Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes

In this episode of "Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes"-- In this episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Joel Thayer, President of the Digital Progress Institute joins Donna to discuss recent legislative efforts to protect children online, enforcement of anti-pornography laws and the role of tech companies in safeguarding minors. Key topics include the App Store Accountability Act (passed in Texas on 5/28/25 after ...

In this episode, Donna Rice Hughes discusses concerns parents face when deciding the right time and method to introduce smartphones to their children. She is joined by Bill Brady, CEO of Troomi, a company that creates kid-safe phones promoting digital wellness. 

Bill shares his passion for helping families navigate technology safely, stemming from an early insight into the dehumanizing effects of uncontrolled tech use. The conver...

In this episode of 'Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes,' Donna is joined by special guest Kristen Jenson, founder of Defend Young Minds and bestselling author of 'Good Pictures Bad Pictures.' Kristen and Donna share valuable insights on how to protect children from online pornography and other harmful digital content. The discussion covers the importance of educating children about Internet safety, teaching them to recognize an...

In this episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Donna welcomes Tatiana Kotlyarenko, an international expert on violence against women, girls, and human trafficking to discuss the crisis of missing and potentially trafficked children at the southern U.S. border. Tatiana highlights the vulnerabilities these children face, the roles of smugglers and traffickers, and the urgent need for effective systems to protect them. Don...

In this episode, Donna Rice Hughes discusses the issue of male victims of sex trafficking with her guest, Jerome Elam, president and CEO of the Trafficking in America Task Force. Jerome shares his hispersonal story as a survivor of child abuse, sex trafficking, and child pornography. The episode touches on several issues, including the significant role the internet plays in trafficking, the tactics traffickers use to maintain contr...

In this episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Donna is joined by Fr. Bill George to discuss the alarming issues of child sexual abuse and exploitation both online and offline. Fr. George, senior advisor to the president of the Gregorian University Foundation, shares his extensive experience working with children, parents, and institutions to protect children in the digital world. They delve into topics like the dangers...

In this episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Donna speaks with Special Agent Courtney Goode about the grim reality of online crimes against children. They discuss law enforcement's role in combating sexual predators, traffickers, pornographers, and sextortionists who target children, and how to report suspicious activity. 

Their conversation underscores the need for parental involvement, early prevention, and offers p...

In this episode of Internet Safety with Donna Rice Hughes, Donna is joined by John Pizzuro, co-founder and CEO of Raven, and former commander of the New Jersey ICAC Task Force. They discuss the legislative challenges and the role of artificial intelligence in online child exploitation, Raven’s mission to bridge gaps between legislation and law enforcement, the complexities of end-to-end encryption, and the implications of AI in gen...

Donna is joined by Lina Nealon, Vice President and Director of Corporate Advocacy for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. They discuss Big Tech’s role in facilitating sexual exploitation and break down NCOSE’s “Dirty Dozen” campaign which calls out platforms like Snapchat, Spotify and Roblox for their inadequate safety measures to protect kids and teens. They also examine key legislative efforts, highlighting bipartisan sup...

In this episode, Donna is joined by mental health expert Rens de Koning to discuss the issue of digital addiction and its impact on young minds, particularly in the context of online sexual exploitation. They explore the alarming statistics regarding children's access to pornography, the evolution of explicit content, and the role of social media in shaping mental health. Their discussion emphasizes the importance of open communica...

Donna is joined by Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former President Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. The discussion centers around his personal experiences with childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted family friend and the lasting impact it has had on him. He shares about ongoing fear and shame that accompanied the abuse due to blackmail with images. He emphasizes the importance of parents listening to their children and re...

Donna is joined by guest Gene McConnell, founder of Authentic Relationships International. They delve into the impact of early exposure to pornography on children and share personal stories. They highlight the connection between shame and broken relationships and stress the importance of open communication between parents and kids, in addition to using technology tools like filtering, monitoring, and time-limiting software to prote...

In this episode Donna and South Carolina Representative Brandon Guffey, discuss the tragic loss of his son, Gavin, who took his own life after becoming a victim of sextortion in July 2022. The discussion explores Guffey's advocacy journey, legislative efforts, and the establishment of 'Gavin's Law' which makes sextortion – the act of blackmailing someone after luring them to send sexually explicit photos of themselves via text or s...

In this week's episode, Donna is joined by tech policy expert Rick Lane and telecommunications and public policy expert Greg Rohde to discuss the state of online privacy, the intersection of privacy and child exploitation, and the need for better regulation of internet platforms. They also address practical steps parents can take to protect their children's privacy online as well as the need for open communication between parents a...

The popular social media platform TikTok is under heavy scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers over concerns ranging from child safety to national security. In this episode, Donna is joined by tech experts Geoffrey Cain and Rick Lane to discuss issues related to the app’s content and user experience, as well as its parent company’s geopolitical affiliations. They explain how the U.S. version of TikTok is vastly different than i...

In this must-listen episode, Donna and renowned online gaming expert Dr. Andrew Doan dive into the dangerous world of internet and video game addiction impacting today's youth. They reveal startling statistics behind the problem, discuss the alarming rise of internet and gaming addictions among children and teens, the neuroscience behind it, and how predators exploit online games for grooming. Parents and caregivers will gain inval...