state and federal policies that support LGBTQ young people in crisis, educating policymakers and the public about LGBTQ young people/mental health issues. She also writes and coordinates amicus briefs, collaborates with state and local advocates, and testifies in support of legislation to protect LGBTQ young people.

Cinnamon Rogers

Cinnamon Rogers is VP, Global Public Policy for Sony Interactive Entertainment PlayStation where she leads the global team responsible for engaging with policymakers around the world. Cinnamon collaborates with government officials, nonprofits and industry to advance policies that support innovation in interactive entertainment and to promote safe online spaces where everyone is welcome to play. She has over 25 years of legislative and regulatory experience working at the federal, state, and global level representing the media, tech, software and telecommunications sectors. Early in her career she worked in the House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Gus Rossi

Agustín ‘Gus' Rossi Silvano serves as director at Omidyar Network. He leads strategic initiatives on tech policy, advocacy, and innovation, focusing on antitrust and competition policy, children's online privacy, artificial intelligence, and supporting small- and medium-sized tech companies at the national, state, and international levels. Prior to joining Omidyar Network, Gus led global policy initiatives at Public Knowledge, an advocacy-oriented nonprofit that promotes freedom of expression, an open internet, and access to affordable communications tools. At the Inter-American Development Bank, he served as director of the Multilateral Investment Fund, a $100 million investment fund for social innovation in Latin America, advising the government of Argentina on more than 100 loan proposals to develop public and private sectors in the region. Earlier in his career, Gus consulted on digital rights issues for a member of the European Parliament. Gus holds a Ph.D. in political science from the European University Institute, an M.Sc. in international political economy from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and a B.A. in political science from Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

Bailey Sanchez

Bailey Sanchez is Senior Counsel with the Future of Privacy Forum's U.S. Legislation Team. Bailey leads the team's work analyzing legislative proposals that impact children and teens' online privacy and safety. In her role, Bailey seeks to understand policy trends that impact youth privacy. She regularly writes and speaks about topics such as age assurance and the intersection of privacy law and the First Amendment. Bailey also supports FPF's research and independent analysis concerning federal, state, and local consumer privacy laws and regulations.

Arana Shapiro

Arana Shapiro is an educator and social entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience developing innovative approaches to learning using games and game design. As Chief Operations and Programs Officer at Games for Change, she oversees programs and partnerships for schools, organizations and families, and supports a growing global community of educators using games in the classroom. Previously, as the Executive Director of the Institute of Play, Arana was part of a team that designed and opened the first school in the world with a game-like learning model, the New York City public school, Quest to Learn. She is a co-author of Quest to Learn: Growing a School for Digital Kids, published by MIT Press. With deep expertise in education and change management as a parent, teacher, school leader, educational technologist, curriculum designer, and nonprofit leader, Arana is a leading voice on education transformation. Her work has been featured in Education Week, EdSurge, Edutopia, The New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, Wired, and Fast Company, and she has spoken about games and learning at SXSW EDU, FETC, ISTE, WISE, and many other events around the globe. Arana received an M.A. in Education from Pepperdine University and a Masters of Education in Leadership for Educational Change from Bank Street College of Education.

Kara Sundby

Kara Sundby is a Senior Director in Kantar's Futures practice, where she works with clients to understand and anticipate the shifts impacting their industries--determining the actions and strategies that will ensure they are ready for the future. She has worked on trend, scenarios, and thought leadership projects across sectors. Kara has a Master of International Economic Policy from Columbia University, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria.

