A few months before my son's passing in December 2022, I was able to uncover all of the social media he was using. What I found was devastating and shocking – people, content and platforms on his phone that I never knew existed but had become part of his daily life. Social media had captured his attention and replaced everything for him. It was now his family, friend, teacher, love and entertainment. It filled all the boxes.

Jack was my only child, my everything, and my life was dedicated to him. I cherished every moment we spent together – from walks at the wildlife sanctuary to coaching his middle school basketball team, going to movies, hosting sleepovers on weekends, taking water park getaways, volunteering at Happily Ever After walking dogs, and driving Jack and his friends to dances. These memories now feel like treasures from a different life.

Jack Dyer McDonough, who was 18 when he died, was a real person with hopes and dreams for the future, and Jack's life mattered to me and many others. He was a son, grandson, brother, nephew, great-nephew and friend to many. Jack was a gifted artist, a violin player, an athlete, a hunter and an angler. He also enjoyed playing video games, listening to music and working on cars with his friends and stepfather.

Looking back, giving Jack a cell phone and an Xbox was the beginning of the end. At the time, I thought I was being a good mother, providing for my child. I believed the cell phone would be a device for communication with friends and family, or for emergencies. The Xbox would be a gaming device for games I purchased and approved. Neither of........

© USA TODAY