About Marie Shanley
Online Advocacy
For seven years I hosted two live-streamed shows a week, gaming or interviewing mental health subject matter experts, including Q+A using questions coming in live from viewers.
That experience built up a Twitch Partnership, a blog, a book, public speaking engagements, industry panels, MIT-published research and more.
Today, I continue to be an active member of online mental health and local equity non-profit boards.
Professional Career
While at Sesame Workshop (the Non-profit behind Sesame Street), I was lucky enough to lead an inspiring 6-person social impact content development team as their editorial program manager.
In partnership with giants like Google.org, Walmart.org, PNC, the US Dept of Defense and adorable Muppets, the team delivered industry leading, award-winning content on subjects like mental health, military family mental health, parental addiction, grief, digital well-being and more. Helping caregivers from the US and across the world build a better offline world for children, inspired me to want to build a better digital future for children too. So I set out to combine my offline and online tenure into a way to accomplish just that.
Future Goals
I believe there’s still a lot of work to be done to bring better equity and safety practices online. Platforms and folks running those spaces can make big changes through small adjustments, using research and policies paved in analogous spaces.
That’s why I am pursuing a Master’s in Child Advocacy and Policy from Montclair State University.
I’ve been very privileged in many ways, but I’ve also experienced childhood poverty, immigration, parental divorce, and was raised by a caring sister. I am now working to break cycles as I raise my son.
Online communities have shaped me. The one I built, saved me when my mental health was at its lowest. But all too often, they can also dangerous and predatory in ways that folks who need it the most, are not prepared to safeguard against.
Currently the speed of online gaming platforms, AI innovation and bad actors has been unmatched by policy.
For our kids, I want a better, safer digital future. My vast experience in children’s education and online communities, uniquely positions me to work with brands and policy makers to effect real change. To help build informed policy that protects kids as the world continues to innovate at a million miles an hour.