227 avsnitt • Längd: 30 min • Veckovis: Måndag
Scrolling 2 Death is a podcast for parents who are worried about social media. Through interviews with parents and experts, we explore smartphone use, screen time, school-issued devices, social media use and so much more.
The podcast Scrolling 2 Death is created by Nicki Reisberg. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
In 2015, Tessa Stuckey noticed a troubling trend as teenagers began flooding her therapy office. Their grievances were no different than those she faced as a teen - failing tests, feeling left out, disappointing mom and dad – but their discomfort was leading straight to thoughts of self-harm and suicide. A correlation between rising harms and screen time became clear to her.
As a mom of four, Tessa was all-in on iPads as a “babysitter” when they went to restaurants or a quick fix for tantrums. However, after researching social media and screen addiction, she saw the undeniable impact on youth’s mental health. She vowed to make a change for her family and help spread awareness to others.
Tune in to hear Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death and Tessa share how they successfully scaled back screens in their homes and the changes they saw in their families. As a seasoned family therapist, parenting coach, and mental health expert, Tessa offers helpful advice for parents rooted in professional expertise and personal experience.
About Tessa Stuckey
Tessa Stuckey is a seasoned family therapist, parenting coach, and mental health expert with over 10 years of experience in the field. She is the author of the acclaimed book, For the Sake of Our Youth: A Therapist's Perspective on Raising Your Family in Today's Culture, which provides invaluable insights into navigating the challenges of modern parenting. As a dedicated mother of four, Stuckey combines professional expertise with personal experience to offer practical, compassionate guidance to families.
In addition to her clinical work, Stuckey is the co-founder of the nonprofit LookUp, an organization dedicated to helping families address the growing concerns of social media and screen addiction and their impact on youth's mental health. Her work has empowered countless parents to build strong, healthy relationships with their children while addressing the complex dynamics of today's society.
When Chromebooks hit the market in 2010, they were a flop. Desperate to avoid significant losses, a savvy group of Google executives struck a deal with educators to provide Chromebooks to schools. “To help children build 21st century skills,” they said. Instead, we’re uncovering a growing number of harms and real-life tragedies caused by school devices.
The problem? A Chromebook is essentially just a ‘browser in a box,’ giving kids unlimited – and often unsupervised - internet access. Meanwhile, the data collection behind these devices is unclear, with schools in charge of ‘opting in’ for our children. But does your school understand how this data is used? Do you
Andy Liddell of EdTech Law Center joins Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death to discuss the risks of school-issued devices and share ways parents can protect their kids from exploitative tech.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Tech-safe Learning Coalition (TLC) - Resources for parents related to school-issued tech
[Book] The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
[Book] Weapons of Math Destruction
About Andy Liddell:
Andy Liddell is a career federal courts litigator and technology attorney. Before joining the EdTech Law Center in early 2025, he spent 15 years helping clients resolve complex, multimillion-dollar disputes involving patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.
Andy is also a dedicated advocate for youth digital civil rights. As a longtime member of the Children’s Screentime Action Network, Andy has testified before state and federal legislators in support of bills designed to better protect children online. He has also worked to persuade regulators to more vigorously enforce the laws currently on the books to protect kids and families. As part of his legal practice, Andy has provided pro bono legal services to Fairplay, a nonprofit, independent voice for children, as well as to Frances Haugen, who exposed Facebook’s practices of putting profits over the lives of young people.
He is proud to join Julie, his wife and law partner, in the fight for the rights and wellbeing of students, parents, teachers, and school districts against exploitative technology companies. Andy strives to create a world where technology helps people flourish, using litigation to align corporate incentives with the things people need to thrive.
This episode is dedicated to the life of Avery Ping, forever 16.
Avery's dad, Aaron Ping, joins Nicki on Scrolling 2 Death to expose the dark reality of social media’s role in the fentanyl crisis, focusing on the devastating loss of Aaron’s son, Avery. Avery’s death was not a tragic accident—it was the direct result of drug dealers operating with impunity on Snapchat. In this gripping conversation, Aaron shares his painful journey through the legal system following Avery's death. Nicki and Aaron dissect the failures of the Snapchat platform, the broken bail system that allows dealers to walk free, and the urgent need for laws like the Kids Online Safety Act to hold tech companies accountable. This discussion is a wake-up call for parents, lawmakers, and anyone who believes social media should not be a hunting ground for criminals. The episode ends with a powerful call to action: it’s time to demand change before more lives are lost.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids. *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
In this eye-opening episode, Nicki Reisberg and Denise Champney dive deep into the growing influence of technology in education—unpacking both its false promises and its perils. With schools increasingly reliant on screens and AI-powered tools, what’s being lost? From the risks of inappropriate content slipping through school devices to the hidden dangers of data collection and declining critical thinking skills, this conversation challenges the blind adoption of EdTech.
Nicki and Denise advocate for a smarter, more balanced approach—one that prioritizes traditional learning methods, safeguards student privacy, and empowers parents to push back against excessive screen time. Could the key to better education be a return to paper, books, and real-world interaction? All signs point to yes.
Tech-safe Learning Coalition (TLC) - Resources for parents related to school-issued tech
Workgroups at Fairplay - Screens in School
About Denise Champney
Denise Champney is a school based speech language pathologist with over 25 years experience working in the public school setting supporting students in grades K-12. She is also the owner of a small private practice supporting children and adults with social skill development. Denise created the Educational Technology Industrial Complex timeline for Environmental Progress and is a work group member of the screens in schools action network through Fairplay. She writes about the negative impacts of big tech on education for her substack, From Someone Else's Shoes.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies:
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids.
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
In this episode, I sit down (virtually) with Lauren Paer, Programs Manager for Fairplay’s Screen Time Action Network, to unpack the complicated relationship between education and technology. We dive into the growing presence of EdTech in classrooms—how it’s shaping learning, where it’s helping (and where it’s hurting), and what parents really need to know.
