Intentionally Disturbing
Episode: Sarah Adams, Mom Uncharted: Get Your Kids Off The Internet
Date: September 11, 2025
Host: Dr. Leslie
Guest: Sarah Adams (“Mom Uncharted”)
Overview
This episode explores the dangers of sharing children’s images and lives online, featuring Sarah Adams, an advocate against child exploitation on social media, known as “Mom Uncharted.” Dr. Leslie, a forensic psychologist, and Sarah delve into disturbing trends in “kidfluencing,” parental over-sharing, digital consent, and strategies for protecting children from digital harm. The conversation is candid, at times dark, and always rooted in advocacy and wit.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origin Story & Advocacy Recognition
[03:49 – 06:44]
- Sarah explains the origin of “Mom Uncharted” – feeling adrift starting out in “uncharted” digital territory as a new mom online.
- She expresses surprise and honor at being named to the Time 100 Creators list.
- Quote: “To have Time honor me in this way and say, hey, what you're doing matters, it really lit a little more fire within me.” (05:14, Sarah)
2. Challenges of (Canadian) Internet Censorship
[06:02 – 07:07]
- Sarah describes difficulties sharing American news articles in Canada due to platform restrictions.
- Frustration at social media suppressing voices that address child exploitation rather than amplifying them.
3. “Get Kids the Fuck Off the Internet” – The Movement
[07:21 – 09:01]
- Dr. Leslie summarizes Sarah’s message: “Get kids the fuck off the Internet. Stop monetizing off children.” (07:21, Leslie)
- Growing public awareness, more documentaries, and a shift.
- Sarah's appearances: “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing” (Netflix) and “Born to Be Viral” (Hulu/Disney).
4. The Trigger Moment & Community Building
[09:01 – 11:19]
- Sarah describes realizing the gravity of oversharing when a mommy influencer broadcasted her son’s medical emergency in intimate detail:
- Quote: “I shouldn’t know this. ... Why do I have such intimate details of this child's medical journey?” (09:27, Sarah)
- She sought community, finding many shared her discomfort.
5. Privacy, Consent, and Escalating Exploitation
[11:19 – 12:34]
- Initial focus: child privacy and consent.
- Discovery: Many family influencers, especially on Instagram, openly exploit their children.
- Stories of mothers selling their children’s used clothing to online followers.
6. High-Profile Cases & The Impact of Internet Sleuths
[12:34 – 14:43]
- Media attention on exploitative accounts (e.g., the “Ren” account—17 million followers):
- Posts with sexualized undertones, phallic objects, or overtly inappropriate themes.
- “No toddler should have 17 million strangers following them online.” (13:14, Sarah)
- Account takedowns don’t mean erasure; content persists.
7. The Real Dangers: Predators and Escalation
[14:43 – 19:55]
- Explains how images are stolen, distributed, and even altered with AI for nefarious purposes.
- Law enforcement has been involved due to the reporting of accounts that cross legal lines.
- The normalization and sexualization of children online provide material for predators and escalate risk.
8. Disturbing Depths: The Dark Reality
[19:55 – 23:52]
- Dr. Leslie shares forensic details from cases to underline the bleak reality:
- Quote: “...I’m looking at little girls who have their vaginas ripped all the way to their anuses ... And I’m often looking at pictures where they're not alive.” (19:54, Leslie)
- Sarah explains having to report parents to police for sexually exploitative “photo shoots.”
- The parent-predator relationship can move to encrypted sites, escalating to paid, illicit content.
9. How Online Exposure Fuels Real-World Harm
[23:52 – 24:24]
- Both speakers explain how the online sexualization of children creates demand and “grooms” predators to seek actual victims.
- Quote: “If it’s not happening to your kid, you may be encouraging a man to do it to another kid.” (23:52, Leslie)
10. The Manosphere & Online Misogyny
[24:24 – 27:22]
- Sarah explains her growing focus on misogynistic online realms (“manosphere”) influencing young boys.
- Seemingly innocuous content (e.g., fitness, prank channels) can hide extremist worldviews.
- Need for parents to be alert and involved in what boys watch/listen to.
11. Media Reflecting Life: TV Series “Adolescence”
[25:40 – 27:22]
- Discusses the fictional show “Adolescence,” paralleling real UK cases: vulnerable boys drawn to misogyny, resulting in violence.
- Adolescent male vulnerability exploited by men like the “Tate brothers.”
- Serious consequences for girls as misogynistic ideologies spread.
