Protecting Children in the Digital Age | Dr. Lisa Strohman (YouTube Video Transcript)

(00:00:00) Your YouTube transcript will appear here (00:00:02) We've got to protect our children. They (00:00:06) need our hands. We've got to stand up. (00:00:12) >> Happy new year. Happy 2026. Ian Mitchell (00:00:15) M3 show here. I am so excited that (00:00:18) you're joining me. I'm super excited (00:00:20) about the first quarter about what we're (00:00:22) going to show in January, February, (00:00:23) March. We're going to talk about a topic (00:00:25) that's deeply personal to me as a father (00:00:27) of three who, you know, has really uh (00:00:30) tried to secure my home and keep a safe (00:00:32) environment for my kids of all ages from (00:00:34) when they were young to now I have one (00:00:37) adult child. Uh protecting our children (00:00:39) from potential exploitation and exposure (00:00:42) is important. So, that's going to be the (00:00:44) focus coming out into the new year. And (00:00:47) we're going to have every week really (00:00:49) interesting, compelling interviews with (00:00:50) experts in the field talking about (00:00:52) internet safety and digital safety and (00:00:54) game safety and physical safety, all (00:00:57) kinds of things. Because as guardians (00:00:58) and parents, we have to watch out for (00:01:00) the most vulnerable amongst us. So, (00:01:02) welcome. Welcome to M3. Welcome to (00:01:04) Protect Our Children. So happy to have (00:01:06) you here in this new year. It's going to (00:01:07) be an unbelievable year. I know there's (00:01:09) a lot going on in the world, but as far (00:01:11) as I'm concerned, we're moving in the (00:01:13) right direction. And I hope you feel the (00:01:14) same way, too. And if you don't, let's (00:01:16) hope on. Let's keep praying. Um, my (00:01:18) first interview is going to be with Dr. (00:01:20) Lisa Strowman, a friend of mine, and I (00:01:22) can't think of a better person to kick (00:01:24) off this this whole series with. She is (00:01:26) an expert in internet, especially (00:01:28) internet safety with children. She is an (00:01:30) absolute expert, psychologist. She's (00:01:32) worked with the FBI. She is on all kinds (00:01:35) of media platforms worldwide. She is (00:01:38) broadly considered an expert and just an (00:01:40) unbelievable, wonderful, beautiful human (00:01:42) being, a parent also. So, Dr. Lisa (00:01:45) Strowman, she's kicking us off. Enjoy (00:01:48) this. I know I sure did did. And stay to (00:01:50) the end because there are really some (00:01:52) practical tips, especially around online (00:01:54) safety for us as parents and guardians. (00:01:56) Take care of yourself and hopefully your (00:01:58) new year is off to a great start. God (00:01:59) bless and enjoy this. So, Dr. Lisa, (00:02:01) thank you so much for being with me and (00:02:04) and just agreeing to kick off this I (00:02:07) don't know that we're this launch of in (00:02:09) 2026 about protecting children. I I (00:02:11) don't think there's a topic that (00:02:12) probably hits more home for me than this (00:02:14) one as a father of three. (00:02:18) One of my kids at the age of 10 stumbled (00:02:19) into pornography and it's been something (00:02:21) that we've had to battle through and (00:02:22) secure our homes. my personal exposure (00:02:26) around, you know, this crimes of (00:02:28) extortion and all the things that are (00:02:29) kind of going on targeting children. (00:02:32) When I think about just starting the (00:02:34) year off with a focus, I couldn't think (00:02:36) of something better to start with than (00:02:38) protecting children. And I couldn't (00:02:40) think of someone better to start the (00:02:42) conversation for the year than you, Dr. (00:02:45) Lisa. Thank you for being here. Um, I (00:02:47) just appreciate you doing this because I (00:02:49) know you speak so often to so many on so (00:02:51) many platforms. So, thank you for being (00:02:52) here. (00:02:52) >> Absolutely. feel blessed to be here. (00:02:55) >> So, why don't you for everyone here, (00:02:57) you're unbelievably accomplished. If you (00:02:59) wouldn't mind just giving a, you know, (00:03:00) some background of maybe give the folks (00:03:02) an insight of why I asked you to kind of (00:03:04) kick off this series. (00:03:06) >> Well, um I think generally I'll say like (00:03:08) my my biggest accomplishment probably is (00:03:11) being a mom. You know, I grew up as (00:03:13) small town, you know, kind of farm girl (00:03:15) and decided that as a young child had (00:03:18) really difficult circumstances and was (00:03:21) homeless and like really went through a (00:03:23) lot of struggles. So, as I went through (00:03:25) schooling and I got into college, I (00:03:27) decided I wanted to be a guardian adam, (00:03:29) which was um leading me into the path of (00:03:32) getting a law degree and a psychology (00:03:34) degree. Uh so, I went to a JD PhD (00:03:37) program. Uh, and I didn't know anything. (00:03:40) Like I'm the first person in my family (00:03:41) to like actually go into that. Um, and (00:03:44) so I didn't know what I was really (00:03:46) getting myself into, but it was just (00:03:47) kind of that dayto-day take every (00:03:50) opportunity as I can. I worked in (00:03:52) Congress uh as a legislative assistant. (00:03:54) Um, passed a bill, realized that (00:03:56) Congress was not for me. Um, I'm from (00:03:59) California. So, the congressmen from C (00:04:02) uh from uh and senators from from (00:04:04) California had like a a meeting for all (00:04:06) of the kids that were on the hill from (00:04:09) California. And literally um I got (00:04:13) pulled aside and they're like, "You are (00:04:15) too aspirational to waste your career (00:04:17) here." Which I'm very grateful for (00:04:19) because I do think that that would have (00:04:21) probably that policy work probably would (00:04:22) have been really re like really helpful. (00:04:25) But I also think that I've done a lot (00:04:27) more since that. Um, so then I went from (00:04:30) there and I went to the FBI, became an (00:04:32) honors intern, and I was there and (00:04:36) accepted into the profiling unit as (00:04:38) their intern. And the unit was called (00:04:41) CASU, child abduction serial killer (00:04:43) unit. So I had the likes of John Douglas (00:04:46) and just amazing like agents in the (00:04:49) field of profiling. And it was really (00:04:52) like the shift. I was there at the (00:04:54) pivotal moment of the shift that went um (00:04:56) you remember this Ian like the the the (00:04:58) pictures on the on the milk cartons. I'm (00:05:00) sure your audience remembers that. Um (00:05:03) and you know that would terrify us. (00:05:04) Well, I get there and I find out like (00:05:06) 80% of those pictures on milk cartons (00:05:07) were like parental abductions that had (00:05:10) occurred. And you know that was the best (00:05:11) we could do to kind of like source out (00:05:14) information and try to find these kids. (00:05:16) Um and then in 99 I'm there and (00:05:19) everything is now becoming digital. It (00:05:21) was pre-social media. Um, but we had a (00:05:24) hundred agents in headquarters at the (00:05:25) time all posing as kids and 247 were (00:05:29) like absolutely slammed with cases that (00:05:31) were already starting with child (00:05:33) pornography. And um, and I just remember (00:05:35) I was in my 20s and I was like really (00:05:37) terrified at like just kind of the (00:05:40) malcavian like the the just just like (00:05:43) the the hatred and the and the and the (00:05:46) evil that was like on these on these (00:05:48) lanes. So um so I stayed um I ended up (00:05:52) being brought on by the director (00:05:54) director free to become um a visiting (00:05:57) scholar and do my dissertation with (00:05:59) NickMick National Center for Missing (00:06:00) Exploited Children and the FBI in (00:06:03) concert. Uh I did my dissertation on (00:06:05) infant abduction. Uh and it was really (00:06:08) kind of that part where we did such a (00:06:11) great job in the hospitals and you have (00:06:12) three kids. Um I have two like we wore (00:06:14) bands when by the time our kids were (00:06:17) born and that child there's no possible (00:06:19) way that child could leave the hospital (00:06:21) without it setting off an alarm or that (00:06:23) child was in that and so those policy (00:06:26) decisions clearly impacted like the (00:06:29) society and so in that cascuction (00:06:33) we were seeing women abducted in their (00:06:35) ninth and tth month of pregnancy with (00:06:37) babies cut out of them and left for (00:06:38) dead. Um and so Louis Free at the time (00:06:41) was like not on my watch. I one is too (00:06:43) many. So I did the profile of like what (00:06:47) these offenders were and it was really (00:06:49) instrumental in teaching me like the (00:06:52) consequences short-term and long-term of (00:06:53) these policies that we're making for our (00:06:55) families and for our society and like (00:06:58) hospital systems or online. Um, and so I (00:07:02) kind of dove really deep into that. And (00:07:04) then, um, I was there happily, um, doing (00:07:08) my dissertation and pulling out all this (00:07:10) kind of awful data and identifying what (00:07:13) was going on. Um, and we got a call one (00:07:15) morning and Coline had happened. And (00:07:19) Coline was the critical moment in my (00:07:21) life that I decided and I saw what the (00:07:25) internet would be for our kids. And I (00:07:29) saw what Eric Harris as binker boxes of (00:07:31) data came in that he had published (00:07:33) online ahead of time. And I just (00:07:35) remember sitting around with all the (00:07:36) greatest minds and all of the agencies, (00:07:38) Secret Service and SA and FBI and just (00:07:41) looking around and thinking the adults (00:07:43) miss this. We miss this. And the kids (00:07:45) were putting it out there. So the (00:07:48) internet for me became kind of this um (00:07:51) you know canary in the mind shaft. And I (00:07:53) was like I was like we have to look at (00:07:55) the psychology of technology and how (00:07:57) technology is impacting our psychology (00:07:59) and how do we like really fundamentally (00:08:02) approach it differently. And so from 99 (00:08:05) on I've been really prioritizing that as (00:08:08) my area of focus and helping families (00:08:11) all across the United States and the (00:08:12) world actually. (00:08:14) >> Well first of all thank you. I think (00:08:16) when