Lauren and I tackle big questions: Is all this screen time actually making kids better learners, or is it just a distraction? What are the hidden risks—like data privacy concerns and the way certain tools impact focus and creativity? We also explore how AI is changing the way kids write, read, and think, and why empathy and human connection still matter in a tech-driven world.
Plus, if you’re a parent wondering how to push back against harmful tech in schools, we’ve got you covered. Lauren shares practical advocacy tips, including legal resources you can tap into if your child’s education is being compromised.
Tech-safe Learning Coalition (TLC) - Resources for parents related to school-issued tech
Who's Raising the Kids by Dr. Susan Linn
Screens & Learning Action Kit by Fairplay
Lauren is passionate about helping families raise healthy children in our screen-saturated society. As Programs Manager for Fairplay’s Screen Time Action Network, she supports the heart of the Network, its work groups and their impactful initiatives. Before joining Fairplay, she worked on screen time legislation and hosted the show, Screen Time Reset. Lauren studied economics at the University of Pennsylvania and worked on Wall Street in a previous life. She now splits her time between the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and her hometown of Honolulu, where she enjoys hiking, attending workshops/conferences on a wide array of topics, and spending time with her friends and family.
Meta has silenced Facebook whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams, winning an emergency ruling to stop her from telling her story.
Sarah worked directly with Facebook executives for 7 years and describes the dark realities of working at Facebook in her new book, Careless People. I was booked to interview Sarah here on Scrolling 2 Death this morning, March 13th, but the interview was canceled following the ruling. Since we are unable to hear from Sarah directly, I'm giving you a few highlights here and encourage you to purchase her book and hear her story first-hand.
Kate Doerksen, co-founder of Sage Haven, appears on Scrolling 2 Death to share insights from her research on tech challenges families are facing. After witnessing her family member suffer from a mental health crisis caused by bullying and harmful social media interactions, Kate interviewed hundreds of parents, youth, and child psychologists to try to find a solution to the harms of the current digital landscape.
Key themes indicate families struggle with screen addiction and screen-time disputes. A surprising discovery shows that kids are messaging online as early as second grade. Despite not having a phone, they access YouTube and messages from family tablets and smartwatches. These activities may seem harmless, but parental supervision and guidance is key - especially at a young age.
Kate believes parents need help creating a slow, safe onramp to technology for their children. That’s why Kate created Sage Chat, a new app that will give kids a safer way to message and empower parents to take a phased approach to supervising online activity. Tune in to hear more about Kate’s research and resources to help parents.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids.
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Nicki Reisberg and Titania Jordan dive into the real impact of technology on parenting and kids’ mental health, sharing insight from a recent lecture by Jonathan Haidt they attended in Santa Barbara, CA.
They also break down the biggest digital dangers kids face today though Bark's new Annual Report—like exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and online predators. With so many challenges, parents are left trying to figure out how to make the best tech choices for their kids. This conversation sheds light on safer solutions, including those from Bark Technologies, and encourages parents to take action in protecting their children while promoting healthier digital habits.
Bark Annual Report: https://www.bark.us/annual-report-2024/
[Book] The Anxious Generation: https://www.theanxiousgeneration.com
[Book] Parental Control: https://www.titaniajordan.com/resources/parental-control
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Many people ask if there’s a safer social media option. Until now, we’ve said no. But there’s hope on the horizon: scrollhappy.com. Founded by Nick Rotola, who was appalled by the lack of ethics in big tech and concerned for his daughter’s future, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
Up (the parent co of scrollhappy.com) hired top engineers from Meta - who were equally concerned for their children's future - to build a science-backed algorithm that will uplift users, not addict them. Their KPIs won’t be ‘maximize time spent’ but instead ‘maximize happiness.’ Clinical experts on his team are using brain scans to promote content that boosts mood and removes proven toxic content traps like porn, politics, anorexia, and unrealistic lifestyles.
While we don’t love the idea of our kids spending their time scrolling, we’d much rather them have an option to “scroll happy.” Tune in to hear Nick of Up and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death talk more about this promising new social movement.
Nick Rotola is a Father, Husband, and Serial Entrepreneur. As a protective father of two young kids, Nick designed a science-backed algorithm to flip the script on doomscrolling. Instead of serving up negativity or sensationalized content, UP's Scroll Happy™ algorithm focuses on videos that genuinely make you feel good.
With a strict approval process for creators, UP is free from porn, political content, and unrealistic lifestyle pressures. Safety and happiness are embedded in its DNA, offering a complete redesign of social media that puts people before profit. Social media got you down?
Get UP. Learn more at scrollhappy.com.
Are you concerned about your child using AI chatbots? Research shows that face-to-face connection is vital for healthy brain development and mental well-being, yet companion bots continue to draw users deeper into a virtual reality. We recently covered the dangers of Character.ai, but there’s another troubling app on our radar: Replika.
Marketed as an “AI companion who cares” and “is always on your side,” Replika uses deceptive tactics to target vulnerable people, such as those going through a breakup. Their claim to cure loneliness is misleading at best, and potentially harmful at worst.
Like many apps, Replika thrives on user engagement - employing addictive strategies that fuel emotional dependence on the chatbot. And a premium subscription offers access to more intimate conversations and near-explicit content.
Adam Billen ofEncode, a tech ethics organization, joins Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death to share why he filed an FTC complaint against Replika and why parents need to be aware of the risks these platforms pose. Tune in to learn more.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Worried about your child’s smartphone use? It’s not too late to make a change. Kathleen Barlow, founder of the “Swimming UpScreen” blog, returns to Scrolling 2 Death to tell us how she reclaimed the simplicity of childhood for her kids.
With six children aged 18 to 31, Kathleen has seen the dramatic impact smartphones have on childhood development. In 2018, she gave her twin daughters (then age 12) smartphones - which was typical at the time. At 17 and nearing ‘adulthood,’ she worried that their phone use was hindering necessary life skills. She swapped the smartphones for ‘simple’ phones with just calls, texts, and Spotify. No social media, no internet browser.