Cori Stott

Cori Stott is the Executive Director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital, where she leads the Lab's strategic direction, operational management, programmatic planning and initiatives, and industry collaboration. She is also responsible for fundraising, communications, and team leadership. Since Cori joined the Lab in 2021, the organization has significantly grown in size, research capacity, and influence. After earning a degree in Psychology from Wellesley College, Cori pursued a career in social science research and youth development, eventually earning a Masters in Education from Harvard University, with a focus on Prevention Science in Adolescence. While working in a role focused on strategy and governance at the Denver Public Schools, Cori earned an MBA from the University of Colorado and began to shift her professional focus to the development, growth, and management of youth-focused organizations. Prior to joining the Digital Wellness Lab, Cori worked as the Managing Director of Strategy and Operations at Transforming Education, a Boston-based non-profit focused on integrating social-emotional learning into educational systems.

Taylor

Taylor is a survivor of internet facilitated online enticement, child sexual exploitation and CSAM. Taylor has spoken to thousands of child serving professionals both domestic and international, about the harms of CSAM as well as the challenges with getting images, videos, and fake profiles removed from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X and more. Taylor's was one of the largest online enticement/sextortion cases prosecuted at that time, with over 300+ victims of the convicted perpetrator. Although her victimization lasted from 2014 – 2016 when she was 15 - 17, CSAM of Taylor has been distributed as recently as 2021. Taylor advocates for more transparency around tech companies' child safety policies, increased detection and more support and education for caregivers regarding the harms of social media.

Erica Tate

Erica Tate uses TikTok @mrandmrsgrit to share her family's unique perspective on parenting and married life, blending creativity and humor to create relatable family content.

Catherine Teitelbaum

Catherine Teitelbaum is the Head of Family Trust for Amazon Kids, where she directs initiatives that empower families to confidently navigate the digital world. Catherine is a former educator and industry veteran with over two decades of experience in Trust & Safety and privacy. She previously led Trust & Safety at Twitch, Amazon's live-streaming service, and Yahoo, where she oversaw the award-winning Yahooligans and Yahoo! Education products as well as global policy initiatives.

Patricia E. Vance

As president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), Pat leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program. She also serves as founding chairperson of the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), a non-profit organization that operates a ground-breaking global rating and age classification system for digitally delivered games and apps. Pat is a member of the Board of Directors for the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of the interactive arts and a former Chair and long-standing Director of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI). Prior to joining the ESRB in 2002, Pat spent 18 years at Disney/ABC, with responsibility for the development of a broad range of new media and market initiatives, including the establishment of two video game joint ventures (Creative Wonders; OT Sports) and the management oversight of ABC.com, ABCNews.com, Oscar.com and Oprah.com in her capacity as Senior Vice President, General Manager of the ABC Internet Group.

Arjun Venkataswamy

Arjun Venkataswamy, Principal Product Manager for Alexa Kids, is a former educator and entrepreneur with over a decade of professional experience working at the intersection of technology and education. After starting his career as a high school math teacher for the Chicago Public Schools, Arjun worked as a web app developer and taught prototype software development to MBA students at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Most recently, Arjun served as CTO for a startup that that taught kids programming and design skills through online project-based learning. At Amazon, Arjun works to make Alexa more safe, educational and delightful for kids.

Shannon Vyvijal, MPP

Shannon Vyvijal, MPP (she/her) is the Associate Communications Manager at the Foundation for Social Connection, where she elevates the organization's role as a leader in advancing social connection and igniting a national shift in the narrative around social isolation and loneliness. Her strategic efforts have secured placements in media outlets such as POLITICO, NPR, PBS NewsHour, Bon Appétit, The Cut, and more, raising awareness of evidence-based strategies and uplifting stories of inspiring community efforts to strengthen connection. Prior to this role, she served as a Fellow with the Foundation, assisting in the development of their SOCIAL Framework research reports which explore how to foster connection in every sector of society, at every level of influence, and across the lifespan. As a member of Gen Z – our loneliest generation – Shannon is deeply committed to empowering young people with proven strategies and tools for building meaningful connections in an increasingly digital world.

Madison Watts

Madison Watts (she/her) is a senior at Rockville High School in Maryland. She is committed to student advocacy and leadership, focusing on critical social issues such as mental health, education policy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Madison's mental health advocacy started in 2021, and since then, she has become involved in national organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, Common Sense Media, and Mental Health America, consistently using her voice to better the intersection between social media and mental health.

