South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey is campaigning for increased child online safety and stricter social media regulations, four years after his son Gavin died by suicide. Gavin, aged 17, was targeted by a 'sextortionist' on Instagram in July 2022, who demanded money after Gavin sent intimate photos, threatening to share them with his contacts.
Following his son's death, Guffey became a leading advocate for child online safety. His campaigning led to the passing of 'Gavin's Law' in South Carolina, which made sextortion a felony and introduced mandatory education on the issue in all schools. Last year, Guffey secured further reforms requiring social media companies to activate safety features for users under 16 in South Carolina, including parental permission for accounts, and prohibitions on direct marketing, 'infinite scroll', and automatic video playback.
Guffey has also founded a non-profit organisation, Less Than 3, which campaigns on these issues and supports affected families. He regularly shares Gavin's story in schools, churches, and community centres. Guffey has written a book, "Tomorrow Needs You," detailing his experiences.