About this episode
<p><strong>Social media turned child abuse into a competitive sport. Munchausen by proxy expert Andrea Dunlop is here to explain how it works and why it's growing.</strong></p><p><strong>Full show notes and resources can be found here: </strong><a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/1312" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>jordanharbinger.com/1312</strong></a></p><p><strong>What We Discuss with Andrea Dunlop:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Munchausen by proxy abuse is when a caregiver — usually a mother — fabricates, exaggerates, or induces illness in a child for emotional gratification, attention, and control.</strong> It's not a delusion or a bad parenting moment — it's calculated, premeditated, and persistent abuse that can include unnecessary surgeries, poisoning, and starvation.</li><li><strong>Social media has supercharged this abuse by giving perpetrators an unlimited audience for sympathy, an online playbook for faking illnesses, and access to rare disease communities they can infiltrate.</strong> Support groups, GoFundMe campaigns, and medical blogs become tools for manipulation — turning the attention economy into a weapon against children.</li><li><strong>The system meant to protect kids often fails them — there's no official designation for Munchausen by proxy in most states, CPS may miscategorize it as "medical neglect," and perpetrators routinely cross state lines to dodge investigations.</strong> Child abuse records don't reliably follow offenders, giving them a clean slate with every move.</li><li><strong>When the abuser is someone you love, the psychological cost of confronting the truth is so high that many people build elaborate alternate realities rather than face it.</strong> Family members, doctors, and community members often choose their own comfort over a child's safety — and perpetrators exploit that reluctance masterfully.</li><li><strong>Trust your instincts — if something feels off about a child's medical situation, don't ignore it. Learning to recognize the red flags — like constant one-upmanship about a child's illness, doctor shopping, or a parent discussing death when no terminal diagnosis exists — can literally save a life. Awareness isn't paranoia; it's protection.</strong></li><li>And much more...</li></ul><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1344999619?mt=2&ls=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Like this show? Please leave us a review here</strong></a><strong> — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!</strong></p><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1344999619?mt=2&ls=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here</strong></a><strong> — even one sentence helps! </strong></p><ul><li><strong>Sign up for </strong><a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Six-Minute Networking</strong></a><strong> — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at </strong><a href="https://jordanharbinger.com/course" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>jordanharbinger.com/course</strong></a><strong>!</strong></li><li><strong>Subscribe to our once-a-week </strong><a href="https://www.jordanharbinger.com/news/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Wee Bit Wiser</em></strong></a><strong> newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!</strong></li><li><strong>Do you even Reddit, bro? </strong><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/JordanHarbinger/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Join us at r/JordanHarbinger</strong></a><strong>!</strong></li></ul><p><strong>This Episode Is Brought To You By </strong><a href="https://www.jordanharbinger.com/deals/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Our Fine Sponsors</strong></a><strong>: </strong></p><ul><li><strong>Booking.com: </strong><a href="https://booking.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Book your getaway now with booking.com</strong></a></li><li><strong>Lufthansa Allegris: </strong><a href="https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/discover-lufthansa/allegris" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Go to Lufthansa.com and search for "Allegris" to learn more</strong></a></li><li><strong>BetterHelp: </strong><a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/jordan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>10% off first month: betterhelp.com/jordan</strong></a></li><li><strong>Boll & Branch: </strong><a href="https://www.bollandbranch.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>15% off first set of sheets: bollandbranch.com, code JORDAN</strong></a></li></ul><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>