12. Parental Vigilance: Online ≠ Safe
[27:22 – 28:59]
- A chilling quote from the show:
- Quote: “I thought he was safe, he was at home, he was in his room. Like I thought he was safe.” (27:59, Sarah)
- Just being home is no longer a guarantee of safety; active engagement is needed.
13. Personal Anecdotes: Kids Outsmarting Parental Controls
[28:59 – 31:45]
- Dr. Leslie’s story: her daughter (age 8) circumvented iPad restrictions to access inappropriate YouTube Kids content (“Little girl trying on outfits for her daddy”).
- Sarah: “No, YouTube kids. Shut it down ... If your child wants to watch YouTube, put it on the big TV and sit there with them.” (30:01, Sarah)
- The risks of short-form, algorithm-driven content for attention spans and development.
14. Screen Time, Behavior, and Child Development
[31:45 – 33:41]
- Changes in children’s behavior correlated with screen use.
- Emotional regulation and impulse control are impacted.
- It’s OK to use devices judiciously (“mommy needs a little help sometimes”), but balance is vital.
15. Guardrails: Age Appropriateness, Device Policy, and Digital Literacy
[33:41 – 35:02]
- No universal rule: different kids, different families.
- Delay smartphones and social media as long as possible—normalize 15-16 as a start age.
- Champion digital and media literacy—teach kids to spot fakes, understand misinformation, and develop healthy online habits.
- Quote: “Hold your boundaries. You're the parent.” (35:02, Sarah)
16. Handling Pushback & Fostering Interests Offline
[35:02 – 36:59]
- Example: redirecting children’s desire for a YouTube channel into creative classes, activities, or private sharing with family/friends.
17. Safer Online Sharing
[36:59 – 37:25]
- Use private accounts for sharing, not broadcasting to strangers.
- There’s no need for public digital exposure of kids.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “Get kids the fuck off the Internet. Stop monetizing off children.” (07:21, Leslie)
- “No toddler should have 17 million strangers following them online, period. End of story.” (13:14, Sarah)
- “I shouldn’t know this. ... Why do I have such intimate details of this child's medical journey?” (09:27, Sarah)
- “If it’s not happening to your kid, you may be encouraging ... a man to do it to another kid.” (23:52, Leslie)
- “Hold your boundaries. You're the parent.” (35:02, Sarah)
- “Because just cause they're at home doesn't mean they're safe anymore.” (28:59, Sarah)
- “No, YouTube kids. Shut it down ... If your child wants to watch YouTube, put it on the big TV and sit there with them.” (30:01, Sarah)
Lightning Round (Fun & Revealing Q&A)
[37:35 – 43:17]
- Crime to commit & get away with: “Money laundering” (37:53, Sarah, laughing)
- Death penalty choice: Lethal injection by default, Canada doesn’t have it.
- Law to change: Longer terms for child sex offenders.
- Secret: “I have one of the worst sweet tooths in the world... I can easily down a pint of ice cream and sitting on my couch watching a terrible Netflix reality show. Easy.” (42:57, Sarah)
Closing & Where to Find Sarah
[43:45 – 44:25]
- Social: @mumuncharted on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram
- Featured in: “Bad Influence” (Netflix), “Born to Be Viral” (Hulu, Disney)
- New podcast launching in fall: “Parents Uncharted”
Practical Takeaways for Parents
- Delay giving children smartphones and social media as long as possible.
- Normalize family screen time and monitor what children watch.
- Avoid public sharing of children’s images/data. Use private channels.
- Teach children digital and media literacy early.
- Be vigilant and involved—kids’ vulnerability is maximized online, even at home.
- Advocate: More conversations, more awareness, more boundaries.
Timestamps of Key Segments
- [03:49] Sarah explains “Mom Uncharted” origin
- [05:05] Time 100 Creators list impact
- [07:21] Dr. Leslie’s call: “Get kids the fuck off the Internet”
- [09:27] Sarah’s trigger moment – medical emergency overshare
- [13:14] The “Ren” account case
- [19:54] Dr. Leslie’s forensic realities (TRIGGER WARNING)
- [28:59] Parental anecdote – daughter bypassing YouTube Kids security
- [30:01] Sarah: “No, YouTube kids. Shut it down.”
- [35:02] Boundary setting advice
Tone & Language
- Candid, darkly humorous, and occasionally graphic.
- Both speakers engage in tough but necessary conversations, balancing seriousness with wit and a sense of shared mission.
- Warnings and boundaries are delivered with genuine concern and a call for collective action.
If you have not listened to the episode:
This is an unflinching yet practical examination of how parents—often unintentionally—endanger their children’s privacy, safety, and well-being online, and what can be done to push back against toxic, exploitative digital cultures.