We’re looking forward to introducing you to S. Raenae Thompson. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning S. Raenae, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
During my non-profit workshop experience on November 5, 2025. It brings me true joy to educate and empower my community of Charlotte, NC on Navigating the Digital World by implementing digital boundaries, building a positive online presence and the true meaning of mental health in the Digital World.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is S. Raenae Thompson, and I am the Executive Director of SociaLight Stars, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals—especially youth and young adults—on the effects of social media trauma and cyberbullying. Also how to effectively navigate social spaces and online platforms with confidence, integrity, and emotional intelligence.
SociaLight Stars was created out of a real need I saw in my community and my own experience of social media trauma from a family member. In a world where social media often shapes identity, self-worth, and behavior, many people are struggling with social anxiety, cyberbullying, and the pressure to perform rather than truly connect. Our organization focuses on education, prevention, and healing through workshops, community conversations, digital wellness training, and programs that address social media trauma, leadership development, and healthy communication.
My own trauma into triumph, pain into a purpose journey as a social media trauma survivor, community builder, entrepreneur, and advocate has shaped the heart of this organization. I believe that true influence isn’t about popularity—it’s about impact. Right now, I’m focused on expanding our non-profit programming, strengthening community partnerships, and continuing to develop initiatives that help individuals shine without shrinking themselves to fit into unhealthy social norms.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the moments that most shaped how I see the world was becoming a victim of social media trauma and cyberbullying from someone within my own family. Experiencing that level of public criticism and cruelty—especially when it was rooted in untrue narratives, my mistakes and amplified by someone else’s desire for attention and popularity—was deeply painful.
It forced me to confront how quickly people can judge, discard empathy, and reduce a human being to a headline or an opinion online. My mistakes were no longer moments for growth; they were weaponized for entertainment and validation. Watching others participate without knowing the truth showed me how dangerous social platforms can be when compassion is replaced by clout.
That experience changed how I move in the world. It made me more intentional about how I speak, how I show up for others, and how I use my voice. It also opened my eyes to the silent emotional damage that cyberbullying causes—damage that often goes unseen because people assume strength means silence.
Most importantly, it reshaped my purpose. It pushed me to create spaces, conversations, and programs that prioritize emotional safety, accountability, and authentic connection over popularity. What was meant to harm me became the lens through which I now work to protect, educate, and empower others
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized my silence was protecting the harm instead of my healing. For 4 years, I carried what I experienced quietly—processing the betrayal, the public humiliation, and the emotional weight of being misrepresented online by someone I trusted. I told myself staying quiet meant staying strong.
But there came a moment when I understood that my pain wasn’t something to be ashamed of—it was proof of survival. I began to see that my experience wasn’t just personal; it was part of a larger issue that so many people endure in silence, especially when cyberbullying comes from familiar spaces and is fueled by the need for popularity and validation.
Using my pain as power didn’t happen overnight. It happened when I chose healing over hiding and purpose over resentment. It also began when I filed cyberstalking charges on the family member and won the court case. Through workshops and speaking engagements, I started speaking openly, building safe spaces, and creating solutions instead of carrying the weight alone. That shift changed everything. What once felt like a wound became a source of clarity, empathy, and leadership—and it continues to fuel the work I do today.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is emotional integrity. At SociaLight Stars, we are intentional about creating spaces where honesty, accountability, and empathy matter more than popularity, performance, or public perception. In today’s culture, it’s easy for cruelty to be masked as confidence and for harm to be excused in the name of influence. I refuse to normalize that.
Protecting emotional integrity means we don’t build platforms that exploit people’s pain, spread unverified narratives, or reward harmful behavior for attention. It means we teach our community how to communicate responsibly, disagree respectfully, and lead with compassion—even when it’s uncomfortable.
I guard this value fiercely because I’ve seen what happens when it’s absent. When emotional integrity is lost, trust erodes, people are dehumanized, and real harm is done. Our culture at SociaLight Stars is rooted in the belief that influence should heal, not harm—and that how we treat people when no one is applauding matters just as much as what we accomplish publicly.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I’ve learned deeply that visibility without care can be just as harmful as invisibility. Most people assume that being seen—online or in leadership—automatically equals success, confidence, or protection. But from my experience as Executive Director of SociaLight Stars, I understand that exposure without emotional safety can cause real, lasting damage.
I’ve seen how quickly narratives can be shaped, how mistakes can be magnified, and how people are reduced to moments instead of understood as humans. Many don’t realize that behind curated content and public confidence are individuals carrying unprocessed pain, fear, and pressure to perform. Popularity often disguises harm, and silence is frequently mistaken for strength.
What I understand deeply is that healing, leadership, and influence require intention. They require boundaries, accountability, and spaces where people can be honest without being punished for it. Real impact isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room—it’s about creating environments where people feel safe enough to grow, learn, and be fully seen without being torn down.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.socialightstars.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialightstars/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/socialightstars
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SociaLightStars
Image Credits
Living By Proof Photography
