MTD Youth Fellow, Maddie Freeman, named among Forbes’ “30 Under 30” 2025 list
Maddie Freeman at our “Attention: The Kids Are All Right” September conference, dedicated to keeping kids safe online. Maddie was one of our panelists in a discussion on digital well-being and mental health.
DEC. 5, 2024 — The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy is proud to announce that our Youth Fellow Maddie Freeman, a prominent advocate for digital well-being and the driving force behind the NoSo (No Social Media) November movement, has been named one of Forbes’ "30 Under 30” 2025 list. This recognition underscores Maddie’s impactful contributions to fostering mindful social media use and empowering young people in an increasingly digital world.
She has recently joined the Centre to lead a national digital literacy campaign designed to equip Canadian youth, parents, and educators with tools to navigate the complexities of the online environment. Her work comes at a critical juncture, as countries like Australia implement bans on social media for children under 16. In Canada, Quebec's government has announced plans to explore the implementation of a minimum age limit for social media use, with discussions set to resume after the holidays.
Maddie first gained prominence with NoSo November, a grassroots initiative encouraging young people to disconnect from social media for at least a month to foster healthier relationships with technology. Her ability to connect authentically with her generation has inspired thousands and sparked a global conversation about the role of social media in our lives.
“Supporting young people who are growing up in an increasingly digital world is core to what drives me. In the lens of wellbeing, teens need to find balance with addictive technologies; mindfulness practices and meaningful breaks can drastically enhance their ability to cope with daily stressors. I’m incredibly grateful and excited to be working with the Centre to make this vision a reality for Canadian youth as we expand our successful efforts from the States, “ says Maddie.
The Centre’s national digital literacy campaign, led by Maddie, aims to fill a critical gap in education, focusing on media literacy and online safety. At a time when misinformation, online harms, and mental health concerns dominate global headlines, her work is critical in fostering education-based solutions to these pressing issues.
Our youth fellow Maddie Freeman has been named one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 for the impact she’s made on youth mental health with her campaign NoSo (No Social Media) November.
Maddie Freeman and representatives from the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy are available for interviews to discuss this recognition, our digital literacy campaign, and more generally youth and social media.
To read Maddie’s profile on Forbes’ website, click here.
Media Contact:
Isabelle Corriveau
Senior Manager, Public Outreach and Communications, Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy
isabelle.corriveau2@mcgill.ca
