On Tuesday, February 10th, Our Minds Matter (OMM) teen leaders Jasmin Goodwin (School Without Walls, ‘25) and Abhisneha Jones (Northwest High School, ‘26) stood on Capitol Hill to launch the Safe Online Standards (S.O.S.). Speaking alongside Kenneth Cole, U.S. Senators Warner and Moreno, and representatives from TikTok, Meta, and Snap, they marked a monumental collaboration between mental health advocates, tech companies, and elected officials.
Abhisneha (left) and Jasmin (right) with MHC founder and fashion designer Kenneth Cole.
What is S.O.S.?
S.O.S., an initiative of the Mental Health Coalition (MHC), has established the first-ever standards and ratings for youth mental health and social media to catalyze healthier online engagement for kids and teens. Built upon 24 expert-developed standards across five key areas, S.O.S. complements existing digital literacy and wellness curricula while providing teens, families, and educators with a shared language for discussing online safety.
Jasmin and Abhisneha show off the S.O.S. ratings they helped design.
Unlike fear-based approaches, S.O.S. offers transparent ratings that promote informed decision-making and healthy digital habits. These standards evaluate how technology platforms impact youth mental health and respond to suicide-related content, providing users with the information necessary to navigate the online world in a safer way.
OMM, a proud member of the MHC, has had the privilege of collaborating with the S.O.S. Task Force since 2024. In addition to our team offering expertise on how best to reach teens, our Teen Advisory Council members served as the key youth perspective during the rollout of these standards. Alongside other leaders, Jasmin and Abhisneha participated in several focus groups and surveys to provide critical insight into how to help teens understand and engage with platform ratings.
Launching S.O.S. in the Nation’s Capital
Senator Warner speaks at the S.O.S. launch event.
Following an energizing opening from mental health advocate, MHC Founder, and fashion designer Kenneth Cole, Senator Warner of Virginia took the stage. He spoke to the importance of passing federal legislation to support efforts like S.O.S. and emphasized the vital need to work in tandem with the tech industry. He graciously thanked Meta, Snap, and TikTok, while extending an open invitation to all other tech companies to begin the S.O.S. rating process. Senator Warner was followed by Senator Moreno of Ohio, who doubled down on the importance of working across the aisle to pass common-sense legislation, stating: “This isn’t about Democrat or Republican, it’s about keeping kids safe online.” This bipartisan showing of support for protecting youth mental health online demonstrates the collective need to work together to create systems-level change.
Senator Moreno speaks at the S.O.S. launch event.
The head of the S.O.S. Task Force, Dr. Dan Reidenberg, spoke next to share further details regarding the launch and the roadmap ahead. Dr. Dan’s words resonated with everyone in the room as he reminded us that social media can create meaningful connection, and that such connection can save lives. He encouraged all tech companies and digital platforms to join the initiative and get rated, sharing that the next steps involve spreading the word to teens, families, educators, and every social media user so these ratings reach everyone. He closed with an inspiring commitment to continue this work, remarking that this launch event is but one step in a long journey.
Excitingly, three of the largest social media companies have already committed to undergoing the S.O.S. rating system: TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat. Representatives from each company spoke to the responsibility that tech and social media platforms have to safeguard the mental well-being of teen and youth users. The consensus was clear: youth mental health and well-being matters online, and these companies are committed to accountability and transparency in their efforts to make social media a safer space.
From Left: Laura Beth Levitt, Abhisneha Jones, Jasmin Goodwin, Kenneth Cole, Dr. Dan Reidenberg, Rachel Greenberg, Lauren Anderson, Nijha Young, Linda Murs.
Our Minds Matter Teens Lead The Way
After hearing from adult mental health advocates, elected officials, and tech giants, the most important voice in the room was amplified: the teen voice. The S.O.S. standards and ratings are first and foremost designed to make the digital world safer for kids and teens, an outcome that can only happen when teens use them and empower their peers to do the same.
Jasmin Goodwin speaks at the S.O.S. launch event.
Jasmin and Abhisneha are leading the way in this effort, speaking not only about their work with the S.O.S. Task Force, but about their personal experiences navigating the online world, how it has impacted their mental health, and how they plan to engage with these ratings while encouraging their peers to do the same.
Jasmin reflected on the reality of being a teen online and not knowing how safe a platform truly is, how difficult that can be to discuss with parents, and how many teens end up trying to figure it out alone. She remarked on how positive her experience was working with the S.O.S. Task Force and expressed excitement that the teen voice was so central to the conversation. Jasmin closed with a call to her peers to take these ratings seriously, sharing the hope she feels in knowing the digital world will be safer for her younger sister.
Abhisneha Jones speaks at the S.O.S. launch event.
Abhisneha addressed how many adults discuss banning social media or severely restricting its use—an approach she noted does not resonate with her or many other teens. She highlighted that social media is a massive part of teens’ lives that isn’t going anywhere, so the goal should be to make it as safe as possible. Abhisneha encouraged her peers to check S.O.S. ratings whenever they decide to scroll and to use their voices—because teen advocates are needed more than ever.
Finally, Kenneth Cole closed out the program by summarizing how integral this cause is to all of us, sharing that while the official statistic is 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health condition or challenge, 4 out of 4 of us have mental health and we are all impacted in one way or another.
OMM is so proud of these incredible teen leaders for elevating their voices on the highest stage possible: in the Nation’s Capital alongside some of the country’s most powerful decision-makers. We are honored and grateful to have worked with the S.O.S. Task Force for years, and we value their continued partnership in ensuring teen voices remain central to the conversation about online safety. It will take all of us, and this is just the beginning.
You can learn more about S.O.S. here. Stay tuned for what’s next in creating a safer digital world for kids and teens everywhere!