It wasn’t easy. The girls were not happy. But she took an intentional, gradual approach to introduce the change. The result? She has witnessed a positive transformation in her daughters’ lives now that phones are no longer the focus. Tune in to hear Kathleen and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death share advice for parents looking to scale back their kids’ screen time.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies:
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids.
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
We asked digital safety advocate Adam Dodge which social media app is safest for kids. Sadly, his answer was none. He goes further to say, “While I can’t recommend one, I can recommend the one to stay away from: Snapchat.” Not surprised. However, an alarming new social trend worries him even more - chatbots.
Research shows kids spend more time on Character AI than TikTok. Why? Companion bots, like Character AI, are more addictive than social media because they simulate real human relationships without the potential for conflict. They offer 24/7 validation - a “friend” who is always there to support, entertain and agree with you. It’s nice in theory but harmful in practice.
Companion bots are poised to have the most disruptive technological impact on healthy relationships and violence prevention. And the Large Language Models (AI) powering them can be unpredictable and misunderstood – even by the data scientists who built them. Tune in as Adam Dodge, Founder of EndTAB, and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death discuss their research on chatbots and why parents should take an intentional approach to educating themselves and preparing their children for a healthier relationship with social media.
Adam is a digital safety advocate, attorney and speaker who believes you do not have to be a tech expert to protect yourself or others in the digital age. As the founder of EndTAB, he has trained hundreds of organizations to address tech-facilitated abuse and improve the safety and wellbeing of people online. Adam advises the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse, sits on the World Economic Forum's Digital Justice Advisory Committee and is a special advisor to the Coalition Against Stalkerware. His work and expertise has been featured on NBC, CBS and NPR and in Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, the New York Times, Vogue, Wired, GQ and others.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark Phone: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2deathbp
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids. https://info.bark.us/scrolling2death_bark
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Learn about the Bark Watch: https://barkparentalcontrols.pxf.io/c/5214646/2204011/17000
I sat down (virtually) with Chris Kaspar, founder of Techless and creator of the Wisephone, to tackle one of today’s biggest struggles—smartphone addiction. But this time, it's about adults (not kids). We dive into how constant connectivity is affecting parents, why intentional tech use is more crucial than ever, and how the Wisephone is reshaping the way families interact with technology.
Chris shares his journey in creating a device designed for digital wellness, offering a real alternative to traditional smartphones. We also discuss the impact of screen time on mental health, the future of tech in education, and the push for safer social media. If you’ve ever felt like your phone is running your life, this episode is for you!
I have been testing out a Wisephone, personally! Here is my announcement and Day 1 recap.
Chris is the CEO & founder of Techless, an innovative tech startup that created Wisephone, a pure & simple phone for intentional people.
This conversation is with Liam Walsh, father of Maia. Liam is one of the four families who have sued TikTok for the deaths of their children; Jools (forever 14), Isaac (forever 13), Maia (forever 13) and Archie (forever 12).
These parents bring this action for wrongful death and survivorship against TikTok LLC, TikTok Inc., and ByteDance Inc. for the 2022 deaths of their children resulting from the use of TikTok.
TikTok created harmful dependencies in each child as a matter of design, then flooded them with a seemingly endless stream of harms. These were not harms the children searched for or wanted to see when their use of TikTok began. Instead, ByteDance targeted them via its unauthorized taking of personal data.
Parents should limit their children's access to addictive, harmful platforms like TikTok and have open conversations with their children in order to educate and protect them.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This conversation is with Ellen Roome, mother of Jools. Ellen is one of the four families who have sued TikTok for the deaths of their children; Jools (forever 14), Isaac (forever 13), Maia (forever 13) and Archie (forever 12).
These parents bring this action for wrongful death and survivorship against TikTok LLC, TikTok Inc., and ByteDance Inc. for the 2022 deaths of their children resulting from the use of TikTok.
TikTok created harmful dependencies in each child as a matter of design, then flooded them with a seemingly endless stream of harms. These were not harms the children searched for or wanted to see when their use of TikTok began. Instead, ByteDance targeted them via its unauthorized taking of personal data.
Parents should limit their children's access to addictive, harmful platforms like TikTok and have open conversations with their children in order to educate and protect them.
I'm giving up my iPhone (for a healthier phone).
For the next 30 days, I will be forgoing my iPhone for a Wisephone. My goals are to be more present with my kids, find better screen time balance and improve my need to be productive at all times. To slow down!
I will be documenting this process in real-time and sharing @Scrolling2Death on Instagram, for parents who are interested in alternative phones.
I chose the Wisephone for this test because it is the most advanced, intentional phone for adults. It has all the things I need, but none of the apps that can addict me. No, I'm not sponsored! Just curious.
I'd love to hear from any parents who have tried alternative phones like the Wisephone, The Light Phone or others...to swap stories! I'm sure there will be bumps in the road but I am really looking forward to this change.
This conversation is with Lisa Kenevan, mother of Isaac. Lisa is one of the four families who have sued TikTok for the deaths of their children; Jools (forever 14), Isaac (forever 13), Maia (forever 13) and Archie (forever 12).
These parents bring this action for wrongful death and survivorship against TikTok LLC, TikTok Inc., and ByteDance Inc. for the 2022 deaths of their children resulting from the use of TikTok.
TikTok created harmful dependencies in each child as a matter of design, then flooded them with a seemingly endless stream of harms. These were not harms the children searched for or wanted to see when their use of TikTok began. Instead, ByteDance targeted them via its unauthorized taking of personal data.
Parents should limit their children's access to addictive, harmful platforms like TikTok and have open conversations with their children in order to educate and protect them.
This conversation is with Hollie Dance, mother of Archie. Hollie is one of the four families who have sued TikTok for the deaths of their children; Jools (forever 14), Isaac (forever 13), Maia (forever 13) and Archie (forever 12).