Emily Weinstein

Dr. Emily Weinstein is a psychologist, author, and researcher who has spent over a decade studying teens' experiences with social media. She co-founded the Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she and her team create knowledge and resources to help young people thrive in a tech-filled world. Her book with Carrie James, Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing) helped catalyze new conversations about digital agency.

Shoshana Weissmann

Shoshana Weissmann manages R Street's social media, email marketing and other digital assets. She also works on occupational licensing reform, social media regulatory policy, Section 230, age verfication, and other issues, and has written for various publications, including The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.

Becky White

As the Senior Policy and Legislative Director for New York State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, Becky was instrumental in the drafting of the groundbreaking SAFE for Kids Act and New York Child Data Protection Act with the NYS Attorney General, which passed through the NYS legislature last June. Specializing in policy research and bill drafting, Becky has also worked on bills to institute a 2% gross receipts tax on data controllers which profit off of consumer data online as well as a just-introduced bill to require gaming apps such as Roblox to turn off their controversial open chat feature, which several investigations have deemed responsible for helping to turn Roblox into an "X-rated pedophile hellscape" for kids. Beyond working to foster digital well-being, Becky has also worked on bills such as the Working Families Tax Credit, New York's anti-wage theft Freelance Isn't Free Law, and pension protections for COVID first responders, drafting 632 bills and 104 laws over six legislative sessions.

Andrew Zack

Andrew Zack is the Policy Manager for the Family Online Safety Institute, supporting policy and research work relating to online safety issues, laws, and regulations.

Agenda

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Registration, Breakfast & Exhibits | Sponsored by Electronic Arts

 

9:00 AM – 9:03 AM

Opening Remarks

  • Tami Bhaumik, Roblox, FOSI Chair

 

9:03 AM – 9:10 AM

Keynote Address

  • Hon. Alejandro Mayorkas, US Secretary, Department of Homeland Security

 

9:10 AM – 9:20 AM

Welcome Address

  • Stephen Balkam, FOSI

 

9:20 AM – 9:40 AM

Research Launch: Promoting Wellbeing in the Digital World 

 A presentation of summarized findings from a new FOSI study will explore how teens and their parents navigate wellbeing in our digital world, and how they feel their devices support or hinder their overall wellbeing. The mixed method study takes place  in three countries – US, Germany, and Brazil, and focuses primarily on emotional/mental, physical and social wellbeing.

  • Chris Carbone, Kantar
  • Kara Sundby, Kantar

 

9:40 AM – 10:15 AM

Promoting Wellbeing in the Digital World: The Experts React

 Discover the key takeaways from FOSI’s 2024 research as a panel of experts breaks down the findings. This session will explore the new study’s implications on online safety and the potential next steps for industry and policymakers.

  • Dr. Amanda Ferguson, The Digital Mental Health Group, University of Cambridge
  • Dr. Jennifer Kotler Clarke, Google
  • Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Brookings Institute (moderator)
  • Dr. Emily Weinstein, Project Zero, Harvard University

 

10:15 AM – 10:40 AM

Networking Break & Exhibits | Sponsored by PrivateID

 

10:40 AM – 11:20 AM

Global Online Safety Regulators Network: A Two-Year Review 

 Two years after the launch of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network, the top regulators from Australia, France, and the UK return to FOSI to discuss their work, recent developments, and the progress they’ve made in cultivating communication between countries in regard to regulatory practices, online safety standards and how/what they have learned from one another.

  • Stephen Balkam, FOSI (Moderator)
  • Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner, Australia
  • Benoit Loutrel, ARCOM, France
  • Gill Whitehead, Chairperson, Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN)

 

11:20 AM – 11:40 AM

Fireside Chat

  • Stephen Balkam, FOSI (Moderator)
  • Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson, NTIA

 

11:50 AM – 12:40 PM

Morning Breakout Sessions

*Please note morning breakout sessions will not be livestreamed or recorded.

