Casey Stefanski: Difference between revisions

Line 1:

[[File:Casey-headshot-2-1-796x1024.jpg|alt=Casey Stefanski|thumb| Casey Stefanski ]]

Casey Stefanski is an American child safety advocate and the Executive Director of the Digital Childhood Alliance, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 2025. She is a mother of three and a retired collegiate athlete who has worked in child safety advocacy since 2012.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |date=April 14, 2025 |title=Meet Digital Childhood Alliance Executive Director: Casey Stefanski. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/meet-digital-childhood-alliance-executive-director-casey-stefanski/}}</ref>

Casey Stefanski is an American child safety advocate and the Executive Director of the [[Digital Childhood Alliance]], a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 2025. She is a mother of three and a retired collegiate athlete who has worked in child safety advocacy since 2012.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |date=April 14, 2025 |title=Meet Digital Childhood Alliance Executive Director: Casey Stefanski. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/meet-digital-childhood-alliance-executive-director-casey-stefanski/}}</ref>

Stefanski earned a degree in public policy and economics from the University of Chicago and has Capitol Hill experience working on policy issues. She is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family.<ref name=":0" />

Line 15:

===Digital Childhood Alliance (2025–present)===

In April 2025, Stefanski became Executive Director of the newly founded Digital Childhood Alliance. The organization, formed as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit coalition, comprises more than 50 child advocacy organizations focused on making technology safer for children and empowering parents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |title=Our Team. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/our-team/}}</ref>

In April 2025, Stefanski became Executive Director of the newly founded [[Digital Childhood Alliance]]. The organization, formed as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit coalition, comprises more than 50 child advocacy organizations focused on making technology safer for children and empowering parents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |title=Our Team. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/our-team/}}</ref>

The Digital Childhood Alliance's primary legislative focus is the App Store Accountability Act (ASAA), which would require app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental approval before minors can download apps or make purchases.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |title=App Store Accountability Act. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/asaabill/}}</ref>

Line 31:

===Meta Funding Exposed (December 2025)===

In December 2025, investigative reporting revealed that Meta ~~Platforms~~ (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) is a significant funder of the Digital Childhood Alliance—information that Stefanski had declined to disclose during her May 2025 legislative testimony.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Lenney |first=Brian |date=December 8, 2025 |title=Meta's manipulation disguised as child safety. |url=https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/12/07/child-safety-bill-backed-by-meta/}}</ref>

In December 2025, investigative reporting revealed that [[Meta]] (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) is a significant funder of the Digital Childhood Alliance—information that Stefanski had declined to disclose during her May 2025 legislative testimony.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Lenney |first=Brian |date=December 8, 2025 |title=Meta's manipulation disguised as child safety. |url=https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/12/07/child-safety-bill-backed-by-meta/}}</ref>

According to reporting, Meta also acknowledged having "collaborated with Digital Childhood Alliance."[5] Multiple sources, including Insurance Journal, documented that Meta is helping fund the organization.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=July 25, 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation. |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm}}</ref>

According to reporting, Meta also acknowledged having "collaborated with [[Digital Childhood Alliance]]."[5] Multiple sources, including Insurance Journal, documented that Meta is helping fund the organization.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=July 25, 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation. |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm}}</ref>

===Conflict of Interest Allegations===

Critics have raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, arguing that Stefanski's organization is advocating for policies that directly benefit its largest funder, Meta, while claiming to represent independent child safety advocacy.<ref name=":3" />

The concern centers on the App Store Accountability Act, which would require comprehensive age verification systems at app stores. Critics argue that such systems disproportionately burden Meta's smaller competitors while benefiting Meta, which already has extensive verification and data collection infrastructure.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>The organization claiming to represent concerned parents is quietly funded by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The same company whose own internal research proved its platforms devastate teenage girls' mental health is now bankrolling campaigns that blame everyone except itself.</blockquote>Critics contend that the ASAA "accomplishes nothing except creating expensive verification systems that Meta's competitors must build and pay for."<ref name=":3" />

The concern centers on the [[App Store Accountability Act]], which would require comprehensive age verification systems at app stores. Critics argue that such systems disproportionately burden Meta's smaller competitors while benefiting Meta, which already has extensive verification and data collection infrastructure.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>The organization claiming to represent concerned parents is quietly funded by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The same company whose own internal research proved its platforms devastate teenage girls' mental health is now bankrolling campaigns that blame everyone except itself.</blockquote>Critics contend that the ASAA "accomplishes nothing except creating expensive verification systems that [[Meta]]'s competitors must build and pay for."<ref name=":3" />

===501(c)(4) Status and Regulatory Structure===

The Digital Childhood Alliance's organization as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit allows it to engage in unlimited political advocacy and lobbying while not being required to publicly disclose its donors.<ref name=":2" /> This legal structure explains why Stefanski was able to decline answering questions about her organization's funding sources during legislative testimony.

The [[Digital Childhood Alliance]]'s organization as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit allows it to engage in unlimited political advocacy and lobbying while not being required to publicly disclose its donors.<ref name=":2" /> This legal structure explains why Stefanski was able to decline answering questions about her organization's funding sources during legislative testimony.