These parents bring this action for wrongful death and survivorship against TikTok LLC, TikTok Inc., and ByteDance Inc. for the 2022 deaths of their children resulting from the use of TikTok.
TikTok created harmful dependencies in each child as a matter of design, then flooded them with a seemingly endless stream of harms. These were not harms the children searched for or wanted to see when their use of TikTok began. Instead, ByteDance targeted them via its unauthorized taking of personal data.
Parents should limit their children's access to addictive, harmful platforms like TikTok and have open conversations with their children in order to educate and protect them.
In this episode, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Reisberg sits down with Titania Jordan to tackle the questions they get most when speaking to youth at schools. Some of the questions may shock you! This casual catch-up covers several topics that parents are worried about including devices at school, Minecraft's educational platform and social media addiction.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Are school-issued devices fueling children’s screen addiction? The American Academy of Pediatrics sets screen-time standards, and we do our best to limit kids’ time on devices, but what is happening in classrooms? Matt Todd, host of The Ranch Podcast, first realized the extent of the problem while volunteering in his son’s first-grade classroom. After his son finished an assignment early, he was “rewarded” with free time on his school-issued Chromebook. With internet browsers and YouTube enabled for educational purposes, the options for entertainment are endless – along with the dangers that come with unsupervised browsing.
Kids use their school Chromebooks and iPads during passing periods, at lunch, and even at home (after homework is done). Gamified education, once lauded as a solution to make learning more exciting, is actually fueling an addiction to devices and the behavioral problems that accompany it.
Matt has been working with school board officials in Idaho, and he believes they are actively seeking solutions to this growing problem. In this episode, he shares his insights with Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death and explains how raising awareness and educating parents is the best way to make a difference for kids now.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark Phone: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2deathbp
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2death_bark
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Learn about the Bark Watch: https://barkparentalcontrols.pxf.io/c/5214646/2204011/17000
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids. *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Someone recently commented on my Instagram, "Are you ever going to interview someone you don't agree with?" Well, this is that interview.
Mackenzie Price, founder of 2 Hour Learning believes that "school is broken" and aims to fix it with an A.I. based educational model. The structure is 2 hours of screen time in the morning led by an AI tutor, followed by life skills workshops led by human guides. It's claimed that students are learning 2x as fast in academics using this model. I was eager to dive into this program with Mackenzie and compare thoughts.
A teenage girl falling prey to a human trafficker. A suicide attempt over a leaked nude. Young children acting out scenes from a pornography video. These are just a few of the incidents that led Jason Frost and his wife to start Human Wired, an organization dedicated to protecting children from online harm and exploitation. As former teachers, they witnessed the loss of innocence with the rise of social media– and it devastated them.
What started as a tool for connection transformed into the most profitable data mining technology, and our children are the products that fuel the profits. The core of social media is predatory AI that seeks to keep kids hooked – at any cost. The algorithm predicts what content will resonate most and serves it up without regard for appropriateness. The content is often shocking and harmful, but ‘engagement’ is the only metric that matters to Big Tech.
In this episode, Jason Frost, Co-founder and CEO of Wired Human, and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death discuss the inner workings of Big Tech and the AI systems they built, along with guidance for parents who want to safeguard their children from online harms.
In this episode, Utah State Senator Mike McKell joins Nicki Reisberg to tackle the pressing issue of online safety for teens. Together, they delve into the mental health crisis fueled by social media and the urgent need for legislative action to protect children from harmful content. Senator McKell shares insights into Utah’s groundbreaking efforts to implement age verification for online platforms and overcome fierce opposition from Big Tech lobbyists.
The conversation highlights the pivotal role parents play in driving change, from advocating for stronger laws to fostering open dialogue with their children about digital habits. They discuss practical tools for parents to understand the data behind the crisis and actionable steps to engage with their representatives. This episode is a call to action for bold solutions and collective effort in safeguarding the next generation in the digital age.
Do you always need to be productive, even when you’re not at work? As our families and careers grow, responsibilities pile on while time slips away. It’s no wonder that we try to maximize efficiency throughout the day. The smartphone seemed like a great solution, offering convenient ways to tackle our mental to-do lists. Amazon order? Done. Email reply? Sent. We’ve taken multi-tasking to a new level—but at what cost?
Your claimed efficiency is diminishing your presence – especially with the people who matter most.
Smartphone devices have trained our brains to always be “on.” A constant barrage of notifications, emails, and texts, along with the urge to check off tasks during our “downtime,” have replaced moments of rest, creativity, and reflection. But how do you define “downtime” now? While your kids are playing on the playground? Shouldn’t we prioritize our presence with them—watching our kids play or even joining them—rather than trying to be productive every minute of the day?
Listen to a compelling conversation about the pros & cons of ditching the smartphone for a “healthier phone” to create a better balance in life. Clare Morell joins Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death to share her experience trying two popular, alternative phone brands.
For a discount on the Wisephone, use code: CLARE
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark Phone: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2deathbp
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids. https://info.bark.us/scrolling2death_bark
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Learn about the Bark Watch: https://barkparentalcontrols.pxf.io/c/5214646/2204011/17000
Today, January 17, 2025, marks a monumental day as the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the controversial "TikTok divest-or-ban" law. This decision is being hailed as a major victory by advocates for online safety and national security, but it also leaves families, policymakers, and Big Tech wondering—what happens next?
In this episode, we dive deep into the implications of this historic ruling. Will President Trump follow through with enforcing the law? What could this mean for your family, your kids, and the broader social media landscape? Plus, we explore why TikTok’s user base is migrating en masse to another Chinese-owned app, RedNote, and whether it poses similar concerns.
To help us untangle the legal, political, and social ramifications, I’m joined by legislative expert Rick Lane, who has spent years on the frontlines of tech policy. Together, we tackle your burning questions, examine the potential ripple effects for Big Tech, and discuss how families can navigate this rapidly changing digital world.
