Our Why

"On October 17, 2021, our beloved Braden took his own life. He was happy, healthy, and headed for the stars. That dreary Sunday, Braden was hanging out, playing Xbox with his friends, and enjoying the success of a football game well played the night prior. He was contacted by an individual on social media, posing as a high-school girl down the road. The individual sent Braden lewd photos and requested the same in return. After receiving photos from Braden, the ‘high-school girl' revealed themselves as an online predator. They demanded $1,800 and threatened to release his photos to friends, family, and the community despite Braden’s pleas. 27 minutes after initial contact with the predator, Braden took his own life." - Jennifer Markus, Braden's Mother.

Braden’s tragic story highlights the danger of sextortion, the act of using explicit images of a kid to blackmail them for money. The FBI has issued a warning that this threat is on the rise as more than 19 kids are targeted across the US per day and countless suicides have been linked directly to it. 

It's never been more important to educate yourself and your kids about this danger and the steps you can take to prevent it. 

Fueled by their desire to keep Braden’s legacy alive and protect other families from experiencing the life-altering effects of sextortion, the Braden Markus Foundation has partnered with Cyber Dive, the pioneer in building a safe smartphone for kids. 

Cyber Dive has created the Aqua One smartphone, the first fully functional Android phone for kids with unlimited monitoring access for parents. Able to monitor every app in the Google Play store (over 7,000 apps), the Aqua One smartphone is changing how parents navigate the digital world by giving them the ability to see every action their kid takes on the phone.

For every purchase made below, Cyber Dive will donate to the Braden Markus Foundation, continuing to spread light on Braden's story and aim to prevent similar turmoil across the United States. 

Parents can now trade the anxiety of giving their kid a smartphone for peace of mind that comes with the Aqua One’s unlimited monitoring access. 

(Pictured: Jennifer Markus and Cyber Dive Co-Founders Derek Jackson and Jeff Gottfurcht)