==Public Statements and Positioning==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Casey-headshot-2-1-796x1024.jpg|alt=Casey Stefanski|thumb| Casey Stefanski ]]
-Casey Stefanski is an American child safety advocate and the Executive Director of the Digital Childhood Alliance, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 2025. She is a mother of three and a retired collegiate athlete who has worked in child safety advocacy since 2012.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |date=April 14, 2025 |title=Meet Digital Childhood Alliance Executive Director: Casey Stefanski. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/meet-digital-childhood-alliance-executive-director-casey-stefanski/}}</ref>
+Casey Stefanski is an American child safety advocate and the Executive Director of the [[Digital Childhood Alliance]], a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 2025. She is a mother of three and a retired collegiate athlete who has worked in child safety advocacy since 2012.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |date=April 14, 2025 |title=Meet Digital Childhood Alliance Executive Director: Casey Stefanski. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/meet-digital-childhood-alliance-executive-director-casey-stefanski/}}</ref>
 Stefanski earned a degree in public policy and economics from the University of Chicago and has Capitol Hill experience working on policy issues. She is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with her family.<ref name=":0" />
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 ===Digital Childhood Alliance (2025–present)===
-In April 2025, Stefanski became Executive Director of the newly founded Digital Childhood Alliance. The organization, formed as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit coalition, comprises more than 50 child advocacy organizations focused on making technology safer for children and empowering parents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |title=Our Team. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/our-team/}}</ref>
+In April 2025, Stefanski became Executive Director of the newly founded [[Digital Childhood Alliance]]. The organization, formed as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit coalition, comprises more than 50 child advocacy organizations focused on making technology safer for children and empowering parents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |title=Our Team. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/our-team/}}</ref>
 The Digital Childhood Alliance's primary legislative focus is the App Store Accountability Act (ASAA), which would require app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental approval before minors can download apps or make purchases.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Digital Childhood Alliance |title=App Store Accountability Act. |url=https://www.digitalchildhoodalliance.org/asaabill/}}</ref>
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ===Meta Funding Exposed (December 2025)===
-In December 2025, investigative reporting revealed that Meta Platforms (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) is a significant funder of the Digital Childhood Alliance—information that Stefanski had declined to disclose during her May 2025 legislative testimony.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Lenney |first=Brian |date=December 8, 2025 |title=Meta's manipulation disguised as child safety. |url=https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/12/07/child-safety-bill-backed-by-meta/}}</ref>
+In December 2025, investigative reporting revealed that [[Meta]] (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) is a significant funder of the Digital Childhood Alliance—information that Stefanski had declined to disclose during her May 2025 legislative testimony.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Lenney |first=Brian |date=December 8, 2025 |title=Meta's manipulation disguised as child safety. |url=https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/12/07/child-safety-bill-backed-by-meta/}}</ref>
-According to reporting, Meta also acknowledged having "collaborated with Digital Childhood Alliance."[5] Multiple sources, including Insurance Journal, documented that Meta is helping fund the organization.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=July 25, 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation. |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm}}</ref>
+According to reporting, Meta also acknowledged having "collaborated with [[Digital Childhood Alliance]]."[5] Multiple sources, including Insurance Journal, documented that Meta is helping fund the organization.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Birnbaum |first=Emily |date=July 25, 2025 |title=Meta Clashes With Apple, Google Over Child Age Check Legislation. |url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/07/25/833246.htm}}</ref>
 ===Conflict of Interest Allegations===
 Critics have raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, arguing that Stefanski's organization is advocating for policies that directly benefit its largest funder, Meta, while claiming to represent independent child safety advocacy.<ref name=":3" />
-The concern centers on the App Store Accountability Act, which would require comprehensive age verification systems at app stores. Critics argue that such systems disproportionately burden Meta's smaller competitors while benefiting Meta, which already has extensive verification and data collection infrastructure.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>The organization claiming to represent concerned parents is quietly funded by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The same company whose own internal research proved its platforms devastate teenage girls' mental health is now bankrolling campaigns that blame everyone except itself.</blockquote>Critics contend that the ASAA "accomplishes nothing except creating expensive verification systems that Meta's competitors must build and pay for."<ref name=":3" />
+The concern centers on the [[App Store Accountability Act]], which would require comprehensive age verification systems at app stores. Critics argue that such systems disproportionately burden Meta's smaller competitors while benefiting Meta, which already has extensive verification and data collection infrastructure.<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>The organization claiming to represent concerned parents is quietly funded by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The same company whose own internal research proved its platforms devastate teenage girls' mental health is now bankrolling campaigns that blame everyone except itself.</blockquote>Critics contend that the ASAA "accomplishes nothing except creating expensive verification systems that [[Meta]]'s competitors must build and pay for."<ref name=":3" />
 ===501(c)(4) Status and Regulatory Structure===
-The Digital Childhood Alliance's organization as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit allows it to engage in unlimited political advocacy and lobbying while not being required to publicly disclose its donors.<ref name=":2" /> This legal structure explains why Stefanski was able to decline answering questions about her organization's funding sources during legislative testimony.
+The [[Digital Childhood Alliance]]'s organization as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit allows it to engage in unlimited political advocacy and lobbying while not being required to publicly disclose its donors.<ref name=":2" /> This legal structure explains why Stefanski was able to decline answering questions about her organization's funding sources during legislative testimony.
 ==Public Statements and Positioning==