>> HI, EVERYBODY.

TONIGHT, U.S. HEALTH HAS CLOSED DOWN ITS MATERNITY WARD DESPITE DIRE WARNINGS FROM HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

HOW WILL THAT AFFECT THE COMMUNITY?

PLUS, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE 13 IN 2023?

I'’M GOING TO TALK TO A JOURNALIST BEHIND THE "NEW YORK TIMES" PROJECT THAT FOLLOWED ONE YEAR IN THE LIVES OF THREE GIRLS GROWING UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THERE IS NO LONGER ANY INPATIENT MATERNITY CARE IN LEOMINSTER AFTER THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL THERE SHUT DOWN ITS BIRTHING CENTER.

THE CLOSURE CAME AFTER MONTHS OF PROTESTS, BUT THE STATE ULTIMATELY DECLINED TO BLOCK THE MOVE, AND A LAST-DITCH LAWSUIT FILED BY THE CITY WENT NOWHERE.

IN A MESSAGE TO CAREGIVERS, U.S. MEMORIAL HEALTH SAYS IN PART THAT THE DECISION WAS DIFFICULT, BUT IT COMES DOWN TO A SEVERE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AND THE INABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY PROVIDE 24/7 LABOR AND DELIVERY CARE, BUT HEALTH CARE WORKERS FEAR THE MOVE IS PUTTING PATIENTS AND BABIES AT RISK.

I'’M JOINED THIS EVENING BY THE CULTURE OF THE ADVOCACY GROUP COMMUNITY UNITED TO SAVE OUR BIRTHING CENTER ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MATERNAL HEALTH FOR MARCH OF DIMES MASSACHUSETTS.

WE ALSO INVITED UMASS MEMORIAL TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO JOIN US, BUT THEY DECLINED.

I DO SERVE ON THE MARCH OF DIMES OF MASSACHUSETTS BOARD, BUT OF COURSE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FULL FAITH DISCUSSION HERE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

I WANT TO WELCOME YOU LADIES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND BRINGING LIGHT TO THE SITUATION.

>> FOR SURE.

IRENE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART, THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT AND THIS HOSPITAL.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HERE.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> YES, AS THE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN PREPARING TO TAKE AWAY ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS , I REMEMBER QUICKLY WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED IT ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, AND I IMMEDIATELY WAS SICK.

I WAS SICK TO MY STOMACH.

I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE, AND I FEARED FOR THE WORST BECAUSE I REMEMBER DECEMBER 2017, MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS HEALTHY, YOUNG, HAD A PLACENTA ABRASION, AND SHE WAS BROUGHT VIA AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL AND SHE WAS HEMORRHAGING, SO AS SHE IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL, SHE IS HEMORRHAGING, AND THEY HAD TO DO AN EMERGENCY C-SECTION ON HER.

SHE REQUIRED 3 PINTS OF BLOOD TO KEEP HER ALIVE AND MY GRANDSON WAS BORN NOT BREATHING, SO IT REQUIRED A FEW MORE EXPERTS TO BE THERE TO SAVE BOTH OF THEIR LIVES.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS, YOU THINK ABOUT JUST HOW QUICKLY A TRAGEDY CAN HAPPEN.

THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW IS NOT OPEN.

IF SOMEONE LIKE MY DAUGHTER COMES IN RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STABILIZE THEM.

THE EMERGENCY ROOM IS NOT EQUIPPED.

THEY DON'’T HAVE THE PROFESSIONALS OVER THE TRAINING EXPERTISE IN HOW TO SAVE A WOMAN OR BIRTHING PERSON'’S LIFE OR THE CHILD'’S IF THE CHILD IS BORN IN CRISIS AS MY GRANDSON WAS.

>> I KNOW THE MARCH OF DIMES, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR ROLE, HAS BEEN MAKING SURE THERE ARE ACCESS TO BIRTHING CENTERS, PRENATAL POSTPARTUM CARE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHEN ONE OF THESE CENTERS CLOSE, HOW DOES THE MARCH OF DIMES THINK ABOUT TAKING CARE OF WOMEN AND MOTHERS?

>> YEAH, WE BEGAN REPORTING ON THIS CONCEPT OF MATERNITY CARE DESERTS BACK IN 2018.

