Institute for Family Studies Wins Prestigious Heritage Innovation Prize
May 29, 2024(Charlottesville, VA.)—For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Bullivant
The Institute for Family Studies (IFS) Wins Prestigious Heritage Innovation Prize for "Protect Kids Online" Initiative.
Michael Toscano, IFS Executive Director—pioneered the IFS Teens and Tech Initiative—accepts Award in Washington, D.C.
IFS partner Ethics and Public Policy Center also wins the Prize.
Photo: Michael Toscano, IFS Executive Director, accepts the Heritage Innovation Prize at the Heritage Foundation, in Washington D.C. on May 20, 2024
The Institute for Family Studies (IFS) has been awarded the Heritage Innovation Prize. The $50,000 award from The Heritage Foundation in D.C. recognizes the Institute’s leadership in its agenda-setting "Protect Kids Online" initiative in partnership with the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), which was also awarded the prize.
Prestigious Washington D.C. think tank, The Heritage Foundation, has awarded IFS and EPPC the Heritage Innovation Prize for their partnership in creating the "Protect Kids Online" initiative—which aims to empower parents, policymakers, and faith leaders against Big Tech platforms designed to addict adolescents.
The initiative aims to require that social media platforms take measures for child safety, combat the creation and distribution of online pornography to children, address social media’s role in promoting child sexual abuse material, and examine the effects of social media on the common good.
Michael Toscano, IFS Executive Director, who has pioneered the IFS Teens and Tech Initiative and who led the "Protect Kids Online" work alongside Clare Morrel of EPPC, commented on the award:
"We are delighted to receive this award. The Heritage Foundation has recognized the need for a big response to technological changes that are having an enormous effect on families, child-raising, relationship formation, and education.
"We set out, with our partners at EPPC, to create a clear path for state legislators to stand with moms and dads everywhere who have next to no defense against the power of Big Tech and trillion-dollar budgets that are overwhelming families with addictive technology."
Two years ago, in partnership with the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Institute for Family Studies launched a campaign to inspire legislation that would give power back to parents over what their kids see and do online. The "Protect Kids Online" initiative resulted in more than a dozen laws nationwide.
Toscano continues, "With the Heritage Foundation's Innovation Prize, we can further advance the fight to liberate children from the clutches of Silicon Valley and restore them to a life anchored in genuine relationships.
"We applaud the Heritage Foundation for recognizing the need to stand up for individual families. Legislators must face the immense challenges of this new technological landscape. Because America’s children deserve better."
Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D., president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, said:
"We are deeply grateful that this innovative work is being recognized for its excellence as this prize will enable us to help more states take action."
Dr. Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation, commented on this award:
"In an age where children are constantly exposed to dangerous content, it is critical that parents, lawmakers, and leaders are informed. EPPC and IFS have taken the lead on this, and Heritage could not be more pleased to present them with this year’s Innovation Prize."
For more information on the most recent Innovation Prize awards, read here.
ENDS.
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