Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Karr.

Hi Kim, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After being a teacher for 13 years, I co-founded Digital4Good in 2013 to inspire students to use digital technology safely, responsibly, and ethically. Around that time, I had been working as a middle school teacher for 13 years. Students at my school were dealing with fake pages, passive-aggressive text messages, and people sending or requesting nudes. Having to deal with these complicated issues on top of everyday responsibilities was affecting not just their ability to learn but their overall well-being. These struggles are what motivated me to start the “Digital First Responder” training program. Everyone has a part to play in online positivity, whether it’s reporting an inappropriate post to the proper authorities, respectfully letting the bully know they’ve crossed a line, or checking in on the victim. 49% of students do not discuss online issues with adults out of fear of having their devices confiscated or being labeled as “snitches” by their peers. Everyone CAN HELP; the question is, will they?

Since 2013, Digital4Good has grown from a single-school program into a national organization recognized by big names like Aaron Judge from the New York Yankees and major tech companies like Google, Snap Inc., and Meta. I have shared our organization’s message with over 470,000 students and trained thousands of educators to guide their students in using social media wisely. Even with the nationwide movement to ban phones in schools, we need to acknowledge that this alone will not resolve the social media crisis. It is imperative that we continue to educate and empower our youth to use their devices for good, whether at home, school, or anywhere else.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My loved ones have been personally affected by online abuse and harassment. When my niece was 13, an 18-year-old asked her for nudes. He then used the photos to blackmail her into sending more. This incident took a severe toll on my niece’s mental health. Sadly, she is not the only one. So many teens and preteens are victimized by sextortion and online sexual harassment every year. Social media has a lot of power, including the potential to damage a person’s reputation and life. This summer, my very close educator friend, who also developed curricula for Digital4Good, took his own life after six teenagers cornered him in a parking lot while accusing him of being a sexual predator. After filming the incident, the perpetrators posted the video online. When my friend went to his administration team for support, he was put on administrative leave and told to contact a civil lawyer. The power of a single video to ruin a person’s entire life demonstrates the need for stronger policies around online content, especially with the growing use of AI and deep fakes to impersonate real people.
Misuse of these devices is destroying lives. We need to educate and empower others to use digital for good and be Digital First Responders.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Digital4Good has three pillars: #ICANHELP Educate, which is our curriculum and training; #ICANHELP Engage, which is our social media, webinars, and events; and #ICANHELP Empower, our internship and mentoring programs. All three pillars in combination are necessary to empower communities to use digital for good. What sets Digital4Good apart is our student-centered approach. We’ve found that peer-to-peer leadership is one of the most effective ways to promote responsible social media use in kids and teens, which inspired the development of our “Train the Trainer” program. This program utilizes curricula and live training to empower student leaders to teach their peers about digital citizenship, safety, literacy, and wellness.
We also have a national team of students who work with us to help design and deliver programming, ensuring that all of our educational content is informed by the student perspective. More school districts have been implementing “phone-free hallway” policies to address phone addiction in students, as data shows that students cannot focus in class when their devices are within reach. Even with these new policies, however, digital technology is still a huge part of students’ lives. Students don’t just need to limit device use, but learn how to use their devices for good.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Because we were so reliant on digital technology during the pandemic, this brought to light many of the issues associated with social media and its impact on youth. Cyberbullying, online grooming, and sextortion are just a few of the dangers that have skyrocketed in severity since COVID-19. Digital4Good is assembling a “Social Media Task Force” to equip students, educators, parents, and law enforcement with critical resources to combat these online issues. Many parents are “first-generation immigrants” to the digital world and need support in raising children who have access to potentially harmful devices. We are also getting more school districts involved with our Train the Trainer program, which leverages peer-to-peer mentoring to train students to be Digital First Responders. Underage drinking, drug use, and teen pregnancies are down because students and parents are being educated about the risks. It is time we do the same for social media. To join forces with Digital4Good and help create policies to protect our youth online, please visit our website at www.icanhelp.net.

Contact Info:

• Website: icanhelp.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icanhelpofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icanhelpofficial
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/icanhelpofficial
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/icanhelp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iCANHELPOfficial

Image Credits
Stella Fife – Kim Karr with Aaron Judge
Jackson LaCroix – Digital4Good Summit