we get certain callings in our (00:08:19) life, and I'll use that word, it's not (00:08:20) something necessary all of us plan and (00:08:22) it just kind of finds us and then it (00:08:24) resonates with you as a person and a (00:08:25) passion and then having courage to kind (00:08:27) of focus on an area that probably wasn't (00:08:29) getting a lot of attention um or needed (00:08:32) more attention. So, thank you. It's (00:08:34) interesting when I think about the (00:08:35) problem of exploitation and you're (00:08:37) talking about the stories hospital you (00:08:39) know when we were growing up it was the (00:08:41) white van you know that was pulling up (00:08:44) and stealing kids when they were out (00:08:45) playing in the front yard or the (00:08:46) backyard and I remember those (00:08:48) conversations but this expo this this (00:08:50) isn't a new problem and I think so the (00:08:54) internet maybe has raised the attention (00:08:56) on it but it sounds like even abducting (00:08:59) women that are in like that are pregnant (00:09:01) I I had never heard that before. Um, (00:09:04) just out of curiosity, is do you think (00:09:06) this problem is bigger than it was (00:09:08) before or is it more talked about than (00:09:10) it was before and we're aware of it (00:09:11) more? Like what's where is kind of the (00:09:14) if I look at in a historical lens? Is is (00:09:17) it is it more prevalent today than it (00:09:19) was prior or is it now we're more aware (00:09:22) of it? (00:09:23) >> Exploitation of the kids. (00:09:25) >> Yeah. Just in general. Yeah. Whether (00:09:26) it's abductions or like you said (00:09:28) influencing their thought patterns. I (00:09:30) guess the internet probably has created (00:09:31) scale, but what what's the magnitude of (00:09:33) the problem now versus maybe before? (00:09:36) >> I think it's 100 times the problem it (00:09:38) was before only because it's access. So (00:09:41) if you think about what we were trained (00:09:43) to do on the internet, through social (00:09:45) media, through these platforms, it was (00:09:48) be transparent, share your life, make (00:09:51) sure people know what you're doing, (00:09:52) connect. Like when Facebook first (00:09:53) started, it was amazing. like right you (00:09:56) would get your family's feed you could (00:09:57) post something about your kids and like (00:09:59) your family saw it and everything was (00:10:00) great. Now it's suggested content or it (00:10:04) is feeds coming into you and so our (00:10:06) children don't have the same experience (00:10:08) that we did when the internet first (00:10:10) started or social media first started. (00:10:12) They now have algorithms that are (00:10:14) feeding and polluting and bringing them (00:10:17) individuals that are seeking them out (00:10:20) through this algorithmic process. And so (00:10:24) the the scale is 100fold because the (00:10:26) access is (00:10:27) >> powered by AI, machine learning, the (00:10:30) targeting and profiling. It's the same (00:10:32) problem we have on scams. Scams have (00:10:33) always been around and other types of (00:10:34) crimes that I've had exposure to. Is it (00:10:36) intentional by these systems by these um (00:10:41) uh platform providers? You mentioned (00:10:42) Facebook. Do you think it's intentional (00:10:43) or it feels like to me this is just them (00:10:45) optimizing their business model for (00:10:47) views and likes and attention and and (00:10:49) and one of the one of the defaults is (00:10:52) we've like the Roblox platform opened up (00:10:55) for these platforms that are easily (00:10:57) exploited. I always say, you know, (00:10:58) what's intended for good is exploited by (00:11:00) the evil ones for evil. And and that (00:11:02) feels like what's happened, the (00:11:03) unintended consequences of, you know, (00:11:06) optimizing business strategies, and one (00:11:08) of them is increasing child exploitation (00:11:11) in this example. (00:11:12) >> Does that feel like what it is? It's (00:11:14) it's not (00:11:15) >> absolutely. Yeah. I think in and you (00:11:17) have to remember 2016 Mark Zuckerberg (00:11:20) posted a video of himself and an article (00:11:23) came out that talked about how excited (00:11:25) he was that he learned that he could (00:11:28) take happy users on this platform and (00:11:30) make them sad. He could take sad users (00:11:32) and make them happy. And he was so (00:11:34) excited to share with the world that he (00:11:36) went out there very naively and said (00:11:38) like I can actually like manage emotion. (00:11:41) But what he didn't finish that thought (00:11:43) on and where it led to was the more (00:11:46) emotionally unstable we are as (00:11:48) individuals, the more often we engage (00:11:50) online. And so it it is an awful system (00:11:54) that the algorithm actually creates this (00:11:58) disassociation between our like true (00:12:01) self and the self that everybody thinks (00:12:03) we should be. And so therefore, it means (00:12:05) more engagement, more control, and more (00:12:08) access to those people that wouldn't (00:12:09) ordinarily be in our feed. I I I find (00:12:12) that's even true in my life. When I'm (00:12:13) going through tough times, I find myself (00:12:15) looking