“Ben Tracy’s story is REAL and relatable! Our students were hooked from the start and appreciated Ben’s raw truth. We had two large assemblies where Ben addressed Middle School students and High School students. He was able to easily adjust his message for each group and make a positive impact. What made Ben’s visit even better was the fact that he was able to visit with some of our classes and in a smaller setting really answer some great questions. Additionally, I witnessed a POWERFUL and EMOTIONAL one-on-one as Ben helped a young man come to grips with a social media mistake he made several years ago. I can’t thank Ben enough for spending a great day at The Out-of-Door Academy in Sarasota, Florida.”

— Tim Brewer, Director of Student Activities, The Out-of-Door Academy (Sarasota, FL)

“Ben Tracy's message is invaluable to students and adults. His student presentations were age-appropriate and engaging. He was able to address topics and threats surrounding social media and other popular applications thoroughly. He recounted many authentic stories that he has encountered through the creation of Safe Social Network. He provided actionable steps to improve the safety of application use. Our students are living in an ever-changing technological world and, as educators, it is our responsibility to teach and demonstrate the impact that their publicly spoken words and posted pictures have to future generations. Ben Tracy's presentation does just this. 

His adult presentation was a "mic drop". He shared statistics regarding the mental health and well-being of our youth and asked the audience to reflect on the impact cell phones have on these numbers. He weaved in and out of the conversations he had during the student presentation so adults had potential talking points to cover at home. He offered many suggestions on how the safety and security of our students can be improved by establishing expectations and creating appropriate use plans. He even highlighted specific settings to enable/disable in a few popular applications.”

— Kristel Spike, Principal, St. Augustin Catholic School (Des Moines, IA)

“Ben was able to capture the attention of our student-athletes and keep them engaged for the full 45-minute presentation. His story provided a tangible example of how social media can impact your life even years after you tweet or post. I appreciated his vulnerability and willingness to share his experiences. Ben did a tremendous job connecting with our student-athletes and they appreciated the shared collegiate athletic experience. I would highly recommend bringing Ben to campus if you are looking for someone who can connect and provide a powerful message, especially with a younger generation.”

— A’dja Jones, Director of Student Athlete Development, Missouri State University Athletics (Springfield, MO)

“I invited Ben Tracy to share his story with our 5-8 grade students, during the school day, and our parents, in the evening.  I knew that evening when parents walked in and told me what their child had said that Ben had made an impact! Ben did a fabulous job of connecting with both the students and parents.  His real life experience, although most likely very difficult to continue sharing, let us all know the dangers of what we say or post, and the negative and serious impact this can have years later.  His honesty with both students and parents about difficult subjects was passionately told, mixed with the seriousness of each topic. His willingness to travel around to help others, by sharing his story, and to compassionately  convince others that mistakes can also be turned around is without reproach. Over the years I have listened to many speakers on a variety of subjects.  Ben is without a doubt one of the very best.  His passion convinces others, regardless of age, to listen and reflect.  He is genuine in every way.”

— Dr. Barbara Marchese, Principal, St. Vincent de Paul School (Omaha, NE)

“In October, 2021, Ben Tracy joined us at Billings Central Catholic High School in Billings, Montana, and spoke to our student body as well as our parents in two separate presentations. We have had speakers talk to our students and parents about safety and social media in the past, but Ben’s words really hit home for both our students and our parents. Students innately seek authenticity and relevance from the speakers who visit our school. Because Ben’s message is based on real events and personal experience, his message checks both boxes. Students listening to Ben were both interested and engaged. Throughout the day following the presentation, students responded to the call to delete unknown contacts and followers from their social media platforms and delete social media apps known to be unsafe for students. 

Our parent group was equally engaged in Ben’s story. Through his personal story and the knowledge he has since gained related to safety in social media Ben immediately forged a connection with our parents. Throughout his presentation he addressed their most pressing concerns and provided relevant new information. He took the time to answer every question brought forth by our parents, from the most basic to the most complicated, elaborating on information where needed. Ben’s professionalism was evident throughout the day, and his honesty and direct approach positively impacted both our students and our parents, making his message that much more powerful.”

— Shel Hanser, Principal, Billings Central Catholic High School (Billings, MT)

“Technology and its influence on our teenagers is an important topic for our school. Every year we have a speaker on the topic. Ben Tracy has been one of the favorites. Before the presentation, Ben made coordination very easy. If you have ever worked with public speakers before, you understand that some can be high maintenance. Ben was easy to work with, flexible, and personable.

