When 12-year-old Harrison Haynes met a 19-year-old “mentor” in an online game, it felt like a friendship—until it turned into manipulation and abuse.
In this powerful episode of Parenting Great Kids, Dr. Meg Meeker talks with Harrison about his firsthand experience with online grooming, how his mental health struggles played a role, and the steps his parents took to intervene and help him heal. Now, Harrison is turning his pain into purpose—advocating for digital safety and youth protection.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Episode Breakdown
00:00 – Introduction to Harrison’s Story
00:35 – Early signs of emotional struggles
01:25 – The online “friendship” begins
03:06 – How grooming unfolded
05:25 – Mental health and manipulation
08:49 – The turning point
12:34 – Breaking free and getting help
16:37 – Parental involvement and intervention
18:54 – Reporting and law enforcement
18:59 – Family reactions and emotions
19:32 – Reflecting on warning signs
20:53 – Legal frustrations and realities
22:02 – Coping, therapy, and healing
23:44 – Advice for today’s digital parents
26:42 – Harrison’s advocacy and youth empowerment
29:16 – Living life without a smartphone
31:20 – 5 practical tech safety strategies
35:04 – Community support and personal growth
About Harrison Haynes
Harrison Hayes was just 12 years old when he was groomed by a stranger he met through online gaming. Today, he’s a leading voice in digital safety advocacy—raising awareness about the hidden dangers of social media, gaming, and texting. Through his work with survivor-led organizations like The Wired Human Youth Coalition and his independent project, Digitally Intentional, Harrison empowers families and youth to think critically and live intentionally in the digital age.
He believes online safety isn’t just about restriction—it’s about awareness, intentionality, and action.
👉 Learn more about Harrison’s work at digitallyintentional.org
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