Eight years ago, my son David died by suicide at 16. His death followed a yearlong battle with social media and online gaming addiction as well as months of intense and threatening cyberbullying that left him feeling helpless and hopeless. Even though we made sure he had mental health support, it was not enough. His death has been an immeasurable tragedy. When I see David’s empty chair at Christmas dinner, I know that the pain of his loss will never go away.
Since David’s death, I have become a staunch advocate for the Kids Online Safety Act. This lifesaving legislation would finally hold Big Tech accountable for the dangers its social media platforms pose, such as those that cost me my son.
Sadly, I am just one of many survivor parents who have suffered the death of a child because of cyberbullying, deadly viral challenges, sextortion, and other online harms. We know that…