WE HAVE RELEASED REPORTS EVERY OTHER YEAR SINCE THEN, AND THIS YEAR, WE ACTUALLY RELEASED A SUPPLEMENTAL SERIES OF REPORTS FOR EACH STATE, D.C., AND PUERTO RICO, REALLY DELVING INTO OTHER FACTORS, JUST BEYOND, YOU KNOW, THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF A BIRTHING HOSPITAL OR BIRTH CENTER, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT AVERAGE DISTANCE BASED ON PERSONAL AUTOMOBILE USE OR THE CHRONIC HEALTH BURDEN IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE FACTORS ALSO IMPACT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THESE DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE SITES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE TREND WE HAVE BEEN SEEING EVEN BEFORE 2018, BUT I THINK WAS THE CATALYST FOR STARTING TO RELEASE THESE RESEARCH REPORTS, WAS A TREND AND NOT A GOOD TREND, BUT I TREND OF CLOSURES IN MATERNITY CARE SPECIFICALLY.

WE HAVE SEEN I THINK ABOUT 10 CLOSURES IN MESSAGES OF THE LOAN 10.

ALMOST AN AVERAGE OF ONE PER YEAR, AND THAT FITS WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL, SO EVERY YEAR, WE ARE SEEING NEW COUNTIES EMERGE AS THESE MATERNITY CARE DESERTS WHERE WOMEN AND BIRTHING PERSONS JUST DON'’T HAVE ANYWHERE IN THEIR COUNTY TO GO AND GIVE BIRTH.

SOME FAMILIES IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TRAVELING UP TO TWO HOURS, AND THAT IS IF THEY ARE LUCKY AND IF THERE IS NO TRAFFIC AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CAR.

ALL OF WHICH ARE FACTORS WORTH PAYING ATTENTION TO.

>> I KNOW THAT UMASS MEMORIAL HEALTH HAS SAID THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO GET ACCESS TO CARE AND INVESTING $600,000 IN OTHER PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM CARE AS WELL.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO CLOSE THE GAP HERE?

QUICK SNOW.

ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT UMASS IS THE NUMBER 11 LABOR AND DELIVERY CLOSED IN THE COMMONWEALTH IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

MUST HAVE HAPPENED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THIS IS NUMBER 11.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT IN NORTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS WE HAVE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS ALREADY WITH TRANSPORTATION.

AT THE DPH HEARING, THEY SPOKE ABOUT DOCTORS, NURSES, HOSPITAL STAFF AND ALSO BIRTHING PARENTS OF HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL TO GO TO THE WELL VISITS, AND HOW MANY TIMES THEY WOULD MISS MANY OF THOSE VISITS WHILE THEY ARE PREGNANT BECAUSE TRANSPORTATION, THAT THERE'’S NO ACCESS, AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING ALREADY FROM 30 HOUR 45 MINUTES AWAY TO THE HOSPITAL, WHICH SERVES A POPULATION OF OVER 200,000, AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THEM.

MY FEAR AND MY PAIN IS THAT I KNOW THAT THERE'’S GOING TO BE MANY MORE BIRTHING PEOPLE LIKE MY DAUGHTER, AND THEY WILL PERISH.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE CHILDREN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THERE'’S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TRANSPORTATION.

$600,000?

THAT IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF A PLACE THAT IS ALREADY A TRANSPORTATION DESERT.

THE AMBULANCES ARE ALREADY BURDENED.

THERE IS NO WAY OF GETTING SAFELY BIRTHING PARENTS TO A HOSPITAL ON TIME IF THEY ARE HAVING THEIR BABY NOW.

600,000 DOLLARS IS PROBABLY GOING TO LAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEN IT GOES RIGHT BACK ON THE TAXPAYERS.

THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THOSE ARE COMMUNITY DOLLARS.

MY OTHER QUESTION IS -- WHERE WAS THE COMMISSION FROM THE COMMUNITY INFORMING THE HOSPITAL IN HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE TO SECURE THE LIVES OF OUR BIRTHING PARENTS AND THE FUTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN BEING BIRTHED IN THIS COUNTY?

AND THERE IS NO PLAN AND IT IS INSUFFICIENT.

>> I KNOW THAT MARCH OF DIMES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN TRACKING MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES.