to self-medicate with (00:12:16) distractions and such and I'm more (00:12:18) vulnerable to all of a sudden looking (00:12:19) back going, "Wow, I just wasted the last (00:12:21) hour or two hours." And so, it's one of (00:12:23) those too that it's uh when we're find (00:12:25) ourselves in vulnerable, we're all (00:12:26) vulnerable at different points in our (00:12:27) lives. When we find ourselves (00:12:29) vulnerable, um there's easy things to (00:12:31) fill it. And our children, as a dad of (00:12:34) three, and one of them is an adult now. (00:12:36) Um, (00:12:39) I I'm still figuring this out and I'm in (00:12:40) my late 40s, right? And so when I look (00:12:42) at these kids that are still trying to (00:12:44) figure out who they are, their (00:12:45) identities, their social networks, and (00:12:47) they're just normal day-to-day human (00:12:48) stuff, they're so unequipped to manage (00:12:53) these external influences that are (00:12:55) profiling them and using fancy (00:12:57) algorithms and maybe not intending for (00:12:59) harm, but by default, it's facilitating (00:13:02) an opening for evil actors to come in (00:13:04) and do harm. Um it's do so dangerous. Um (00:13:09) so when we think about um you mentioned (00:13:12) the internet and the power of the (00:13:13) internet it's in our homes and what are (00:13:17) you finding the current when when you (00:13:19) interact with first let's talk about (00:13:21) maybe a little bit about what your kind (00:13:22) of day-to-day is because I know you're (00:13:23) helping and you're meeting with uh (00:13:25) clients of yours that are kind of (00:13:27) working through tough things. um what (00:13:30) are you finding in your interactions (00:13:32) working with clients? Like what's the (00:13:33) environment that they have at home that (00:13:35) is making them more susceptible to (00:13:37) falling prey to these crimes? And I'll (00:13:39) say this with uh for example on on the (00:13:43) extortion problem. I've met with (00:13:45) executives that have very healthy home (00:13:46) lives that their children have been (00:13:48) targeted. And then I've met with folks (00:13:50) that have less healthy home lives and (00:13:52) their children are being targeted. Are (00:13:54) you finding some sort of theme when we (00:13:55) talk about folks watching this that (00:13:58) their home life, their internet (00:14:00) environment, accessibility to the (00:14:01) internet, not being, you know, very busy (00:14:04) parents, like what are you seeing there (00:14:06) on the home life that maybe makes a (00:14:08) child more susceptible to being (00:14:09) exploited or targeted? (00:14:12) >> I think children more often now are (00:14:14) being raised in kind of absentee (00:14:18) environments. Like parents are very (00:14:20) busy. we, you know, now with AI, we can (00:14:23) be ten times more productive than we (00:14:25) were before. Therefore, we can get more (00:14:27) work done. And and there's like this (00:14:29) kind of I see it like this pressure (00:14:31) where there's not the the quiet time, (00:14:34) the the time that um if you look (00:14:36) historically at the psychological data (00:14:38) on the health of a family, it really (00:14:41) relates back to this like dinner table (00:14:44) time. And it really isn't about the fact (00:14:46) that we have like a great chef in the (00:14:48) family or you know that we're sitting (00:14:49) down and the meal is like perfect. Um (00:14:51) but it's really that eyeball to eyeball (00:14:54) time with each other without distraction (00:14:56) which was the healthy part of a family. (00:14:58) And so with all of these devices and and (00:15:01) I'm gonna tell you, Ian, all the way (00:15:02) back into like grad school when the (00:15:04) laptop was like released, I remember I (00:15:07) was actually a student therapist at the (00:15:09) time and I was like, "Oh my gosh, like (00:15:10) this is going to ruin marriages," which (00:15:12) it did, you know, like it just it opened (00:15:14) up like this ability to like be in a (00:15:16) different world with different people (00:15:17) and different things and um and so I (00:15:20) just think that the vulnerability of it (00:15:22) is is just that distraction and not like (00:15:25) really committing and fundamentally (00:15:28) connecting to those that are important (00:15:30) in our life. Um, and and that's, you (00:15:32) know, I try not to come into every (00:15:34) session and think that, but I but I (00:15:36) spend my time in clinical work with (00:15:37) families and kids and adults. And then I (00:15:40) have like a professional practice where (00:15:42) I go out, as you said, and speak um and (00:15:44) educate um in schools and in school (00:15:47) systems on like how do we protect our (00:15:48) kids there? Um and and in all of that (00:15:51) like it you just can't talk about life's (00:15:54) problems without like talking about how (00:15:56) online influences are are impacting us. (00:16:00) Not to be too hard on parents, but I (00:16:02) guess uh you know there's the technical (00:16:04) aspect of you know making sure that we (00:16:07) have the right softwares and internet (00:16:09) access and and it really kind of but (00:16:11) then there is also the presence the like (00:16:13) you've talked about that is just having (00:16:15) being there to be open to have (00:16:17) conversations (00:16:18) um and being willing to as a parent (00:16:21) remove distractions for important (00:16:23) conversations. It's it's a tough (00:16:25) balance. I mean, I know I struggle with (00:16:27) that in my home, you know, in the (00:16:28) evenings, just just taking it easy and (00:16:31) just after a long day working and, you (00:16:33) know, trying to have an open door policy (00:16:35) when my daughter needs to come in and (00:16:36) talk to me in the evening. I think I do (00:16:37) probably, I don't know, three times out (00:16:39) of five, seven times out of 10 a pretty (00:16:42) decent job at it. But at the same time, (00:16:44) it's knowing that your kids can come and (00:16:46) talk to you and process and work through (00:16:47) things. (00:16:49) It feels like maybe parents (00:16:51) in general maybe need to be a little bit (00:16:53) more active and engaged and cultivate (00:16:55) time for that connection and to talk (00:16:57) about problems, (00:16:59) concerns or just even good things. (00:17:02) >> Well, and I and it's also important to (00:17:03) remember like in my kids one my (00:17:05) daughter's a freshman in college and my (00:17:07) son is a junior in high school. My (00:17:10) daughter I went to dinner with last (00:17:11) night and she said, you know, I've like (00:17:14) turned everything off, all the (00:17:15) notifications. She didn't have social (00:17:16) media till she was 18. And she said last (00:17:18) night, she's like, "You know, mom, like (00:17:20) you did me such a service by not (00:17:22) allowing me to have it. Like it is it is (00:17:25) a time waste and it like takes you into (00:17:27) places and puts self-doubt into." And (00:17:30) she's like, "And I know better because (00:17:31) I'm your kid." And she said, "I just (00:17:34) really appreciate the fact that you did (00:17:35) that." And and so I mean, it took me (00:17:37) like seven years to get that comment (00:17:39) from her. Um whereas everywhere else it (00:17:42) was like, "Everybody else has it, mom, (00:17:43) and everybody else is doing it." And (00:17:45) You know, it's hard as a parent, but I (00:17:47) think like to your point, it's like (00:17:50) there are tools out there and there's (00:17:51) like, you know, independent people that (00:17:53) are creating softwares and like (00:17:55) protections and all of the things, but (00:17:57) you have to think you have a trillion (00:17:58) dollar industry fighting against all of (00:18:00) those tools. (00:18:02) >> Trillion dollars. Like I have I also (00:18:04) work and and consult with one of the law (00:18:06) firms that's in the multi-dist (00:18:08) litigation against Meta, Bidance, (00:18:10) YouTube, like all of the big cases. And (00:18:13) I did not take that on lightly because I (00:18:16) knew the power of the industry and what (00:18:18) it was that they were trying to do. And (00:18:20) so, yes, parents have responsibility, (00:18:23) but I also have such a soft place in my (00:18:26) heart because I have really smart (00:18:28) parents and if they're not computer (00:18:30) science majors or people that are in the (00:18:32) technical world or work in cyber (00:18:33) security, they don't really know how to (00:18:35) handle it. They don't know how to manage (00:18:37) the tools that the industry is giving (00:18:39) us. Um, it it's just tough. So, um, (00:18:43) yeah, I mean, I think that's our biggest (00:18:45) lift, right? Is like giving support to (00:18:47) those families that really want to do (00:18:49) the right thing and leading them to the (00:18:51) place where, hey, this is how you can do (00:18:53) it. (00:18:54) >> Interesting. So, what's the balance? (00:18:55) We're going to get into some of the tech (00:18:57) solutions that are emerging and out (00:18:58) there. You know, relying on parental (00:19:00) controls on the Apple platform and such (00:19:02) can be completely circumvented. One of (00:19:04) my children talks to me all the time (00:19:05) about how you can get into certain apps (00:19:08) and work around internet access and (00:19:10) such. And so, you know, there you can (00:19:13) actually, you know, hack into those (00:19:15) parental control devices and even (00:19:16) network settings and such if you have (00:19:18) any some you our kids are savvier on (00:19:20) online than we are and with networks (00:19:22) than we are. And so when I I hear that (00:19:26) there's kind of a couple solutions (00:19:27) you're talking about is have (00:19:28) conversations, being in involved, (00:19:30) interacting with your kids, doing what (00:19:33) you can on the technical side. But what (00:19:34) what are kind of some of the things as (00:19:36) parents start looking at safeguarding (00:19:38) children from these which I imagine have (00:19:39) lasting impacts as into adulthood. What (00:19:43) are kind of some things that you would (00:19:44) suggest as parents, guardians, (00:19:46) grandparents that we can start taking (00:19:49) measures to not clamp down and make it (00:19:51) so rigid for our kids? I didn't have TV (00:19:53) in my house for like seven years because (00:19:55) I it was actually this the the teachers (00:19:57) that