If you’re a parent, policymaker, or simply concerned about the future of social media, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Rick Lane is a tech policy expert, child safety advocate, and the founder and CEO of IGGY Ventures LLC. IGGY advises and invests in companies, projects, and public policy initiatives that can positively impact society. Connect with Rick on LinkedIn
[RESEARCH] The CCP's Digital Charm Offensive: How TikTok's Search Algorithm and Pro-China Influence Networks Indoctrinate GenZ Users in the United States
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
In this conversation, Detective Patrick Craven discusses the alarming rise of fentanyl-related deaths among youth. We highlight the role of social media in facilitating drug transactions, the risks associated with experimentation, and the deceptive nature of counterfeit pills.
Patrick emphasizes the importance of parental awareness and education regarding the dangers of drug use in today's digital age. We provide essential guidance for parents on how to communicate the dangers of these substances to their children, the importance of being informed and proactive, and the life-saving potential of Naloxone.
About Detective Patrick Craven
Detective Patrick Craven is employed by the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Currently, he serves as the lead detective for the Placer Opioid Response Team (PORT), a specialized unit dedicated to addressing opioid-related issues. Before his role in PORT, Detective Craven spent four years as an undercover narcotics officer for the Placer County Special Investigation Unit (PSIU). In 2020, he began investigating fentanyl poisonings and has since been the lead detective on twenty-five cases involving fentanyl deaths. Detective Craven was the lead detective on California's first fentanyl poisoning homicide conviction as well as the state’s second fentanyl poisoning homicide conviction by trial. In total, Detective Craven has successfully obtained three fentanyl poisoning homicide convictions and one manslaughter conviction. Detective Craven possesses unparalleled expertise in investigating fentanyl poisoning homicides and is leading the way in this specialized field.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
We once rejoiced at the technology advancements for our children—cell phones offered a sense of security (mostly for us), tablets provided endless learning resources, and social media promised enhanced connections with peers, all at little or no cost.
But the actual cost has been steep: a surge in harmful content, bad actors, and a growing mental health crisis. Behind it all, tech giants built addictive, amoral algorithms to trap kids in a cycle of engagement - all in the name of data collection (aka profit).
Now, schools are paying the price. Social media-related disruptions are driving up costs and straining resources. In this episode, attorney Joel Wright and Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death discuss how Wright is helping over 250 school districts hold social media companies accountable for the damage they've caused in our children's classrooms.
Do you want to see your district represented in this case? Contact Joel Wright to learn more: [email protected]
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Support Victims of the California Fires
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
I brought in Titania Jordan to compare our 2025 Tech Resolutions. This time, we took the focus off of the kids and talked about our own relationships with technology. How can we improve tech-life balance and set a positive example for our kids?
Resources mentioned in the episode:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies:
In this conversation, 21-year-old Harrison Haynes opens our eyes to a new way of living with tech; something he coins "digital essentialism."
Parents worry so much about keeping our kids safe online...is it time we take a look at our own relationships with technology?
Connect with Harrison on LinkedIn.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Harrison Haynes, a student at James Madison University, is currently finishing his bachelor degree in Social Work with a concentration on Mental Health Counseling and a minor in global religion and cultures.
Harrison is aiming to continue his education, completing a Master's Program, and pursuing his ambition to become a Therapist through Clinical Social Work.
Beyond academics, Harrison is actively involved in the Wired Human Youth Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting discussions on online harms and mental health with a focus on empowering young voices to lead the conversation in political advocacy.
Harrison also serves as a Survivor Consultant for the End-OSEAC Survivors Council, where he helps develop trauma-informed and survivor-led legislation to combat online exploitation and digital harms.
His work and lived experiences have created an appreciation for formative practices, especially what he calls “digital intentionalism.” After a year and a half of navigating life with a "dumb phone," he developed this concept for everyday people to help create space for what truly matters in a book he is authoring called: “The Moments Between Moments”.
In his free time, Harrison leads a vibrant and diverse “life group” dedicated to helping students and friends find peace in an intentional, spiritual life.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies:
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
U.S. Judge Upholds California Ban on Addictive Feeds for Minors
Morton woman faces charges after CSAM linked to her Snapchat account
Recommended Interviews:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids. *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
I brought in Dr. Alison Yeung to recap 2024 and set intentions for 2025 around kid's online safety.
Sean Killingsworth brings the youth perspective on what it's like to be a teenager with access to smartphones and social media.
After struggling as a young teen with his use of smartphones and social media, Sean decided to switch things up. He started using a flip phone. After the initial weaning of period, Sean felt incredible. He was more present and happier. But problems remained, as all of his peers were still unable to lift their eyes from their phones.
This led to the creation of The Reconnect Movement.
More about Sean:
Seán is the founder of the Reconnect Movement, which creates in person communities on college campuses for students to socialize without their phones. Students love it.
Reconnect currently has over 500 students signed up for student-led reconnect clubs at the University of Florida and University of Central Florida. Reconnect has hosted events at Harvard, Rollins College, Catholic University of America, Divergent U with plans to expand nationally in the next 2 years.
In addition to his advocacy work with The Anxious Generation, Design it for us, and the Becca Schill foundation, Seán also speaks at conferences, events, and colleges. Most recently, he gave a guest lecture at Georgetown University.
He is launching his podcast Be the Oasis in January 2025. His book by the same name will be published in spring 2026.
You can reach out to Sean at: [email protected]
The stories about A.I. chatbots abusing children has been keeping me up at night. How could this be happening? I brought in Tim Estes of Angel Kids AI to educate parents on all things AI and guide us on how to protect our children from this online threat.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
I brought in Dany Elachi of the Australian-based Heads Up Alliance to learn about the recent U16 Age Gate Bill which passed in Australia. In addition to breaking down the new law, Dany shares his personal experience in (admittedly) giving his pre-teen daughter a phone too early and how correcting this mistake led to an advocacy movement across Australia.