WHEN YOU SEE A BIRTHING CENTER AND ACCESS BECOME A CHALLENGE TO GET INTO A SPACE, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR -- WE KNOW NORTH-CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS IS HEAVILY LATINA -- SO AS WE TALK ABOUT THAT, HOW CAN WE ASSUME THAT IT IS GOING TO AFFECT THAT MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE WHEN WE SEE A BIRTHING CENTER IN A COMMUNITY OR LIKELY THERE ARE FOLKS THAT LOOK LIKE THE FOLKS THAT THEY ARE TREATING THAT GO AWAY?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS BEHIND THESE RISING MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY RATES, BUT I DON'’T THINK IT IS A COINCIDENCE THAT WE ARE SEEING THIS TREND OF SERVICE CLOSURES SPECIFICALLY FOR BIRTHING PERSONS AND WOMEN ALONGSIDE THESE WORSENING OUTCOMES.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE FARTHER A WOMAN TRAVELS TO RECEIVE MATERNITY CARE, THE GREATER THE RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR BOTH HERSELF AND THE BABY.

THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, HEMORRHAGING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER HAVING TO GIVE BIRTH TO THEIR, STILL -- ARE IMPACTED WHEN YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL FURTHER FOR CARE, AND BEYOND THAT, EVEN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL FARTHER AND ALL OF THE BEST PLANNING EFFORTS, THAT REALITY IS STILL QUITE STRESSFUL, AND THAT STRESS OVER TIME ON A PREGNANCY INCREASES YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, INCREASES YOUR RISK FOR ADVERSE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES.

IT IS ALL INTERRELATED, AND IT CAUSES FINANCIAL STRAIN.

A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE HAVING TO THINK ABOUT IF THEY GET A HOTEL ROOM NEAR TO THEIR HOSPITAL THE WEEK OF THEIR DUE DATE, AND IT'’S LUCKY IF THEY MAKE IT TO THEIR DUE DATE BECAUSE OUR PRETERM BIRTH RATES ARE ALSO RISING.

IT IS A VERY COMPLEX SITUATION THAT YOU CAN TRY YOUR VERY BEST TO PLAN FOR, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

>> YEAH.

I KNOW THAT GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY, THERE WAS AN APPEAL LAST MINUTE FOR HER AND HER ADMINISTRATION TO STEP IN, AND INSTEAD, SHE HAS ORDERED THESE REVIEWS OF MATERNAL CARE ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, SPECIFICALLY IN NORTH-CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS AS WELL.

DO YOU THINK THAT WAS A SUFFICIENT ENOUGH RESPONSE?

>> THANK YOU FOR A RESPONSE, BUT I DON'’T THINK IT WAS SUFFICIENT.

IF WE ARE PUTTING BIRTHING PARENTS AND WOMEN AT RISK OF DYING OR LOSING THEIR LIFE -- I GET EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I JUST THINK ABOUT MY SITUATION AND WHAT THAT COULD HAVE AN LIKE TODAY IF MY DAUGHTER HAD GIVEN BIRTH TODAY.

I DON'’T THINK IT IS SUFFICIENT.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR, ESPECIALLY SEEING THAT IN NORTH-CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS, UMASS HAS BEEN TAKING AWAY ESSENTIAL SERVICES SYSTEMATICALLY, RIGHT?

LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, IT IS NOT BY CHANCE, IT IS BY DESIGN.

IT IS PURPOSELY DONE, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IT IS HURTING THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, WHICH ARE THE POOR PEOPLE AND BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES.

ESSENTIAL SERVICES ARE CAUSING THIS GAP IN EQUITY AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DIE BECAUSE THERE'’S NO ACCESS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR -- I'’M GLAD THAT SHE, YOU KNOW, IS DOING SOMETHING, BUT IT'’S NOT ENOUGH.

I THINK SHE GETS TO USE HER EXECUTIVE POWER TO CREATE THAT, AND IT DOES NOT GET TO BE A TREND JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAYS IT IS.

IT DOESN'’T GET TO BE OK, AND I THINK OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND, THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY DOLLARS, OUR COMMUNITY HOSPITALS, AND WE ARE THE ONES THAT GET TO INFORM THEM AS TO WHAT WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ALL THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THEY ARE REMOVING ARE CAUSING HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT'’S WHAT THE GOVERNOR'’S ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND.