 

  Online to Offline: Empowering Users to Safely Navigate Digital Spaces

As the lines are increasingly blurred between our online and offline worlds, this panel will examine the latest safety innovations that empower users to stay safe online and IRL. Experts will discuss the latest tools, trends, and research, as well as the importance of designing and integrating new technologies with safety in mind.

  • Liz Dank, Uber
  • Viraj Doshi, Snap
  • Audace Garnett, National Network to End Domestic Violence
  • Shannon Vyvijal, Foundation for Social Connection
  • Cori Stott, Digital Wellness Lab (Moderator)

 

Dark Threats, Bright Solutions: Combating Financial Sextortion and AI-Driven Exploitation

 This panel will address the rising threats of financial sextortion, blackmail,  AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and nudification apps. Experts will discuss the latest trends in combating these challenges and the tech solutions shaping the future of online protection. Please be aware that this panel will discuss sensitive topics related to harassment and assault, including crimes against minors.

  • Taylor, NCMEC Consultant
  • Pratishtha Arora, Social & Media Matters
  • Anastasiya Dzyakaya, #stop_sexting
  • Kerry Gallagher, St. John’s Prep (Moderator)
  • Amanda Goharian, Thorn
  • Kate Kennedy, Department of Homeland Security

 

Debating the Future: What Policies Are Needed to Protect Kids Online?

 In this interactive policy debate, leading voices will explore the delicate balance between protecting children online and regulating social media platforms. How should policymakers work to pass effective online safety protections while respecting individual rights?

  • Justin Hendrix, Tech Policy Press (Moderator)
  • Casey Pick, The Trevor Project
  • Gus Rossi, Omidyar Network
  • Shoshana Weissmann, R Street Institute
  • Andrew Zack, FOSI

 

Game On: Innovations and Safety in the Gaming World 

 Explore the latest advancements in gaming technology and how the industry is evolving to enhance both entertainment and safety. This panel will highlight different aspects of gaming, including parental controls, AI integration, and community building.

  • Dr. Kishonna Gray, University of Michigan
  • Laura Higgins, Roblox
  • Mike Pappas, Modulate
  • Cinnamon Rogers, Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation)
  • Arana Shapiro, Games for Change (Moderator)

 

12:40 PM – 1:25 PM

Networking Luncheon | Sponsored by Pinterest

 

1:35 PM – 2:25 PM

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

*Please note afternoon breakout sessions will not be livestreamed or recorded.

 

 AI and Accountability: Content Moderation in the Digital Age

 As AI transforms the landscape of content moderation, this session will dive into the challenges and opportunities of using artificial intelligence to detect and remove harmful content. Industry leaders will discuss ethical concerns, transparency, and the future of automated moderation.

  • Henry Adams, Resolver
  • Patricia Cartes Andrés, Cantina AI
  • Meg Leta Jones, Georgetown University
  • Vaishnavi J, Vyanams Strategies  (Moderator)
  • Lama Mohammed, NYU Center for Social Media and Politics

 

The State of the States – From Albany to Sacramento

 A deep dive into the diverse approaches that U.S. states are taking to regulate online safety and tech policy. From digital privacy laws to online protection measures, this panel will explore what’s working, what isn’t, and what the future holds.

  • Scott Babwah Brennen, Center on Technology Policy, NYU
  • Vera Eidelman, ACLU
  • Austin Jenkins, Pluribus (Moderator)
  • Bailey Sanchez, Future of Privacy Forum
  • Becky White, Office of State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-NY)

 

Voices of the Future: Insights from Gen Z

Hear directly from the next generation as young leaders share their perspectives on online safety, digital well-being, and the future of the internet. This engaging panel will highlight the unique experiences and challenges faced by today’s digital natives.