Ben did two presentations for our school: A student presentation during our chapel time and an evening presentation for our parents. Students and teachers loved the message during the chapel time. I had nothing but positive feedback, which is something I rarely get. According to my teachers, Ben was engaging, entertaining, and impactful.

During the evening presentation with parents, multiple parents came to me afterward and told me we should invite Ben back.

One of my concerns with speakers on this topic is that they come in too soft. Ben came in with the reality that the dangers of social media and technology is something we cannot ignore. He used facts, data, and engaging personal stories to relay this message, and it was well received.

In short, your school will benefit greatly from having Ben speak. Get him in front of your parents and students with this crucial information!”

— Paul Ellsworth, Head of Lower School, Franklin Christian Academy (Franklin, TN)

“When a parent calls me the day after Ben spoke to our high school and asks who the speaker was because her son could not stop talking about him, you know he’s got a great message. Ben’s vulnerability in sharing his own personal mistakes and lessons will absolutely help students across the country to understand the power of social media and it’s consequences if used inappropriately.  Ben is timely, authentic & relatable.”

— Dr. Kristen Craft, Former Andover High School Principal (Andover, KS), 2021 Kansas High School Principal of the Year

“Cardinal Stritch University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics invited Ben Tracy to speak to all our student-athletes and coaches. As a former college student-athlete himself, Mr. Tracy immediately captured the attention of our student-athletes.  His presentation was very appropriate and very timely. He used his contemporary experiences within the social media culture and related these experiences directly to our student-athletes.  Highlighting some actual social media postings from our student-athletes, the group responded with an unnerving calm.  Then, he skillfully moved the conversation to how these current posting could have a negative impact on future employment of our student-athletes. Additionally, he engaged our group with decision-making strategies on how to be better leader, a better teammate, a better friend.  Following his presentation, we surveyed our student-athletes, with overwhelming affirmation; they agreed Mr. Tracy’s presentation had a significant impact on how they present themselves on social media platform and how to be a better student-athlete.”

— Dr. Tim Val Alstine, Associate Vice-President & Director of Athletics, Cardinal Stritch University (Milwaukee, WI)

“Ben Tracy presented a compelling and cautionary tale, sharing his experience with students to warn them firsthand of the pitfalls of social media and digital addiction. He immediately captured the attention of our students by tailoring his presentation to their own social media posts. By connecting their current behavior to Mr. Tracy’s personal experience, our students were able to discern whether their online comments had the potential to create any negative outcomes. Following Mr. Tracy's presentation, students heeded his call to action by reviewing and amending their online presence.   Mr. Tracy addressed the more subtle detrimental effects of social media and excessive screen time, presenting research about the negative mental health outcomes associated with each. He also covered broader societal issues and ways to ensure that our digital presence is one that reflects our school community's emphasis on inclusivity and respect for all persons.”

— Janet Hill, Director of Counseling, Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, TN)

“Social Media is problematic for every school in America. Like most schools, we were looking for a manner to connect with our students about the power of social media. Ben Tracy was the answer to our needs. Through his personal testimony, Ben connected with our students. He immediately captures their attention and holds it throughout his entire presentation. Through his experience and his delivery, the students left our assembly on social media with a new understanding of how insecure their privacy truly is. If you need to communicate with your students and parents on social media, I highly recommend you schedule Ben Tracy to speak into their lives. Our parents loved his presentation and were engaged with Ben asking questions. You will not regret bringing Ben into your school.”

— Dr. Tim Anderson, Head of School, Providence School (Jacksonville, FL)

“Ben grabbed our students attention from the get go. He spoke to our whole school, grades 6-12 and did an excellent job keeping all ages engaged. His personal story has the power of a first hand experience which resonates more with students than anything we can say to them as adults about the pitfalls of social media. Ben also makes a point of showcasing the positive ways to use social media. Using his own story, Ben has created a thoughtful, sensitive and timely presentation. Our parents also had the opportunity to hear Ben’s presentation and it was very well received. If you can bring him to your school, do it!”