had to have an intervention with me (00:19:58) because my kids didn't know pop culture (00:20:01) and commercials because there was no TV (00:20:02) in our house for years and years and I (00:20:04) having to acquies on that without kind (00:20:06) of being so rigid in that respect. What (00:20:09) are things that parents can do (00:20:11) grandparents like I said to minimize (00:20:15) lessen the risk? Are there some (00:20:16) practical things you can think of? (00:20:18) >> Yeah, I I mean I think that it starts (00:20:20) with that conversation. I mean, it's a (00:20:22) difficult conversation because I think (00:20:24) the parents want to assume that our (00:20:25) children are innocent. But I say to (00:20:27) people all the time, like I'm in Arizona (00:20:30) and so guns are a big thing here, like (00:20:32) right to carry, all of the things. It's (00:20:34) kind of the wild wild west. And when my (00:20:35) kids were going to people's houses, I'd (00:20:37) say, "What is your policy on guns in (00:20:38) your house? And what is your technology (00:20:40) policy?" I'm more terrified at a (00:20:43) technology policy in somebody else's (00:20:44) house than I am about a gun. Because (00:20:46) children naturally know a gun is a (00:20:49) weapon. They naturally can see that (00:20:51) that's something that is heavy. It's (00:20:53) metal. It's like dangerous. A cell phone (00:20:56) we're walking around with attached to us (00:20:58) at all given times. It looks safe. And (00:21:01) that's really the conduit. And I think (00:21:03) technology is the gateway. Your son is a (00:21:06) perfect example. Um our average age in (00:21:09) the United States of a child first (00:21:10) exposure to porn is now eight. Um and (00:21:13) it's because in second grade our (00:21:15) children are given an assignment to look (00:21:17) up a historical figure. So whether it's (00:21:19) Martin Luther King or Jesus Christ or (00:21:21) whoever, it doesn't matter. They are (00:21:23) going to look up and the porn industry (00:21:26) bundles ads to those historic figures (00:21:28) knowing that that is our educational (00:21:30) system. There's no way around that (00:21:32) except for us teaching the kids, right? (00:21:35) And us telling them that this is the (00:21:37) thing and getting the schools on board (00:21:39) to put in an understanding or that that (00:21:42) education. So, as a parent, I think the (00:21:45) primary thing you need to do is be able (00:21:47) to have that conversation with your kid. (00:21:49) You should be comfortable having the (00:21:50) conversation that this will happen. It's (00:21:53) not an if, it's a when, it is going that (00:21:55) your child will be exposed, you're not (00:21:57) going to stop them from that. Um, as (00:21:59) much as you think that, and you and I (00:22:01) can talk about the tools all we want and (00:22:02) some of the great tools that are coming (00:22:04) up, if your child's device doesn't have (00:22:06) it or a friend's choice doesn't have it, (00:22:09) your ch child will get exposed. So, how (00:22:11) do we have that conversation? Um, and (00:22:13) how do we have it even though it's (00:22:14) awkward and even though it's clumsy and (00:22:16) all of the things, but we talk to them (00:22:18) about how society works and why it works (00:22:21) that way and why it isn't healthy for us (00:22:23) and why we want to avoid it because (00:22:26) children in those young ages really want (00:22:28) to do good. So, I say like that (00:22:30) elementary school age is really critical (00:22:32) to like have those conversations. (00:22:35) >> I love that you said that. That's one of (00:22:36) the things when I talk to the financial (00:22:38) audiences and law enforcement, but even (00:22:40) just to parents when I when I I talk (00:22:43) them to have awkward conversations. I do (00:22:44) that with my kids, especially my boys (00:22:46) with this rise of sextor. At first, the (00:22:49) conversations were just uncomfortable. (00:22:51) And now it's, you know, kind of a joking (00:22:54) reminder. Don't take a naked picture of (00:22:56) yourself. I hate to say that, but I but (00:22:57) it's something that I try to make sure I (00:22:59) keep top of mind because there's only so (00:23:00) much I can do from a device perspective. (00:23:03) But it's making sure also I love that (00:23:04) you said having an open dialogue where (00:23:08) you know I remember you know I talked to (00:23:10) a lot of people my age where awkward (00:23:13) conversations were met with shame or (00:23:15) let's not talk about it let's you know (00:23:17) hey I don't want to know this like that (00:23:18) kind of thing and not really having (00:23:20) those tough conversations in the (00:23:22) household sets it up for isolation and (00:23:25) as I can talk about all these (00:23:27) exploitative crime scams and everything (00:23:29) they pray on isolation they pray on (00:23:31) loneliness and if their only source of (00:23:33) getting information is their friend (00:23:34) group. Their friends are just as (00:23:36) susceptible and like you said, some (00:23:38) homes are less controlled or less are (00:23:40) more open or lax with it. So, you start (00:23:43) getting your kids learning from (00:23:45) environments that maybe