IT GETS TO BE A COMMISSION THAT IS GOING TO BE DESIGNED SO THIS DOES NOT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN, AND THEN THESE HOSPITALS, ALL THIS -- GET ALL THIS STABILIZATION FUNDING AND THEN CLOSE ALL THESE HOSPITALS IN AREAS TARGETING BLACK AND BROWN IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT CANNOT DEFEND THEMSELVES, SO THERE'’S STILL MORE TO BE DONE, AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR, SHE RAN ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND PROTECTING THE VOICE OF THE COMMON PERSON.

THAT IS ME.

THAT IS ALL OF US.

>> I KNOW THE MARCH OF DIMES ENDED UP A LITTLE BIT DRUG INTO THIS FIGHT OUTSIDE OF ITS MISSION, BUT THE DATA FROM THE REPORTS AND RESEARCH THAT HAVE BEEN DONE FROM ORGANIZATIONS WERE USED BY UMASS MEMORIAL HEALTH AS PART OF A JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS CLOSURE IN ADDITION TO THE STAFFING SHORTAGES.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE RESPONSE FROM THE ORGANIZATION AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE DATA BE SEEN SPECIFICALLY IN THE LIFE THAT IT WAS MEANT TO -- THE LIGHT THAT IT WAS MEANT TO.

>> I WON'’T LIE, I WAS DISHEARTENED TO HEAR THAT.

THESE REPORTS DO NOT SHOW A POSITIVE TREND.

JUST BECAUSE MASSACHUSETTS IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HIGHER ACCESS TO CARE CURRENTLY THAN ANY OTHER STATE DOES NOT MEAN WE WANT TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

IF I CAN SPEAK BLUNTLY, THE INTENTION OF THESE REPORTS IS TO PREVENT FUTURE CLOSURES, AND IT IS TO HELP INFORM POLICYMAKERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO BETTER IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE.

IT IS MY HOPE THAT IT WILL BE UTILIZED IN THAT WAY MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT BECAUSE OF THE DATA LAG, THESE REPORTS ONLY GO UP UNTIL 2020, AND WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CLOSURES IN MASSACHUSETTS SINCE THEN.

THEY DON'’T PAINT THE MOST ACCURATE LANDSCAPE OF OUR CURRENT STATE OF ACCESS, AND I DON'’T THINK THAT IS APPRECIATED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS EITHER, THAT THERE IS A LAG.

WE SAW SOME FORESEEN AND UNFORESEEN CLOSURES SINCE THEN.

THE BEVERLY BIRTH CENTER, BROCKTON HOSPITALS, AND A FEW OTHERS.

THERE IS A NUANCE TO IT THAT I THINK GETS OVERLOOKED.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND SO MUCH MORE DISCUSSION TO BE HAD.

I KNOW THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER FOR EITHER OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT MOMS AND BIRTHING PERSONS HAVE ACCESS TO PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM CARE, AND THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING ON THAT FRONT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

AT 13 YEARS OLD, YOU COULD NOT HAVE PAID ME TO SHARE MY DIARY WITH ANYONE, LET ALONE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THREE BRAVE TEENAGE GIRLS IN MARYLAND HAVE DONE.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> I'’VE BEEN FEELING GOOD LATELY.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MOM HAS GOTTEN BETTER.

I FEEL LIKE ADULTS TREAT ME A LOT DIFFERENT NOW THAT I HAVE A BOYFRIEND.

>> I WOKE UP TODAY, I PUT ON THESE PANS.

I FEEL LIKE I'’M FEELING MUCH LESS OVERWHELMED THIS WEEK.

QUICKLY MAIN THING I LEARNED IS TO NOT WASTE TOO MUCH TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> AND FINISHING UP MIDDLE SCHOOL IN DENVER, COLORADO, AND THIS IS WHAT BEING 13 IS LIKE FOR US.

>> THROUGH VOICE NOTES, DIARY ENTRIES, AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, THESE GIRLS SHARE AN INSIDE LOOK OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO COME OF AGE IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE PIECE IS CALLED "BEING 13," AND THE JOURNALIST IN ME NOW.