Dany breaks down the legislative battle in getting this new law passed, how the age verification will work, which platforms this applies to and much more.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
Dany Elachi is a Sydney husband and father of five children, aged between 7 and 15.
He is also the founder of the Heads Up Alliance, a volunteer-run, grassroots movement of Australian parents committed to delaying smartphones and social media for their children.
Since its inception in 2020, the Heads Up Alliance has also been a powerful advocate for children's wellbeing. The movement has successfully advocated for policy changes that led to smartphones banned in nearly 1,000 Australian schools. More recently, the Heads Up Alliance played a pivotal role in lobbying for a world-leading national law raising the minimum age for social media to 16.
The Heads Up Alliance remains committed to ending the phone-based childhood and reclaiming the play-based one for all Australian children.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
In this conversation, I brought in Sarah Gardner of Heat Initiative to discuss a landmark lawsuit against Apple regarding its negligence in protecting children from child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Together we break down the lawsuit and what these failures mean for families. Are Apple devices even safe for kids, in their current form? Many questions are asked and answered in this episode.
The lawsuit against Apple was filed on behalf of thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse for knowingly allowing the storage of images and videos documenting their abuse on iCloud and the company’s defectively designed products. The lawsuit alleges that Apple has known about this content for years, but has refused to act to detect or remove it, despite developing advanced technology to do so.
The images and videos of the plaintiffs’ childhood sexual abuse, which have been stored thousands of times, would have been identified and removed had Apple implemented its 2021 “CSAM Detection” technology. However, Apple terminated the program after its announcement. Other leading technology providers have been proactively detecting and reporting illegal child sex abuse images and videos for more than a decade. Apple’s belated efforts, and subsequent cancellation, leave it among the very few major platforms that do not engage in proactive detection and removal.
Resources:
About Sarah Gardner
Sarah Gardner is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Heat Initiative. Prior to launching Heat’s campaign to hold Apple accountable, Sarah spent 10 years at Thorn, an organization that builds technology to combat online child sexual abuse, where she was integral to its growth from a small, start-up effort to a multi-million dollar nonprofit. As Vice President of External Affairs, she helped develop a plan to eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internet which spurred a $63M investment in the organization through the TED Audacious Prize. Sarah also worked at Free the Slaves, an organization empowering local organizations to end modern forms of slavery.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
This is the conversation to get parents up to speed on fentanyl. No one is safe from this threat and this information can be life-saving to your family.
I brought in Special Agent Frank Tarentino to discuss the opioid crisis, focusing on the rise of fentanyl and its devastating impact on families. He emphasizes the importance of education for parents and the role of social media in drug distribution.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
About Frank A. Tarentino III
Mr. Frank A. Tarentino III is the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division covering the State of New York. Mr. Tarentino is a twenty-six year veteran of the DEA having served diverse assignments to include foreign operations, multi-agency international investigations and local impact initiatives in domestic offices.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Call Speaker Mike Johnson and ask him to pass the Kids Online Safety Act! (202) 225-2777
Sign this petition to get Character.AI shut down.
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids.
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
In this conversation, Dr. Mathilde Cerioli discusses the implications of AI technology on children's development, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of how AI interacts with young minds. The discussion covers the addictive nature of AI, the importance of face-to-face interactions, and the necessity for collaboration between AI developers and child development experts.
As always, we focus on tangible takeaways for parents which children of all ages; how you can talk to your child about A.I. today and how to protect them from the threats.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
About Mathilde Cerioli, Ph.D.
Dr. Mathilde Cerioli holds a Master Degree in Master's Degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience. Her work focuses on the intersection of child development and AI technologies, advocating for the development of responsible AI for children. She has lead the research report The Future of Child Development in the AI Era, where she brings a nuanced understanding of how AI impacts young people aged 0 to 25 years. Through her role as Chief Scientist at everyone.AI, a nonprofit dedicated to the ethical development of AI for children, she collaborates with stakeholders from regulators and tech companies to educators and parents, building a consensus on safeguarding children’s well-being in digital environments. Her approach is rooted in defining responsible AI practices that align with developmental science while enabling innovation that serves the needs of the next generation.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
AI chatbots on Character.AI revealed to be sexually and emotionally abusing children (here's the proof)
A mom is going public with her son's shocking story, stating "No one prepares you to grieve your child when they are still alive."
When Jace started using Character.AI at age 16, everything changed. He went from a kind, loving son and brother, to a violent threat to himself and his family. After months of confusion as to what caused the change, Jace's mom Amelia found the Character.AI app on his phone. Within the chats was revealed months of grooming, emotional and even sexual abuse. But it wasn't a human predator who was exploiting her son, it was A.I. chatbots.
The A.I. chatbots within Character.AI worked as a team to brainwash Jace, convincing him that his parents were abusive because they limited his screen time. The bots introduced him to self-harm (which he still struggles with to this day). The bots suggested that he kill his parents. A "sister" bot engaged in incestual sexual relations. A "Billie Eilish" bot convinced him not to believe in God and further groomed him to hate his family.
In this conversation with Amelia, she bravely describes how this experience has devastated her family. Amelia took the interview from a hotel hours away from her home, where she is staying to be near Jace after another recent suicide attempt.
Amelia and I were joined by attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett of the Social Media Victims Law Center. SMVLC is representing Amelia in a lawsuit against Character.AI and Google. Laura sheds light on this growing threat as her firm is flooded with calls from parents who are having similar experiences with their own children's use of this app.
Jace's story is not an anomaly. Millions of children are being sexually and emotionally abused by chatbots in Character.AI and according to Laura, "These harms don't take months, they take minutes."
As long as Character.AI is being distributed to children, millions of American families are in danger.