  • Dinu Antonescu, Snap Youth Council
  • Pranav Karthikeyan, NAMLE Youth Advisory Council
  • Dr. Megan Moreno, AAP’s Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health (Moderator)
  • Kemi Ojikutu, Born This Way Foundation
  • Madison Watts, AAP’s Youth Council

 

What Rights Do Children Have in the Digital Age?

 This panel will discuss what tech companies are doing to keep children safe online, the importance of respecting children’s rights while designing and regulating online experiences, and how to center digital wellbeing as a key online safety consideration.

  • Charlotte Aynsley, FOSI (moderator)
  • Nikki Burns, LEGO
  • Linda Charmaraman, Ph.D., Youth, Media, & Wellbeing Research Lab, Wellesley Centers for Women
  • Anne Collier, The Net Safety Collaborative
  • Ioanna Noula, Ph.D., UCD Centre for Digital Policy

 

2:35 PM – 3:05 PM

Safety By Design: Putting Safety at the Forefront of Video Game Design

As games become more interactive and the creator economy continues to grow, it requires a new approach to safety. This conversation will explore how companies can design games that are both fun and safe for players of all ages and features that empower parents to tailor the experience that’s right for their family.

  • Candela Montero, Epic Games
  • Pat Vance, ESRB

 

3:05 PM – 3:35 PM

Empowering Parents & Kids to Experience the Power of Play

Video games are one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world today. More than three-quarters of Gen Alpha and Gen Z play video games every week and 83% of parents who play video games play as a family. Join the Entertainment Software Association for a conversation on how the benefits of games go well beyond fun and entertainment, as well as how the video game industry is working with trust and safety professionals and policymakers to provide the tools and resources kids and families need to experience the power of play.

  • Maya McKenzie, ESA (Moderator)
  • Blair Durkee, GLAAD
  • Del Michelle Maldonado, 20th District of the Virginia House of Delegates
  • Pat Vance, ESRB

 

3:35 PM  – 4:05 PM

Networking Break & Exhibits

 

4:05 PM – 4:35 PM

 Our Digital Journey: How Parents and Teens Can Navigate the Online World, Together

Join TikTok creator Erica (@mrandmrsgrit) and her daughter Kamilah for a conversation about how they navigate the digital world as a family. Erica and Kamilah will share their perspectives balancing creativity with healthy digital boundaries. This parent-teen discussion will offer insights into how families can use safety features and open communication to create positive digital experiences together. 

  • Eric Ebenstein, TikTok (Moderator)
  • Erica Tate, TikTok creator
  • Kamilah Grit, TikTok creator

 

4:35 PM – 5:05 PM

Parenting in a Dynamic Digital World

We are living in a fast-paced, ever-evolving digital world, and this panel will explore the challenges and opportunities for tech companies, parents, educators, and youth. How do we empower kids to be prepared for a future that we can’t even fully envision? How do we equip young people with the tools and knowledge to think critically as they navigate new technology such as AI within this ever-changing digital landscape? Experts will share practical tips, tools and advice.

  • David Bickham, Ph.D, Digital Wellness Lab
  • Mx. Ash Brandin, EdS, @TheGamerEducator
  • Catherine Teitelbaum, Amazon Family Trust (moderator)
  • Arjun Venkataswamy, Alexa Kids

 

5:05 PM – 5:35 PM

Beyond the Screen: Building Experiences For and With Teens

Key experts in teen content and development will discuss best practices for building safer and more enriching online experiences for teens that reflect their specific developmental stages, their drive to create and participate, and their need to develop essential skills for the future.

  • Tami Bhaumik, Roblox
  • Emily Cashman Kirstein, Google (Moderator)
  • Jessica Janze, Ph.D, Child Mind Institute
  • Jinan O’Connor, DonorsChoose
  • Kati Morton, LMFT & YouTube Creator

 

5:35 PM – 5:40 PM

Closing Remarks

  • Stephen Balkam, FOSI

 

5:40 PM – 7:40 PM

Evening Reception