JESSICA BENNETT IS A CONTRIBUTING OPINION EDITOR FOR "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

I UNDERSTAND THIS PROJECT WENT ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR, A LITTLE BIT OVER THAT.

HOW DID YOU GET A 13-YEAR-OLD TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST PRIVATE MOMENTS OR FEELS LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD FOR THEM?

>> I THINK YOU REALLY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

I WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO SHARE MY 13-YEAR-OLD DIARY WITH ANYONE.

IN FACT, I FOUND MY OWN DIARY A FEW YEARS BACK AND TRASHED THEM ALL, WHICH I REGRET, OF COURSE, BUT THESE 13-YEAR-OLDS WERE REALLY BRAVE, REALLY HONEST AND OPEN AND UNFILTERED ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH.

NOT JUST THE GOOD PARTS BUT SOME OF THE MESSY PARTS, TOO, SO IT TOOK TIME, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, THEY REALLY OPENED UP AND SHARED THEIR LIVES WITH US.

>> YOU ARE PROBABLY YOUNGER THAN I AM, BUT CERTAINLY, WE DID NOT HAVE TO GROW UP UNDER THIS BIG LENS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

I THINK THE CLOSEST I PROBABLY HAD WAS MYSPACE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT HAS GOT TO BE A BIG GAME CHANGER HERE.

>> I THINK IT IS AND UNDERLYING ANXIETY.

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON THESE PLATFORMS, THE REASON WE CHOSE 13 IS BECAUSE THAT IS THE AGE THAT YOU ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED, ACCORDING TO THESE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES, TO JOIN THEIR PLATFORMS, BUT FOR GIRLS, IT IS ALSO THE AGE AT WHICH SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE TENDS TO DIP, SO WE WERE INTERESTED IN HOW THOSE THINGS INTERCEPTED.

I REMEMBER BEING 13.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY HARD TIME.

THERE'’S HORMONES, FRIENDSHIPS CHANGING, THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON, AND THEN TO DO IT WITH THE THREAT OF AN AUDIENCE OR THE IDEA OF AN AUDIENCE AT ALL TIMES IS JUST A REAL GAME CHANGER.

>> I KNOW CYBER BULLYING IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND TALK ABOUT.

TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW THESE YOUNG GIRLS NAVIGATE THAT.

>> IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU CAN PUT ALL THE CONTROLS ON YOUR CHILD'’S PHONE.

YOU CAN NOT ALLOW THEM TO JOIN CERTAIN SITES, BUT THE REALITY IS BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS ARE ON THEIR PHONES AND USING THESE SITES, YOU CANNOT REALLY ESCAPE IT.

I THINK THAT PROBABLY THE BEST ADVICE I'’VE HEARD FROM A COMBINATION OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND THE GIRLS THEMSELVES IS REALLY HAVING OPEN CONVERSATIONS.

YOU KNOW, LIKE, UNDERSTANDING AND SPEAKING OPENLY ABOUT THE IDEA THAT NOT EVERYTHING YOU ARE SEEING ONLINE IS REALITY.

THIS IS CURATED, FILTERED.

IF SOMETHING IS MAKING YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT YOURSELF, RECOGNIZING THAT AND ASKING YOURSELF WHAT IT IS AND CONSIDERING PUTTING THAT PHONE DOWN.

>> WHAT KIND OF CHANGE DID YOU SEE IN THESE GIRLS FROM WHEN YOU STARTED THROUGH THE YEAR AS THE PROJECT RACKED UP?

>> THAT WAS JUST SO AMAZING.

YOU DON'’T REALIZE OR MAYBE YOU FORGET THAT 13 -- THEY ARE GOING FROM BEING GIRLS TO TEENAGE YOUNG ADULT WOMEN, SO THE AMOUNT OF MATURITY, THE WAY THAT THEY ARTICULATED THEMSELVES, AND JUST VISIBLY THE WAY THAT THEY CHANGE WAS SO REMARKABLE FROM START TO FINISH.

WE WERE NOT EVEN THINKING NECESSARILY ABOUT THAT WHEN WE CHOSE THIS AGE, BUT TO LOOK AT THE PHOTOS OF THEM FROM THE START OF THE PROJECT COMPARED TO THE END OF THE PROJECT, IT IS LIKE A LITTLE GIRL AND THEN A YOUNG WOMAN.

