I’ve been an influencer since blogs debuted. Social media has been both a gift and a curse for the last 15 years. Yes, I can use social media to promote my work as a writer, but with an online presence also comes degrading, ignorant, and sometimes threatening comments and messages from total strangers. Countless articles tout how social media access provides open season for bullying, discrimination, stalking, trafficking, and safety threats — especially for teens who can be more vulnerable in these situations. I knew, from my own experiences, that social media is overwhelmingly not a safe space for teens and I didn’t want my own kids having any part of that world.