— Trish Cox, Dean of Students, The MacDuffie School (Granby, MA)

“Ben’s own story was captivating and relevant to the students in attendance as well as the teachers, parents and other adults.  Ben has a powerful way of engaging and relating to the audience as well as to bring real-time situations and data into his presentations. What impressed me the most about Ben was his interest in those he was speaking to and his approachability and gift of time he invested after the presentation in speaking to all who wanted to and answering questions and giving insight.  I highly recommend Ben and look forward to our paths crossing once again in the future.”

— PJ Deming, Principal, Monterey Bay Academy (La Selva Beach, CA)

“Ben’s ability to connect with all stakeholders (parents, faculty, high school students and middle school students) proved to be beneficial due to his knowledge of social media and real-life experience. We highly recommend anyone working with teenagers to consider allowing Ben to share his story.”

— Sondra Morris, Principal, St. Benedict at Auburndale High School (Cordova, TN)

“When I made the decision to bring Ben Tracy to our campus to talk to our student athletes about social media, I did not realize how much Ben would change our student athletes’ knowledge about social media. His presentation is very heartfelt, engaging and very effective to any Students or Students Athletes across our nation. His presentation connects with both men and women at any grade level.  Ben’s presentation interacts with the audience and has great examples from the group he is talking with.  I would highly encourage you to book Ben as soon as you can. You and your group will not be disappointed with his presentation.”

— Darren Pannier, Athletic Director, State Fair Community College (Sedalia, MO)

“Mr. Tracy’s story is an attention-grabbing, real-life example of the power of words, particularly in today’s context of social media and public scrutiny. It served as a wake-up call to our students that had many of them scrambling–in a positive way–to make practical changes.  Mr. Tracy’s open and honest sharing also served as a testimony to the value of authenticity, reflection, repentance, learning from one’s mistakes, and being willing to turn around and teach others.”

— Matt Cunningham, Bible Teacher & Chapel Coordinator, Aurora Christian School (Aurora, IL)

“At Sha’arei Bina Torah Academy we take our responsibility of educating our women very seriously.  We are not only concerned about their intellectual growth but their emotional and social well-being as well.  To that end we were fortunate to invite Ben Tracy of Safe Social Network to speak with our students (grades 6-12) and separately to their parents.  Ben spoke openly about the repercussions of posting inappropriate material as well as the dangers inherent in sharing personal information in a public forum.  The students were able relate to Ben as he was very approachable and real in his demeanor and presentation.   The girls felt that they could trust him with their questions and Ben took the time to answer the students truthfully and thoughtfully.

 The parents’ eyes were opened by Ben.   The most important message he gave to the parents was the need for open communication between parent and child and the setting of limits.  Social Media is a part of everyone’s life for better or worse but it is essential that parents monitor their children’s foraging into social media sites which are public and open to predators or may exposes their children to images they are not yet ready for.

Sha’arei Bina is an orthodox Jewish all girls school.  Our students are taught religious values as well as a robust secular education. The students live in the modern world but can be somewhat naive - or as most teenagers believe, they think they are smart and invincible.  We found Ben perfectly attuned to our students.  He spoke candidly but yet appropriately.   

I highly recommend that Ben be brought to address students, and even more importantly to speak with the parents.”

— Dr. Rochelle Brand, Head of School, Sha’arei Bina Torah Academy for Girls (Hollywood, FL)

“Ben Tracy gives a very personal account on how the misuse of social media can come back to haunt students in their careers, college applications, scholarships, etc. After his presentation, we had several students show concern regarding their social media content as well as inquiring about how to delete or better secure their accounts. Our school district has discussed making this a regular presentation as a way to promote more responsible social media use.” 

— Carrie Griffith, Principal, Wethersfield Junior-Senior High School (Kewanee, IL)

“Ben Tracy did an amazing job at presenting a real-world issue that students may be aware of but do not take seriously. From the start, he is able to catch the students’ attention by showing them how easy it is to see what they put on social media. By sharing his own personal story of what happened to him when he misused social media at a young age, the students were able to better understand that their actions on social media can have lasting effects on their lives. On multiple occasions, I have heard that Ben’s talk was one of the most impactful talks that we have hosted at the school. Parents, teachers, and students all agree that it was important for everyone to hear what Ben had to say.”

— Dang Nguyen, Dean of Curriculum, Mary Star of the Sea High School (San Pedro, CA)

“Our school community participated in a virtual presentation entitled Navigating Life In the Digital Age by Ben Tracy in March 2021. This presentation exceeded our expectations. Specifically, Ben understood that his audience included both adults and children and tailored his discussion to meet their needs. He shared timely information in a methodical manner that was easy to understand. His common-sense tips for both children and adults were very valuable. I would highly recommend this presentation for both general and special education populations.”

