The Fox News Rundown Extra: Addictive by Design? When Social Media Devastates A Family
Feb 15, 2026
Maureen Molak, advocate and co-founder of Parents SOS and David's Legacy Foundation whose son died after intense cyberbullying, shares a family's loss and push for change. She describes signs of addiction, how injury and isolation fueled compulsive online use, and the tech design features and failed parental guardrails that contributed. She calls for policy solutions to better protect kids online.
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Son's Rapid Descent After Injury
- Maureen Molak describes her son David becoming consumed by social media and online gaming after a severe basketball injury.
- He lied, stole virtual-asset money, hid device use, and lost control despite family interventions.
Cyberbullying 'Crushed' His Identity
- Maureen recounts classmates forming a 'cyber mob' that bombarded David with threats and cruel messages on Instagram.
- The online attacks eroded his identity and worsened his depression until he later took his life.
Guardrails Often Fail Addicted Users
- Maureen argues that built-in safety features rarely work for children already exhibiting compulsive use.
- She says notifications and time alerts would not have stopped David because the addiction overrode such prompts.