Saved Seats | Julie Cordua on Protecting Kids Online: AI, the Dark Web, and What Parents Can Do
The Breadwinners PodcastShow Notes
This is a replay of an earlier episode.
Alexis reunites with Julie Cordua, CEO of Thorn, the organization building technology to defend children from online sexual exploitation. The two worked together 15 years ago on Thorn's launch, and Alexis has watched Julie turn that early mission into her life's work while raising three kids of her own.
**Content warning: This episode discusses child sexual abuse and exploitation. We don't include graphic details, but the subject matter is inherently difficult.**
This conversation explores what it means to be a Breadwinner when your currency goes beyond the financial - measured instead in children identified, abuse content removed, and platforms made safer. Julie breaks down how AI has changed the landscape of child exploitation, what actually happens on the dark web, where tech companies must do better, and what parents can do right now to protect their children online.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Why kids see no divide between online and offline life, and why "stranger danger" no longer works as a warning
When to start age-appropriate online safety conversations (hint: before the first device, and yes, that includes the iPad)
The warning signs of grooming and sextortion, and why kids block instead of reporting
Exactly what to do if it happens to your family: why you block but never delete, the Take It Down tool, and when to contact the FBI
How AI is being used on both sides of this fight, and what policy changes Thorn is pushing for in Washington
Whether you're navigating your child's digital life or want to understand how to make a difference, this conversation will leave you informed and equipped.
Resources:
Thorn
Thorn on Instagram
Julie's TED Talk
Thorn Parent Guide
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