Frances Haugen and Dr. Michael Cheng, O. Ont. talk about social harms at the EKO Spring Symposium 2025 Advance Keynote
January 20, 2025
Speakers address what we know about the risks to kids, and answer audience questions
Empowered Kids Ontario is thrilled to announce advocate for social media accountability Frances Haugen and CHEO Psychiatrist and University of Ottawa Associate Professor Dr. Michael Cheng as the EKO Spring Symposium 2025 Advance Keynote speakers. Their virtual conversation—moderated by Brad Ross, Thinking Creatively About Online Harms for Children and Youth, takes place March 26th, three weeks ahead of the in-person program at the Sheraton Centre Toronto.
“We’re grateful to CHEO for their partnership in bringing this priority conversation to clinicians, educators, parents and caregivers,” says Jennifer Churchill, EKO President & CEO. “Frances Haugen and Dr. Michael Cheng are the two best people to address social harms—the issue we hear about in the news every day, and the crucial steps professionals, leaders and caregivers can take to support kids.”
Social media is a powerful mode of communication, offering convenience and connection, even a space for clinical intervention. But as the saying goes: You can have too much of a good thing. A growing body of literature shows a correlation between social media use and depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, body image issues, poor academic performance, low self-esteem, feelings of isolation, eating disorders, suicidal tendencies—problems fueled by the intentionally addictive design of social networking platforms.
The impact for kids with disabilities and developmental needs may be especially profound. A 2019 report by the Ruderman Family Foundation found students with disabilities were more likely to experience higher highs and lower lows when using social media—being more likely to find support and more likely to be victims and even perpetrators of cyberbullying.
The troubling link between social media use and the surge in mental health issues, cyberbullying, addiction, excessive screen time, and privacy concerns is impossible to ignore," says Jennifer Proulx, CHEO VP of Child Development and Community Services. "It's time to create a safer digital environment for all children and find meaningful solutions. CHEO is eager to partner with EKO to bring this crucial conversation to the forefront."
“The Advance Keynote will stimulate the imaginations of conference delegates attending the in-person program on April 16 & 17,” adds Churchill. The EKO Spring Symposium 2025 is Canada’s pinnacle developmental health program, elevating professional practice, connecting colleagues, building new and collaborative partnerships, and inspiring dynamic ideas for all those dedicated to kids with disabilities and developmental needs living their best lives.
Tickets to the Advance Keynote with Frances Haugen and Dr. Michael Cheng are included with the conference registration. A limited number of guest tickets are also available. Those registering for the event or purchasing guest tickets can submit their questions to Ms. Haugen and Dr. Cheng before the event.
More on the 2025 Advance Keynote.
More about the EKO Spring Symposium 2025, and how to register.
About Frances Haugen
Born in Iowa City, Iowa, Frances is the daughter of two professors and grew up attending the Iowa caucuses with her parents, instilling a strong sense of pride in democracy and responsibility for civic participation.
Frances holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Olin College and an MBA from Harvard. She is a specialist in algorithmic product management, having worked on ranking algorithms at Google, Pinterest, Yelp and Facebook. She was recruited to Facebook to be the lead Product Manager on the Civic Misinformation team, which dealt with issues related to democracy and misinformation, and later also worked on counterespionage.
During her time at Facebook, Frances became increasingly alarmed by the choices the company makes prioritizing their own profits over public safety and putting people's lives at risk. As a last resort and at great personal risk, Frances made the courageous decision to blow the whistle on Facebook.
Frances fundamentally believes that the problems we are facing today with social media are solvable. We can have social media that brings out the best in humanity.
About Dr. Michael Cheng, O.Ont.
Dr. Cheng supports families coping with modern society, helping them (re)attach to nature, people, and all that gives them purpose and meaning. He co-founded eMentalHealth.ca, which provides mental health information and resources to families and professionals. As a parent, he knows first-hand the challenge of staying connected to nature and to fellow humans in an increasingly virtual world. Dr. Cheng speaks on a wide variety of topics including child and youth mental health, technology and mental health, nature, self-regulation, and self-compassion.
About Brad Ross
As the City of Toronto's former Chief Communications Officer, and the Executive Director of Communications for the Toronto Transit Commission, Brad has navigated Canada's largest city and North America's second-largest mass transit system.
He and his team led Toronto's COVID-19 communications strategy, and he has been media spokesperson on innumerable contentious issues, managing all manner of crises that arise in such organizations.
In 2008, while at the TTC, Brad launched the transit agency’s Twitter presence, seeing the value of immediate communications and engagement with the public that Twitter offered.
Brad now heads up his own consulting practice, Brad Ross Communications Counsel.
About CHEO
Based in Canada’s capital, CHEO is a globally renowned health institution with a mission to provide exceptional care and support to children, youth and their families. Opening our doors in 1974, we offer a full range of specialized pediatric care and services to children from eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Our site is home to a hospital, a children’s treatment centre, a school, a research institute, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa as an academic health science centre. Named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, we are home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives.
Établi dans la capitale du Canada, le CHEO est un établissement de santé reconnu mondialement dont la mission est de fournir des soins et un soutien exceptionnels aux enfants, aux adolescentes et adolescents et à leur famille. Depuis qu’il a ouvert ses portes en 1974, il offre une gamme complète de soins et de services pédiatriques spécialisés aux enfants de l’est et du nord de l’Ontario, de l’ouest du Québec et du Nunavut. Ses installations comprennent un hôpital, un centre de traitement pour enfants, une école et un institut de recherche. Affilié à l’Université d’Ottawa, il fait partie de ses centres universitaires des sciences de la santé. Nommé par Forbes meilleur employeur en soins de santé au Canada en 2024, le CHEO compte sur plus de 6 500 employées et employés, cliniciennes et cliniciens, scientifiques, chercheuses et chercheurs, sans oublier les bénévoles, qui font équipe pour aider les enfants et les adolescentes et adolescents à mener la meilleure vie possible.