— Dr. Robin Johnstone, Head of School, Meredith-Dunn School (Louisville, KY)

“Our admin team appreciated his research in finding social media posts from our own students. Students can relate to Ben and we appreciated his direct, open, and honest communication during the presentation.”

— Dr. Ashly McGinnis, Principal, Lafayette High School (St. Joseph, MO)

“Ben Tracy came to our campus and gave our school quite the education in social media. Mr. Tracy, through his great story telling, told our students a powerful message on the dangers of the internet. His own personal story left our kids wondering “what happens if that was me effect”! Mr. Tracy not only showed us his story but he was able to do extensive research into the problems that our own school was going through by finding numerous situations that are occurring in our school. Mr. Tracy’s story and message is a must for all students and adults to hear!”

— Walter Townes, Former Dean of Students, Knox School (St. James, NY)

"Immediately Ben was able to relate to our middle school students. They were shocked to hear that something that was posted online could come back and haunt you years down the road - as it did for Ben. They were captivated by his story and in conversations after the presentation the students tried to see how their actions today might affect them as they apply to colleges, in their job searches and even potential social interactions later in life. Teachers and parents are critical in the proper steering of a child when they are introduced to the internet, but for students to be able to hear from someone else, now that is really powerful. Ben's presentation is powerful."

— Michael Yurk, Principal, St. Paul Lutheran School (Grafton, WI)

“Ben Tracy’s message is meaningful and timely. If you are serious about getting your students to understand the dangers, pitfalls and power of the current social media platforms, Ben’s presentations are relevant and attention grabbing for all ages. Ben’s story is compelling and he not only defines the issues but he offers solutions which help reform students use of social media. It is encouraging to know individuals like Ben Tracy have taken on this challenge while offering helpful resources to address the issues at hand. I would highly recommend including Ben Tracy in your plans to support a positive student culture.”

— David Welling, Head of School, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL)

“I highly recommend Mr. Ben Tracy as a guest speaker on the subject of Social Media.  Ben's real-life experience resonated with our students and parents. He was able to connect with them on a level that not many speakers can. After his high school presentation, one student commented, "His story was real and it made me stop and think about the things that I have posted." Ben also spoke at our intermediate school and the students there had so many comments and questions that he actually stayed almost an hour longer to talk with them.  He really cares!"

— Mary Lanier, Principal, Deer Creek-Mackinaw High School (Mackinaw, IL)

“Ben’s presentation was what we needed to support our Digital Citizenship initiative at South Callaway.  He immediately engaged our student body by sharing some of their “not so appropriate” social media postings on the big screen for all to see.  Ben’s story could happen to any of our students BUT doesn’t need to happen with proactive information.  Social media is a personal advertisement and the presentation focuses on selling yourself in the most positive ways.”

— Heather Helsel, Principal, South Callaway High School (Mokane, MO)

“Ben Tracy's presentation is real for the students and carries a lot of meaning as he shares his personal story of how his previous social media use affected his adult life. His honesty sheds light on how important it is to remember what you do today in the world of social media can have a great impact on your future! We also found his parent presentation to be well done and it really hit home with the parents in attendance how important it is to monitor their child's use of social media. What I appreciated the most is that he told parents to WAIT to get their child a Smartphone - this is the only way to avoid the issues we are dealing with when it comes to middle school students and the effects social media use has on them!”

— Dawn Walker, Principal, First Immanuel Lutheran School (Cedarburg, WI)

“I would recommend Mr. Ben Tracy to any school district.  In today’s social media craze, students do not understand how their comments now can have a lasting effect on their future.  Mr. Tracy’s experience hit home for my students.  His story and background was very relatable for my students.  It is one thing for me as the principal to warn students about using social media properly.  It is another thing for them to hear of an actual real-life experience and hopefully learn from it.” ”

— Brad Gooding, Principal, Rushville-Industry High School (Rushville, IL)

“Ben Tracy was a delight to work with. He was very professional. He has a clear passion for what he does and the reasons why he presents to teens. Ben’s personal narrative made for a more effective presentation for our students and their parents. We have reached out to him after his presentation and has been a great contact for us. We were very grateful for him and his presentation for our school community.”