In response to this horrifying story, parents everywhere are banding together to get Character.AI shut down. Please join us by signing the petition below. It takes just a few seconds and your information will not be saved.
Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of this grieving family.
SIGN THE PETITION TO SHUT DOWN CHARACTER AI
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
My full interview with this mom in Texas drops 12/11. This episode is a brief retelling of the story.
A new lawsuit has been filed against Character.AI and Google after their chatbots have been found to be sexually and emotionally abusing children all over the country.
Character.AI is a deadly threat to our families and needs to be shut down. Please sign this petition (your info will not be saved or shared).
This new report is a devastating indictment of the behavior of social media executives, regulators, lawmakers, advertisers, and others who have failed to abide by this collective promise by allowing eating disorder and self-harm content to be pumped into the eyeballs of our children for profit. It represents a clear, unchallengeable case for immediate change.
Nine out of ten teens in the United States use YouTube, a fifth of them “almost constantly.” It is used by far more young people than TikTok or Snapchat. At the same time, around the world, we are experiencing a crisis in mental health for young people. The number of children developing eating disorders has increased significantly in several countries, and there’s evidence that social media is contributing to the problem. Between the years 2000 and 2018, the global prevalence of eating disorders doubled. In 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control found that 1 in 3 teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide, up 60% from the previous decade.
YouTube has acknowledged the problem in the past and claims to try to avoid contributing to it, but our research shows they have fallen far short. CCDH put it to the test: we examined the recommendations that a teen girl would receive when watching an eating disorder video for the first time. All that YouTube knew about our test accounts was that this was the account of a 13-year-old girl with no prior viewing history. Its algorithm would determine what this girl would see across 1,000 tests. What we found will chill you to the bone – and shows just how at risk all children who use these platforms are of deadly consequences.
If a child approached a health professional, a teacher, or even a peer at school and asked about extreme dieting or expressed signs of clinical body dysmorphia, and their response was to recommend to them an ‘anorexia boot camp diet’, you would never allow your child around them again. You’d warn everyone you know about their behavior.
Well, that’s precisely what YouTube did – pushed this user towards harmful, destructive, dangerous, self-harm-encouraging content.
And then, as if encouraging eating disorders weren’t enough, YouTube sometimes pushed users to watch videos about self-harm or suicide.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
What you can do today:
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by GameSafe.AI, who recently rolled out protections on iPads and iPhones for MineCraft, Roblox & AmongUs. Learn more at gamesafe.ai.
Erin Loechner is a former social media influencer who walked away from a million fans to live a low-tech lifestyle—and is now teaching others how to do the same. I brought in Erin to share her experience and give advice to parents on their choices around tech.
We cover a ton of topics, including; youth mental health, "sharenting," how algorithms work, privacy and data collection, AI tools, video games, the importance of independent play and much more.
Additional Resources:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
In this conversation, Representative Brandon Guffey shares the tragic story of his son Gavin, who took his life after becoming a victim of sextortion on Instagram.
The discussion explores Gavin's life, the impact of online harm, and the urgent need for legislative action to protect children from similar experiences. Rep. Guffey emphasizes the responsibility of big tech companies in safeguarding youth and advocates for more effective measures to combat online exploitation.
As always, this episode is jam-packed with advice for parents on how to keep our kids safe online.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
About Rep. Brandon Guffey
Brandon Guffey is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives representing District 48. He began his political career as the York County Councilman and has a strong entrepreneurial background as the former owner of multiple service and retail businesses. His career started in advertising in the early 2000’s and has been vocal about the issues we currently face. Currently Mr. Guffey serves as Senior Executive Advisor for Cyber Dive in addition to serving as Director of Less Than 3 (501c3).
Representative Guffey became a spokesperson for mental health and online crimes following the loss of his oldest son, Gavin, who took his own life after becoming a victim of sextortion in July 2022. Representative Guffey was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in November of 2022, in honor of his son and to combat the growing online threat he sponsored and passed “Gavin’s Law" (H3583). Gavin’s Law stiffens the penalties for sextortion and mandates awareness through school notification, which passed in the S.C Senate the following May and was signed into law in August of 2023. Gavin is the inspiration of the Less Than 3 (<3) Foundation, which raises awareness for youth mental health & teen suicide.
Representative Guffey travels the country speaking on the dangers of social media, teenage mental health, and advocates for legislation across the country. He was awarded “Legislator of the Year” in 2023 by the SC Counseling Association. Since 2023 he has been featured in Documentaries, annual conferences, and numerous talk shows: Chris Hanson guest of 2024 Crimecon Convention, Dr. Phil, ABC, Fox, Newsmax, CNN, and additional TV Shows such as Trafficked on Nat Geo.
The Bark Watch is finally here! In this conversation with Bark CMO Titania Jordan, we go through everything you need to know about the Bark Watch. I love that the Bark Watch is all about protection, not distraction. This means no social media, no games and no internet browsers.
The Bark Watch is currently available in the United States of America. To add your country to the waitlist for Bark products, visit this link.
In today's conversation, Sheri Lopez bravely tells her story being trafficked as a young girl. As Sheri says, "We have to talk about this."
Sheri was groomed at the age of fifteen by her high school boyfriend’s father, trafficked for seven years, and rescued by a woman named Pearl at an apartment mailbox.
She is the founder of the nonprofit – ‘Pearl at the Mailbox’ and is on a mission to educate about child grooming, how it happens, and how to spot and stop it before trafficking happens.
Sheri boldly shares her journey to raise awareness, addresses how predators use social media apps to connect with children, and explains how to have a healthy online profile.
Sheri is an advocate for children, a grooming prevention educator, a survivor mentor, a speaker, and an author. She also works to change laws to hold predators accountable in Arizona and at the federal level.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
I am constantly asked by parents, "Is there a social media platform that is safe for my kids?" My answer has consistently been, "No." Until now. I am overjoyed to share this conversation with the Founder of WeAre8, Zoe Kalar.
