Meet Mona Cho

We were lucky to catch up with Mona Cho recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mona, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I was 12 years old when I first witnessed online abuse: someone leaked my friend’s nude images without her consent. I helplessly watched her sink into isolation and shame as her intimate photos spread like wildfire across social media. Feeling disheartened by the lack of awareness surrounding the online abuse that victimized my friend, I discovered my purpose to raise awareness of technology-facilitated gender based violence (TFGBV).

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am focused on advancing my non-profit organization, DOSE (Digital Online Safety & Empowerment) Initiative, where I strive to increase awareness of TFGBV. Through DOSE Initiative, I work to raise awareness about online abuse and technology-facilitated violence, specifically targeting youth and women. I lead a team that hosts workshops, virtual presentations, and creates social media content about key issues, including sextortion, deep fake pornography, and other forms of online abuse. What feels most exciting about what I do is the opportunity to inform individuals about online abuse and its nuances that they were previously unaware of. I have given presentations and seminars to 1,100 people at UN-sponsored conferences, non-profits, and schools, and our online safety educational content has reached over 100,000 people across 35 countries.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Quality: Collaboration
One of the most vital qualities in my journey has been my collaborative nature. Collaboration has opened doors for me to work with not only other nonprofits and NGOs but also schools, health agencies, and tech companies to increase awareness of TFGBV. These partnerships have given me the opportunity to raise awareness of TFGBV to new audiences. My advice would be to be open to working with people from all lines of expertise and embrace a diverse network.
Skill: Storytelling
In 2023, I wrote a blog for PlanUSA calling for people to take action to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (current KOSPA). I shared my experiences with online harms and emphasized the importance of passing the bill. To encourage action, I included an email template so that readers can copy and send to their congressional representatives. What I learned from writing this blog is that emotion plays a significant role in leading change. I received compassionate responses from readers who took the time to email their representatives, and I asked them why they chose to take action from the blog: rather than driven by the specifics or broader implications of the bill, their decision to take political action was largely influenced by the understanding that the online harm I experienced could have been avoided if such legislation had been in place. This personal connection to my story—as opposed to a technical or ideological conviction—was the key factor in their engagement. I learned that storytelling is a powerful tool to make an impact. Stories can not only deliver information but also inspire collective action, foster unity, and drive social change toward a shared cause.
Area of knowledge: diverse perspectives in the field of TFGBV
Having diverse perspectives in the field of TFGBV has enriched my journey. For instance, in January 2024, I hosted a virtual workshop with a women’s empowerment group in Malawi. The workshop participants and I discussed complex topics like the weaponization of artificial intelligence against women and the impact of social media on youth mental health. The profound insights and personal experiences of the workshop participants highlighted the shared experiences of all women as well as the stark differences shaped by cultural and geographic differences. Interacting with people who have different experiences from mine has deepened my understanding of TFGBV and thus enhanced my expertise on the problem. My advice to others would be to deliberately seek out perspectives on issues that are different from yours; it will help equip you to have intersectional understanding and thus drive meaningful change.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed I take breaks because I see it as an indicator from my body to relax. My advice would be to listen to your body and mind in moments of stress.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://doseinitiative.org
• Instagram: dose.initiative
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dose-initiative/?viewAsMember=true