>> WHAT IF ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU AS YOU WORK FOLLOWING THESE THREE GIRLS?

>> I DIDN'’T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SURPRISING IS JUST HOW SELF-AWARE THEY WERE.

NOT EVERY KID IS GOING TO BE THIS AWARE, AND OF COURSE, WE CHOSE GIRLS THAT WE FELT LIKE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE OPENING UP, BUT EVEN AS THEY WERE USING THESE PLATFORMS AND EVEN AS THEY WERE SCROLLING AND KNOWING THAT THEY WERE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON THEM, THEY WERE ALSO CONSCIOUSLY AWARE THAT SOMETIMES THEY NEEDED TO GO OUTSIDE.

MAYBE THEY NEEDED TO PUT THAT PHONE DOWN.

MAYBE THIS WAS NOT HEALTHY FOR THEM IN SOME WAYS, BUT IT WAS ALSO LIKE THIS COGNITIVE DISSONANCE WHERE THEY COULD NOT QUITE GET OFF, AND YET, THEY KNEW THAT IN SOME WAYS, IT WAS NOT GREAT FOR THEM.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT, I THINK WE HAVE A SOUNDBITE FROM ADDIE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE BEING AWAY FROM HER PHONE.

>> I JUST FEEL LIKE I NEED IT, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT HELPS ME GET THROUGH THE DAY, THE WEEK, A LOT OF STUFF.

I HAVE, LIKE, A VERY CLOSE CONNECTION TO IT.

NOT HAVING IT DOES MAKE ME ANXIOUS BECAUSE YOU REALLY NEVER KNOW.

IT IS LIKE SEPARATION ANXIETY.

>> I KNOW A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.

MY HUSBAND IS ACTUALLY A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, AND IT IS LIKE THESE PHONES ARE LIKE SECURITY BLANKETS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> AND LIKE A FRIEND.

SHE IS DESCRIBING IT AS SEPARATION ANXIETY LIKE IT IS A HUMAN, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF HER CONNECTIONS AND FRIENDSHIPS ARE HAPPENING.

THEY ARE HAPPENING INSIDE THE PHONE.

ONE OF THE PARENTS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT SAID AT ONE POINT, IT IS SUCH A LOVE/HATE, SUCH A GIVE-AND-TAKE BECAUSE THEY FEEL BAD TAKING THE PHONE AWAY OR PREVENTING ACCESS BECAUSE IT IS WHERE SHE FEELS CONNECTED TO HER COMMUNITY AND HER FRIENDS.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT COMPLETELY AFFECTS HER MOOD.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE THINGS?

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PARENTS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADVOCATE.

>> SPEAKING OF PARENTS, WE HEAR FROM THESE YOUNG LADIES THROUGH YOUR PIECE HOW THEY CONNECT WITH THEIR PARENTS.

I'’M THINKING AS A PARENT ON THE OUTSIDE, HOW DO YOU EVEN ENTER THIS WORLD THAT IS ALREADY SO PERILOUS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED THEMSELVES?

>> RIGHT, AND THAT IS A THING, TOO.

IT IS NOT ALL BAD.

THERE ARE COMMUNITIES PEOPLE ARE FINDING, LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS, BUT I THINK IT IS REALLY TRICKY AS AN ADULT BECAUSE THE KIDS KNOW MORE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY THAN YOU DO.

THEY WILL ALWAYS BE THREE STEPS AHEAD.

THEY WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY AROUND IT IF YOU ARE PREVENTING ACCESS.

THAT'’S WHY I REALLY THINK THAT OPEN COMMUNICATION -- AND PROBABLY YOUR HUSBAND CAN SPEAK TO THIS AS A TEENAGER, BUT OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH KIDS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SEEING, HOW IT IS MAKING THEM FEEL, ABOUT WE DON'’T REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING YOU ON THIS PLATFORM AND HERE IS WHY IT IS REALLY ONE STEP FOR A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT RECENTLY AND LOVE THESE HEADLINES IS MAYBE ILLITERACY AND NAVIGATING WHAT KIDS CAN AND CANNOT SEE ONLINE AND HOW THEY USE THEIR CELL PHONES AND WHERE THEY USE THEIR CELL PHONES.

