A Burlington mother who founded a nonprofit that prevents child sex abuse is speaking out after “disturbing” allegations were brought to light in Kingston, Massachusetts — just days after the state became one step closer to banning social media for kids under 14.
Adrianne Simeone, through her nonprofit, the Mama Bear Effect, has been tracking cases nationwide involving child sex abuse accusations and convictions for the past 14 years. She says she can’t keep up with the influx.
“We can’t wrangle all the new dangers that keep coming forward with social media,” she said.
Simeone, a mother of four, says it’s been an interesting week here in Massachusetts. On Saturday, she learned an employee of the Silver Lake School District in Kingston was allegedly featured in a TikTok video having a sexual conversation with a social media streamer posing as a 15-year-old girl.
Multiple parents told NBC10 Boston that he was a well-liked substitute teacher.
Police are investigating a video that appears to show a Massachusetts school employee having a sexual conversation online with someone posing as a 15-year-old girl, officials said.
Simeone says typically children are victimized by people they know and like.
“To groom the child, to keep control of the child, and keep it a secret from other people,” she explained.
The superintendent says the man has since been terminated from his position, and Kingston police say they’re not aware of any students being harmed.
“I don’t like when they say, ‘oh well, we don’t know of any students in our school system who are affected.’ Let’s not wait for it to get to that point,” Simeone said.
Simeone is encouraging parents to ask their school districts how they are communication their social media policy to both long-term employees — and new hires.
“It needs to be regularly communicated that there’s a zero tolerance policy about them using social media inappropriately, engaging with children online, especially students,” she said.
Simeone believes the allegations in Kingston highlight the need for stricter state laws when it comes to social media use. On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban social media for kids under 14.
“Parents need to understand how seriously dangerous this is, not just for their safety but also mental health, their ability to learn and focus and develop their brain properly,” she said.
A proposal to ban Massachusetts children under 14 from social media was debated on the floor of the Massachusetts House, as it considered the bill.
Simeone says if she could have it her way, she would ban social media until the age of 18.
If this bill passes the state senate, it could become law on Oct. 1.
