Broadband Breakfast on April 2, 2025 - Kids and Social Media: The Business of Keeping Young Users Safe
The business decisions of tech companies have a significant impact on young users.
Watch the Highlights Reel here: See below for the full video
As social media platforms compete for younger audiences, questions about their responsibility to protect kids online are gaining attention. From privacy policies and data collection to content moderation and advertising practices, the business decisions of tech companies have a significant impact on young users. How are platforms balancing growth and profitability with the need for safer experiences? What role can regulation and industry standards play in shaping a more responsible digital marketplace?
Broadband Breakfast
Panelists
- Stephen Balkam, Founder and CEO, Family Online Safety Institute
- Michal Luria, Research Fellow, Center for Democracy & Technology
- Donna Rice Hughes, President and CEO, Enough Is Enough
- John Perrino, Senior Policy and Advocacy Expert, Internet Society
- Rick Lane, CEO, IGGY Ventures LLC
- Drew Clark (moderator), CEO and Publisher, Broadband Breakfast
Panelist Resources
Stephen Balkam
Stephen Balkam is the Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), an international nonprofit focused on making the internet safer for children and families. Previously, he founded and led the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA), which developed a leading web content labeling system, and served on the U.S. Child Online Protection Commission. In the 1990s, he pioneered online safety initiatives, including the RSACi content labeling system, and received the Carl Bertelsmann Prize for innovation in the Information Society. A dual citizen of the U.S. and U.K., he frequently speaks on online safety and has been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, and CNN.
Dr. Michal Luria is a Research Fellow at the Center for Democracy & Technology, specializing in qualitative and human-centered design research. She holds a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University. In her work, Dr. Luria explores and critiques interactions with emerging technologies, translating insights into design considerations, ethical discussions, and policy recommendations. Her writing has appeared in Wired, CNN, and other major outlets, while her work has been featured by NBC, Dezeen, BBC News, The Verge, and Engadget, among others.
Donna Rice Hughes has 30 years of leadership as a social entrepreneur, internationally known internet safety expert, author, speaker and media commentator. She is President and CEO of Enough Is Enough®, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that has led the fight to make the internet safer for children and families since 1994. Under Donna’s leadership, EIE has led advocacy efforts to pass groundbreaking bi-partisan federal laws, developed the Internet Safety 101® Program and Emmy Winning PBS series, launched the national Safe WiFi℠ Campaign resulting in McDonalds and Starbucks filtering illegal content on their public WiFi, and led the Children’s Internet Safety Presidential Pledge, Governor’s Pledge and State Attorney General Pledge. In 2024, Enough Is Enough launched "Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes", a video podcast dedicated to equipping parents and guardians with up-to-date information, practical tips, and expert insights on a range of pressing topics.
John Perrino is a senior policy and advocacy expert at the Internet Society leading engagement in Wasington, D.C. and working worldwide to advocate for an open, secure and trustworthy Internet for everyone. He previously was the policy lead at the Stanford Internet Observatory and a director at the Glen Echo Group. His commentary and analysis have been cited in a U.S. Surgeon General advisory on social media and youth mental health and received dozens of media mentions in publications including The New York Times, Wired and The Hill.
Rick Lane is a tech policy expert, child safety advocate, and the founder and CEO of IGGY Ventures LLC. IGGY advises and invests in companies, projects, and public policy initiatives that can positively impact society. Before starting IGGY, Rick served 15 years as the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for 21st Century Fox. Rick was the Director of Congressional Affairs, focusing on E-Commerce and Internet public policy issues for the US Chamber of Commerce, Before working at the Chamber, Rick worked as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the international law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (WG&M). While at Weil, he advised and represented clients before Congress on various legislative matters affecting the technology and telecommunications industries.
Breakfast Media LLC CEO Drew Clark has led the Broadband Breakfast community since 2008. An early proponent of better broadband, better lives, he initially founded the Broadband Census crowdsourcing tool to collect and verify broadband data left unpublished by the Federal Communications Commission. As CEO and Publisher, Clark presides over the leading media community advocating for higher-capacity internet everywhere through topical, timely and intelligent coverage. Clark also served as head of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois, a state broadband initiative.
