Lucha Sotomayor, distinguished child participation expert and digital rights advocate, joins Laura and Jordan for an impactful conversation on enhancing child safety online. Lucha brings her experiences from her significant role in the United Nations Protection through Online Participation (POP) project, an initiative aimed at utilizing the Internet as a tool for child protection and empowerment. She discusses the intricacies of the project and how it's changing the way we understand children's online experiences. Together, they delve into the current dynamics of online youth participation and the proactive measures being implemented through POP to promote their safety and rights.

Jaspal Sandhu, Executive Vice President at Hopelab, discusses the organization's impactful work in youth mental health and well-being. With a strong focus on equity for LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color, Jaspal delves into the positive possibilities of technology and the importance of involving young people as active partners in shaping solutions within the responsible technology movement.

Our guest for this episode of Into the Digital Future is Dr. Melissa C. Mercado, a lead researcher at the CDC who is working to address the challenges of digital harassment and online safety. With Laura and Jordan, Dr. Mercado delves into the world of online bullying, cyberbullying, and their impact on well-being. Melissa highlights the real-life consequences of online violence and emphasizes leveraging online spaces for positive connections and skill-building.