have a higher (00:23:47) risk profile than you want in your own (00:23:49) house. Those awkward conversations are (00:23:51) tough though. (00:23:53) >> They are. And I my son is like, "Mom, (00:23:55) you're being so awkward." I'm like, "I (00:23:57) talk to kids about this all the time." (00:23:59) Um, but it it really is important and (00:24:01) and I will tell you like I have family (00:24:04) members like nephews that like um that (00:24:07) that that their father called me one (00:24:09) time and said, you know, like listen (00:24:10) Lisa, like we've listened to you this (00:24:12) whole time. We told our kid about it and (00:24:14) he's like a hockey player and you know, (00:24:16) busy in sports, all of these things, (00:24:18) whatever. And and he still did it. And (00:24:21) he was like, I there was not one time (00:24:23) that we didn't take the opportunity to (00:24:24) have that conversation. And it just goes (00:24:27) to the power and when you ask me like (00:24:29) you know what's the parents (00:24:30) responsibility in it even the best of (00:24:32) parents even the ones that do all of the (00:24:34) conversations will still find themselves (00:24:37) often in that position of like and and (00:24:40) pray I pray every day for the children (00:24:42) that I have not met or don't know that (00:24:45) are going through this that they come to (00:24:46) a parent and say hey this is happening (00:24:48) because it is the number one predictor (00:24:50) in teenagers of suicide and so it really (00:24:53) really is something that we have to be (00:24:56) thoughtful about and and really um (00:24:59) connected to. (00:25:01) >> So um (00:25:04) in 2026, I feel an urgency uh to get the (00:25:08) word out in our communities and um and (00:25:12) you know I've got a friend that I work (00:25:14) with through the noble and she says not (00:25:16) another child is going to die while the (00:25:18) financial institutions can do more and (00:25:20) she just reminds us all that as a board (00:25:22) just like this isn't okay. And so this (00:25:24) level of urgency is so important. So (00:25:27) when we look at how grim another little (00:25:29) side note, I was uh after after I (00:25:31) watched Sound of Freedom, I was checking (00:25:32) in at a at a rental aid car company down (00:25:36) in Atlanta and the woman at the desk (00:25:38) said, "Hey, have you seen Sound of (00:25:39) Freedom?" She saw my pin and asked what (00:25:41) I did and told her about the human (00:25:43) trafficking. She says, "I my daughter's (00:25:44) 16. I don't let her go outside at all by (00:25:46) herself anymore and she's not allowed to (00:25:47) go anywhere." And that was her response (00:25:49) as a parent and it felt like kind of a (00:25:51) fearful response. So maybe just talk (00:25:53) about that for a minute when we when if (00:25:55) somebody's listening to this u what's (00:25:57) the difference between responding in (00:25:58) fear and making because I I could see (00:26:00) that turn into rebellion. You look at (00:26:02) that with preachers kids and such. How (00:26:04) does a parent respond at a healthy way (00:26:06) after hearing you talk and maybe some of (00:26:08) the next kind of more graphic stories (00:26:10) from law enforcement and such like how (00:26:12) what's the right response when our (00:26:14) children are at risk and we love them (00:26:16) more than anything? What's the right (00:26:18) response as a guardian? (00:26:19) >> Yeah. I I typically end my speeches (00:26:22) talking about um here's what not to do. (00:26:25) You know, I'll start out and say we're (00:26:26) going to go through a lot of really (00:26:28) heavy difficult things and realities (00:26:30) that are happening. Um and I talk about (00:26:32) the stories and like how things happen. (00:26:34) And then at the end, and I said, but I (00:26:36) promise in the end there's going to be a (00:26:37) solution that's going to like that's (00:26:39) going to it's going to be uplifting and (00:26:40) we're going to be hopeful. Um and that (00:26:42) what that solution is is not to respond (00:26:45) in fear, but to respond aware and with (00:26:48) knowledge. I think knowledge is power (00:26:50) and and what I've done over the last 15 (00:26:52) years is like I've had a um program that (00:26:55) I go into schools starting in elementary (00:26:57) school, so kindergarten through sixth (00:26:59) grade and we do like lessons for kids (00:27:02) and we teach them all of the things and (00:27:03) we we have this character called Digi (00:27:05) and he makes all the mistakes. He does (00:27:07) the bullying, he does the inappropriate (00:27:09) postings, all of the things. The kids (00:27:11) are learning from that. And then when (00:27:13) they hit middle school, we have a (00:27:14) program called technology leadership (00:27:15) council which um that puts kids it's a (00:27:18) peer-to-peer mentoring. So what I say to (00:27:20) parents and and probably by summer we're (00:27:23) going to have like a consumer forward (00:27:25) release of it. But right now in the (00:27:27) schools what we do is we we teach the (00:27:29) older kids how to become like a reading (00:27:32) buddy system in technology training. So, (00:27:35) we give them the training in middle (00:27:37) school