Cyberbullies vs. a Mother’s Love: The Erin Popolo Story

💙 Important Note: Today’s episode contains conversations about suicide. If this topic is sensitive for you, please take care while listening. If you need support, call 988 in the U.S. or reach out to crisis resources near you.

“When you hand your child the world through social media, you’re also giving the world access to them.”

In this heart-wrenching yet empowering episode, Stacey sits down with Erin Popolo, a courageous mother who shares the devastating story of losing her 17-year-old daughter, Emily, to suicide after relentless cyberbullying. Erin walks us through Emily’s life—her gentle spirit, her struggles with mental illness, and the increasing isolation and cruelty she faced online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Erin opens up about the unimaginable grief of that loss, the horrifying experience of her daughter’s funeral being targeted by online bullies, and how she’s transformed her pain into activism. From founding Emmy’s Champions to advocating for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), Erin is now on a mission to protect children and hold social media platforms accountable. This is an urgent, deeply human conversation about love, loss, and the power of purpose.

What You’ll Learn:

• The reality of cyberbullying and its psychological impact on teens
• How COVID-19 and virtual learning exacerbated Emily’s mental health challenges
• The dangers of social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram
• Why current laws do little to protect kids online and how KOSA aims to change that
• Practical ways parents can recognize and respond to signs of online bullying
• The importance of parental engagement and delaying kids’ access to social media
• How to be an “upstander” and teach children empathy and kindness