The Choking Challenge: "He didn't have to die." (with Joann Bogard)

This episode is your introduction to dangerous online challenges. Parent survivor Joann Bogard shares the story of her son, Mason. Mason Bogard was an adventurous and outdoorsy 15-year-old.  He loved fishing, hiking, camping and woodworking.  He had great friends, went to a good school. Mason's parents talked to him regularly about online safety and used every parental feature available. They did everything right. And Mason still fell victim to a social media harm. Mason passed away in May 2019 after trying the viral choking challenge he viewed on YouTube. The conversation highlights the lack of regulation and responsibility of social media platforms in preventing harmful content from reaching children. Joann discusses her advocacy efforts, including a lawsuit against YouTube and TikTok, and support of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The conversation includes candid tips for parents regarding phones and social media. You can connect with Joann through: https://www.facebook.com/masonsmessage To learn more about KOSA, click this link. Here's an easy link to contact your state Senators, to ask them to support KOSA.