— Ana Oliva, Principal, Epiphany Catholic School (Miami, FL)

“Ben Tracy spoke to our 5th through 8th grade students and our parents. His powerful story about how teenage social media impacted his life resonated with our community. It caused them to pause and reflect on their own social media use and the impact it could have on their lives. Sharing his personal story allowed the students and parents to connect with Ben on a personal level and they were open to hearing this important message. The students were very engaged in the presentation. Many students stayed after the presentation to speak with Ben and to ask him questions. It is evident that Ben’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of young people around the country.”

— Lourdes Krause, School Counselor, St. Agnes Academy (Key Biscayne, FL)

“Ben Tracy shared his story in separate presentations to the students and parents at Trinity High School. Exit surveys revealed that his words had a great impact on our kids, causing them overwhelmingly to consider more caution with social media use, even reducing the use in some cases. The students remarked that his examples, drawn from his own life story, connected with what they have seen their own friends post and share online. In some cases, the students admitted to posting similar things themselves. This made the consequences that Ben narrated from his own experiences even more relevant to them. Our students found him informative, honest, and engaging. We highly recommend Ben as a resource for any school facing social media issues among its kids.”

— John W. Cominsky, Principal, Trinity High School (Camp Hill, PA)

“Our students really enjoyed Ben’s presentation. They also appreciated that he made a mistake and was able to keep going and help others along the way. The teachers met with kids in their advisory period (small groups) and had discussions after the presentation. Every teacher told me this was the best discussion they have had with the students regarding cyberbulling, online safety, and social media. Our counselors also reported that several students came to see them for help.”

— Tania Dupuis, Principal, Dansville Jr/Sr High School (Dansville, MI)

"Thank you Ben Tracy at Safe Social Network! Thank you for talking to our students, not “at” our students. Thank you for talking with our parents and addressing their fears and concerns. Thank you for taking that huge step as a young adult to repeatedly share your misstep on social media that cost you a job and had the world judging you. Thank you for showing our students that missteps and mistakes don’t define us! I know our kids and I know when they are listening and when they aren’t. They were listening. Thank you for sharing your story & the dangers of social media. But more so, thank you for also showing them how and motivating them to be the change and encouragement to confront mental health (their own & their peers). Please keep doing what you are doing. It is making a difference. Truly money well spent."

— Cindy Rhodes, Principal, Richland Jr/Sr High School (Essex, MO)

“Ben Tracy traveled to speak with our middle school students and our parents and guardians in the community.  His presentations to both groups were informative and timely.  His vulnerable story was exactly what our students needed to hear.  He speaks from the heart about the consequences of social media and the way it can affect their futures.  He gave practical tips for both students and parents for minimizing social media’s negative effects.  The feedback from students, teachers, administrators, and parents was extremely positive!  We would recommend him to anyone looking for ways to proactively aid students and parents in the use of social media.”

— Callie Painter, Student Success Coordinator, Oak Ridge Schools (Oak Ridge, TN)

“We were very pleased with Ben Tracy, the speaker we hosted this week, who shared with our student-body and parents about the dangers of social media. He also talked about the ability of using social media as a way of promoting the good. Ben’s ability to connect his message with his audience is remarkable! One 8th grade student remarked,

‘It was much better than any presentations we’ve had, and I’ve sat through a lot of them. He was able to give a first-hand experience explanation of what it is like to be bullied on social media and was able to give real-life situations people had told him. He was appropriate for our age group and didn’t sugarcoat anything that happens to people on social media. Other presentations have acted like we had no idea about anything that happens in real life on social media. It was nice to be treated our age.’

He was able to convey his powerful presentation to a variety of ages groups, including parents. Here is what one parent relayed to the school administration of what his daughter shared with him after school,

‘Just thought I’d let you know that the social media assembly that you recently had really hit home with my kids – especially our daughter. She said on our way to dance yesterday, ‘Dad, you and mom made a really good decision not letting us have and [sic] social media accounts. I don’t even want one til I’m in high school.’

Ben’s capability to be authentic made his own personal story hit home with many of the students. One student said, ‘I liked that during his presentation he was very honest about what he did and the mistakes he made. I thought that our grade including myself needed it.’

We highly recommend that you have Mr. Ben Tracy speak to your students, and parents, about the dangers and proper use of social media - you will not be disappointed!”

— Brian Barker, Assistant Principal, St. Lawrence Catholic School (Utica, MI)