I studied how extremist recruiters target vulnerable teenagers online. I learned the exact psychological tactics used to exploit stress, uncertainty, and identity struggles to pull teens toward dangerous ideologies.
Years later, I became a mother. I watched my own teenager navigate the overwhelming pressures that every parent recognises: exams, social comparison, endless advice from influencers, and the constant stress of trying to figure out who they are while the world tells them what they should be.
I realised that the same psychological vulnerabilities extremists exploit are the same ones that leave teenagers stuck in stress spirals, overwhelmed by misinformation, and powerless to shift how they feel in the moment.
So I created Mesmer. It uses the same psychological and behavioural science principles I studied, but instead of exploiting vulnerability, it protects against it. Instead of adding more noise, it gives teenagers immediate, practical tools that work in the moment and strengthen them for the future.