GIVEN ALL THE REFLECTIONS YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PARTICULAR PIECE AND THE PROJECT ITSELF, I MEAN, DO YOU THINK MAYBE ILLITERACY HAS I GUESS A ROLE TO PLAY IN ALL OF THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MAYBE THE BIGGEST ROLE BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO CONTROL EVERYTHING ELSE.

WITH EVERY STORY LIKE THIS, THERE IS ALWAYS A TON OF COMMENTS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.

OFTEN IT IS PEOPLE SAYING JUST TAKE YOUR KID'’S PHONE AWAY, JUST THAN -- JUST BAN THEM FROM THESE PLATFORMS, BUT IT IS NOT SO SIMPLE.

THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT COME OUT OF IT, BUT REALLY UNDERSTANDING THERE'’S A LOT OF FALSE STUFF, AND A LOT OF MISINFORMATION.

THAT PERSON YOU ARE SEEING WHO'’S LIFE LOOKS SO PERFECT AND SO MUCH BETTER THAN YOURS IS REALLY PROBABLY CURATED AND FILTERED, SO UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT NECESSARILY JUST COMPARE YOURSELF TO WHAT YOU ARE SEEING BECAUSE THERE IS A SLICE MAYBE OF REALITY TO IT, BUT IT IS NOT THEIR REALITY.

>> I'’M THINKING ABOUT PEER PRESSURE AND EVEN THAT BEING IN REAL LIFE AND ALSO ONLINE BUT HEARING ABOUT THESE TRENDS WHERE KIDS ARE EVEN DYING AS PART OF THAT.

I WONDER IF YOU COULD SPEAK, TOO, ABOUT HOW THESE GIRLS MANAGE THAT PEER PRESSURE PEACE ONLINE.

>> IT IS POPULAR FOR US IN THE MEDIA TO PICK UP ON THESE TIKTOK TRENDS WHERE, LIKE, ONE BAD THING HAPPENS AND IN SOME WAYS, IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN I WAS A KID AND PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT RAP MUSIC OR KIND OF EVERY GENERATION HAS THIS PANIC, AND, SURE, WE SHOULD TAKE THESE THINGS SERIOUSLY, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT EVERYONE AND THAT THERE ARE HEALTHY WAYS TO ENGAGE ON THESE PLATFORMS.

PART OF THE REASON WHY WE WANTED TO DO THIS PROJECT WAS TO REALLY PUT SOME DEPTH AND FACES OF REAL PEOPLE BEHIND THESE PIECES YOU SEE.

THEY ARE COMING OUT MULTITUDES DAY BY DAY, STUDIES, ADVICE, CONFLICTING DIAGNOSES, LIKE ALL OF THESE THINGS, IT IS HARD FOR PARENTS TO KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE, SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS GIVE A GLIMPSE INTO HOW THIS REALLY DOES PLAY OUT FOR REAL TEENS OVER ONE YEAR OF THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL LIFE.

>> ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS SINCE YOU FOLLOWED THE THREE GIRLS, WILL YOU BE FOLLOWING THREE BOYS AT ALL?

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED THAT AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA.

WE WANT TO FOCUS ON GIRLS FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEIR SELF-ESTEEM TENDS TO DROP RIGHT AROUND THIS AGE, BUT ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS NOT JUST AFFECTING GIRLS.

I THINK BOYS HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIFIC STRUGGLES WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ALL TEENS AND ALL PARENTS ARE FACING THIS, SO I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA.

>> I GUESS IN THE FINAL MINUTE OR SO WE HAVE, WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOLKS TAKE AWAY FROM READING THIS WORK, FROM THE PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR OVER A YEAR NOW?

>> I THINK IT IS COMPLICATED, YOU KNOW?

IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS BANNING ALL PLATFORMS ARE TAKING AWAY YOUR KID'’S PHONE, THAT THERE IS SOME COMPLEXITY TO IT.

REALLY WHAT WE CAN LEARN IS THAT OPEN CONVERSATION IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO GO.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW.

CONGRESSMAN SETH MOULTON JOINS "GREATER BOSTON" ON HIS CALLS FOR A FELLOW DEMOCRAT TO RESIGN OVER BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS AND DONALD TRUMP BASELESSLY ACCUSING AND MILITARY LEADER OF TREASON.

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.