and high school of like, "Hey, (00:27:39) these are the things you already know (00:27:41) about because that's that's what I (00:27:43) learned, Ian." Like, I I would go out (00:27:44) and sit in front of 3,000 kids in an (00:27:47) auditorium and I'd have lines of kids (00:27:49) lining up and telling me like, "I don't (00:27:50) want my younger sibling to have this. I (00:27:52) don't, you know, here's my thing. Here's (00:27:54) what happened to me. This is what (00:27:55) happened." So, I thought, how do I take (00:27:57) that power and that energy and that (00:27:59) compassion of these kids that are (00:28:01) hurting and turn them into leaders on (00:28:03) the campuses? And I think that if we can (00:28:06) create this army because it's the (00:28:08) largest and most powerful cohort in (00:28:10) history, those kids becoming the (00:28:13) speakers and the guides for our younger (00:28:15) ones coming up. That's the system that (00:28:17) works. And so I tell parents like you (00:28:19) can't just you can't just take it away (00:28:21) because it is the the that is the future (00:28:24) for our kids. They have to be able to (00:28:26) understand technology and how to use it. (00:28:28) But give them the tools. let's teach (00:28:30) them to be the leaders and teach them (00:28:32) how to have voice whether it's in policy (00:28:35) or in trainings or any of those things. (00:28:37) So that's my goal is to make millions of (00:28:40) me going out as in the in the in the (00:28:43) children section so that they listen to (00:28:45) each other um and support each other in (00:28:47) this space. (00:28:48) >> I've got chills. That's powerful and (00:28:49) that's huge. How can folks if they want (00:28:52) to learn more, they want to follow your (00:28:54) launch in in the summer, kids happen to (00:28:57) stumble onto this or kids needing (00:28:59) involved, how can they, you know, keep (00:29:01) track of your progress and learn more? (00:29:03) What would be the best best way for them (00:29:04) to connect with you? I'd (00:29:06) >> say uh dcakids.org (00:29:09) is my program and my in the company that (00:29:12) does the stuff for the families. Um, (00:29:14) I'm, you know, I'm out there if they (00:29:16) Google me with the TED talks and all the (00:29:18) things like I'm and I'm, you know, me (00:29:20) Ian very well. Like if somebody writes (00:29:22) to me and asks, I have books on my (00:29:24) website that I'm happy and I'll send to (00:29:26) you the QR code um that you can put on (00:29:28) your um platform and give them a free (00:29:32) digital download of the book, Digital (00:29:34) Distress, and give them access to some (00:29:36) of the content and in depth of some of (00:29:38) the things that we didn't get to talk (00:29:39) about today. (00:29:40) >> So, uh, send me whatever links. We'll (00:29:42) put it in the description. Um I do plan (00:29:44) on sharing this on because you know the (00:29:46) folks I talk to in the financial sector (00:29:48) sector are parents, grandparents. So (00:29:50) I'll make sure that this goes through (00:29:52) that sector also and the financial (00:29:54) community and um we can get the word out (00:29:57) because if we can't be moved by our (00:29:59) children being exploited um you know I (00:30:02) just this is this is one that everyone (00:30:04) comes when I talk about all the crimes. (00:30:07) I mean there there are moms that are (00:30:09) still are pregnant. I remember one (00:30:10) conversation at the Federal Reserve and (00:30:12) she was not even her babe child wasn't (00:30:14) even born yet and this all this already (00:30:16) just concerns her and so getting the (00:30:18) word out like you said knowledge is (00:30:20) power. Dr. Lisa, thank you for what (00:30:22) you're doing. Um I'm so excited about uh (00:30:25) the platform that n you built but it (00:30:27) needs to expand and so um people will (00:30:30) check out I'm sure your uh um your site (00:30:33) and let's see how we can make your (00:30:36) launch in the summer uh reach the world (00:30:38) not just the United States. I I'm so (00:30:40) grateful for you and uh what you do. (00:30:42) >> Awesome. Thank you so much for having (00:30:43) me. Super proud of being a part of your (00:30:46) platform as well. So, thank you. (00:30:47) >> You enjoyed the M3 show and you want to (00:30:49) watch all the new releases, click (00:30:51) subscribe. You know how it works. (00:30:53) Secondly, if you want to support my (00:30:55) nonprofit, the one I established to (00:30:56) fight human crimes like child (00:30:58) exploitation and human trafficking and (00:31:00) scams, click the QR code, scan it, make (00:31:02) a donation. That would be hugely (00:31:04) appreciated. And if you want to stay (00:31:05) updated on all the music, again, I (00:31:07) release music regularly, go and click (00:31:10) that link in the description. And we're (00:31:12) on every major platform, Spotify, Apple (00:31:15) Music, YouTube. You can look up Ian (00:31:18) Mitchell. Thank you for what you're (00:31:19) doing. Thank you for the support. And I (00:31:21) look forward to being with you next (00:31:22) time. (00:31:24) >> We've got to protect our children. They (00:31:28) need our hands. We've got to stand up. (00:31:33) Yeah. Stay.