Episode #177 No Safe Haven: A Father's Fight for Online Safety, Wayne Holdsworth, Founder of SmackTalk

THRIVING MINDS PODCAST

Did you realise that almost zero places online are safe for children? The dark web has exploited our addiction to phones and digital lives, leaving no one paying attention to our children, who have become easy targets.

In this deeply moving podcast episode, we hear from Wayne Holdsworth, a father who tragically lost his 17-year-old son Mac was a victim to on-line sextortion in October 2023 after becoming a victim of sextortion. Wayne shares his profound regret and pain, wishing he had known that in the hours before someone decides to take their own life, they might act as if they don’t have a care in the world. If he had known, he believed Mac might still be alive. Social media taught him everything about what to do. Tech companies want you to think that it is OK to use social media BUT they don’t want you to know that their algorithms are serving them R- rated content and that AI chatbots and messaging apps are able to reach any of them now in 2024. Parents, we are asleep and do not realise what an impact this is having on children’s mental health. Time to open your eyes wide and ask- WHAT are they watching, WHO are they talking to? This will protect your kids. It is an urgent crisis.

Before October last year, Wayne knew very little about suicide. His son fell victim to sextortion, paying the scammers in hopes of stopping their threats, but the harassment continued. Despite Wayne's efforts to intervene, Mac was overwhelmed by the fear of his friends discovering the images he had sent. On the night Mac took his life, he seemed upbeat and happy, which Wayne later learned can be a sign of someone who has decided to end their life.

At Mac's funeral, 700 people gathered to mourn—a poignant reminder of the widespread impact of suicide. Wayne's message is clear: it’s not enough to simply ask if someone is OK.

Wayne Holdsworth's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the need for better support systems for those in crisis. Let's work together to ensure that no other family has to experience such a heartbreaking loss

For more information and support on sextortion and mental health, visit:

• eSafety
• Headspace
• Lifeline

Join the conversation and help spread awareness: #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #Sextortion #WayneHoldsworth #Podcast #YouthSupport #AwarenessMatters #NoMoreWaits #ParentingAdvice #FamilySupport #SaveLives #OnlineSafety #ProtectOurChildren

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