Abundant research, and our own collective experience, show what’s best for children’s well-being — and it isn’t endless screentime. MAMA was founded by Julie Scelfo, veteran journalist, media ecologist, and mother of 3, to take on today’s media-obsessed culture.
After years of reporting on youth mental health and suicide, Julie led a collective of experts and communicators in designing a platform to finally challenge the harms caused by today’s unhealthy media environment and runaway tech. The result: MAMA.
MAMA is the only organization led by a mother with a journalist’s courage to speak truth to power — and the determination to see it through.
MAMA has a three-part mission: educating parents; getting smartphones out of schools; and ensuring technology products have basic safeguards like other consumer products.
And we work in three ways: we form local chapters that give parents a platform to band together and take collective action in their communities; we provide thought leadership with a regular presence in national and local media, and through our monthly online Expert Insights Series; and we work with community leaders and local and national policymakers to address the impacts of media addiction.
Young people spend as many as 9 hours a day on screens, a habit linked to depression, loneliness and anxiety.
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Time and again, when moms get involved, social movements win. We’re turning the tide for our kids and our world.
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Become a member, attend an event or start a chapter in your community. It’s easy to get involved — and it’s urgent.
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“My kids don’t have social media accounts but it creeps into their lives anyway through friends and even school work. Thank goodness for MAMA. Now I feel like I’m not fighting this on my own.”
– Jo Cogan, Mom to kids ages 16, 15, 13, 11, MAMA member, NYC
“Social media is causing a serious mental health crisis in our youth and thankfully MAMA is giving parents the opportunity to start protecting our kids and stand up to big tech companies!”
– Juliette DeCarlo, mom to kids ages 10, 12, MAMA member, NYC
“I've been in the 'digital wellness' and 'kids vs. screens advocacy' world for over a decade. I've listened to all the experts but the first time I listened to Julie it sent an electric shock through my body. YES. THIS. FINALLY.”
– Jessica Elefante, mom to kids ages 12, 2, Penguin/Random House author, MAMA chapter leader
“As parents to a beautiful 14 year-old daughter, who lost her life to suicide, we both feel MAMA is urgently needed to educate and protect families from social media harms. We don't want any other family to experience the pain that we go through every day.”
– Brandy and Toney Roberts, parents of Englyn, forever 14, MAMA members, LA
“I was stunned to learn the shocking evidence of ‘big media’’s cold indifference to innocent kids’ wellbeing. MAMA is precisely what is needed to fight for the safety and rights of our children, and of our society, frankly.”
– Stacey, mom to kids ages 4 and 7, VP of Communications at a major national Foundation, MAMA member, NYC
“Parents raising children in today’s online world desperately need a place to find a supportive community with other like-minded parents to learn how to best protect their children from the multitude of online harms, dangers and addictions. I am thankful to Julie Scelfo for founding MAMA (Mothers Against Media Addiction) so that the next generation of parents can be stay informed on how to raise healthy children in this challenging world.”
– Kristin Bride, mother of Carson, forever 16, MAMA member, AZ
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information contained on this website, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your child is experiencing negative consequences of problematic media and technology use, we encourage you to speak with your pediatrician.
Mothers Against Media Addiction is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Mothers Against Media Addiction, Inc.
700 Columbus Ave – Front 4 Box 20589
New York, NY 10025-6662
©2025
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. For crisis chat services or more information visit 988lifeline.org.
The Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
As an organization of parents, MAMA is unable to make treatment referrals and is not qualified to diagnose or give any type of medical advice. For assistance with clinical disorders, we encourage you to reach out to your local care provider.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information contained on this website, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your child is experiencing negative consequences of problematic media and technology use, we encourage you to speak with your pediatrician.
