Dana Grueser turns her family's worst nightmare into a roadmap for protecting every child.
With so many dangers and harm in today’s online world, protecting children can seem hopeless. But Dana believes we can assess and address these threats before they escalate into a full blown crisis. She speaks from the front lines of the fight for child online safety, as a parent who lived it, an advocate who has taken it to Capitol Hill, and a writer reaching thousands of families nationwide.
Testimonials
“Dana’s story is one that one may hesitate to hear yet will be grateful that you did. I first heard Dana at a parent event, where her experience was so compelling that I invited her to speak to my class of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students. Dana possesses the ability to address audiences clearly and candidly about the intersection of unregulated internet content, mood, suicidality, and mental health. Her willingness to share her family’s lived experience greatly enriched our understanding of pediatric mental health and the very real influences of media. The thoughtful effort to tailor the content to our training made her presentation profoundly impactful.”
Katherine Quinn Asher, CU Nursing Student & Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Signature Topics
Threat Assessment
The Warning Signs Were There: Recognizing Online Radicalization Before It Escalates
Drawing on her family's firsthand experience, Dana walks threat assessment teams through the behavioral and digital red flags of online extremism, including early warning signs that are often missed or dismissed.
This talk is designed to help professionals know what to look for, how to catch early warning signs (before it escalates into crisis), and what they can do when a parent or youth professional raises the alarm.
Mental Health
How NVE Networks Coerce Youth and What Providers Can Look For
The FBI has publicly described networks like 764 coercing minors into self-harm and, in some cases, suicide attempts or attacks. Many clinicians encounter these kids without knowing that gore content and NVE networks may be driving mental health concerns. As a parent who nearly lost her son to NVE after months of raising the alarm, Dana explains the warning signs, what a concealed online life can look like from the outside, and how parents and providers can start the conversation.
This talk helps clinicians understand how common NVE and gore content is on mainstream platforms, how online coercion increases risk, and how to catch early warning signs before they escalate into crisis.
Parent & Community Education
What Parents and Youth-Serving Professionals Can Do About Social Media Harm and Online Extremism
Most parents hope they're doing everything right to protect their kids online, but may have no idea what's happening on their child's screen. Dana shares what she learned the hard way about the hidden mechanics of social media harm, online extremism, and the institutional gaps that leave kids unprotected.
This talk leaves parents and communities concrete, actionable steps to recognize warning signs, have better conversations with their kids, and reclaim real-world connection in a culture addicted to devices.