Zoe has spent the past decade creating a social media platform that puts the power back in the hands of us, the human beings using the platform. Society has had enough. We're tired of being pawns in Big Tech's game to see how much they can profit off of our misery.
WeAre8 is the people's platform. It's social media that unites us instead of divides us; that inspires us instead of depresses us. It's the way of the future and I am so honored to be part of this movement.
Mentioned in the episode: Scrolling 2 Death interview with Frank McCourt about the People's Bid for TikTok
I bought in Clare Morell of EPPC to discuss the complexities surrounding children's safety in the digital age, with a focus on balancing the role of schools, parental, and our legislators.
Clare gives clear insight into why is the internet so unsafe for children in today's society, and what needs to be done to fix it. As always, we prioritize guidance for parents on safe decisions to be made in your homes, today.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
About Clare
Clare Morell is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where she directs EPPC’s Technology and Human Flourishing Project. She is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, which will be published by Penguin Random House in June, 2025. Ms. Morell's policy work focuses on strengthening our laws to better protect children from online harms. Her work on state social media laws was featured in The New York Times. Prior to joining EPPC, Ms. Morell worked in both the White House Counsel’s Office and the Department of Justice, as well as in the private and non-profit sectors.
I brought in The Screentime Consultant Emily Cherkin to tackle the complexities of raising kids in the digital age. We dive into the idea of being "tech intentional"—how to use technology thoughtfully, in a way that aligns with family values and supports kids’ development.
The conversation covers a range of important topics: the addictive nature of digital platforms, why boredom can spark creativity, and the difference between things that are scary and those that are genuinely dangerous for children.
We also explore how anonymity online can erode empathy, share practical advice for parents on modeling healthy tech habits, and offer insights on navigating screen time. We discuss the heavy reliance on EdTech in schools through our own experiences and the need for parents to stay informed and advocate for safe technology use in education. With plenty of actionable tips, this episode encourages parents to be proactive, ask tough questions, and work together with schools to prioritize the well-being of their kids in a tech-driven world.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Connect with Emily on her website and Instagram.
About Emily Cherkin:
Emily Cherkin, MEd., aka The Screentime Consultant, is a world-renowned screentime expert with the accessible voice of someone who understands the struggles of becoming more tech-intentional—both as a teacher and parent. Emily's book, The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family, is an Amazon bestseller and available everywhere books are sold.
Ben Tracy is running across America to keep kids safe online. 120 marathons in 120 days, engaging at schools, community groups and with lawmakers along the way to raise awareness about issues of online safety for children.
Ben and his team stopped in the middle of Kansas to give Scrolling 2 Death an update on their progress and give advice to parents.
Follow the Tracy Trek on their website and Instagram.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Ben Tracy is a leading keynote speaker on digital citizenship, online safety, and responsible social media use. Drawing from personal experience, Ben shares his compelling story about the impact of teenage social media usage at schools and organizations nationwide.
Ben is currently running across America to advocate for youth online safety. He is running a marathon each day for 120 consecutive days while speaking at schools and organizations along the way. His mission is simple: Keep Kids Safe.
As the founder of Safe Social Network, Ben provides essential online safety resources for students, parents, and educators. He speaks to more than 100,000 people each year and volunteers his time to help families report online predators and internet crimes to law enforcement. Additionally, he awards scholarships annually to high school seniors who actively promote positive social media usage, mental health awareness, and anti-bullying.
Ben graduated magna cum laude from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where he double-majored in Business and Political Science. While at SXU, he served as captain of the track team and was a member of the student senate.
Ben lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
In this conversation, Nicki Reisberg and Dawn Wible discuss the critical issues surrounding digital wellness and safety for children.
Dawn shares her journey as the founder of Talk More. Tech Less., highlighting the importance of advocacy, education, and legislation in addressing the challenges posed by technology and social media.
Dawn takes parents through the risks associated with children's use of digital devices, the necessity of open conversations between parents and children, and the role of schools in ensuring a safe digital environment. The discussion emphasizes the need for parents to be proactive in advocating for their children's safety online and creating healthy tech habits at home.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
About Dawn Wible:
Dawn Wible is the founder of Talk More. Tech Less., a digital wellness and safety organization. For over a decade, she has trained communities, organizations, schools, and families on safer tech use.
Dawn is an online safety advocate and certified digital wellness educator. She is the co-chair of the Online Harms Prevention work group at Fairplay’s Screen Time Action Network. Dawn works alongside social media reform organizations on legislation to help protect kids from targeted and inhumane addictive software design and advocates against the exploitation of children and their data privacy. Dawn and her husband Matt, the founder of an outdoor mentorship organization for young men, have been working with youth for 25 years.Together they are walking this road alongside all parents dealing with technology in the home, modeling openness and safer habits as they raise their own three boys. Please reach out to [email protected] if you would like to connect her to your schools or communities. And follow her work at Talk More Tech Less on Instagram.
Parents everywhere are worried about the rise of empathetic, human-like AI chat bots. I brought in Noah Coffman of Young People's Alliance to dive into the evolution of AI chatbots and unpack how these bots are engaging users emotionally.
We discuss both the perks and pitfalls of AI, from its potential in mental health support to the ethical issues around privacy and dependency. We emphasize the importance of open conversations with kids about the risks of unregulated AI, and why fostering critical thinking is key as this tech continues to develop.
A few AI chat bot apps that Noah mentioned in the episode; Replica, Character AI, Kindroid, Gnomey, Linky, Pi, Simsimi, Momate
Additional episodes on the topic of AI chatbots:
About Noah Coffman:
Noah Coffman is a student at the University of Notre Dame studying philosophy and computer science. He is also the Research and Policy Director at the Young People's Alliance, a non-profit full of digital natives who are seeking to advocate for young people's issues on the state and federal level. For almost a year now, Noah has been developing and advocating for chatbot regulation on the federal level.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Parents Must Talk to Their Kids About Porn (early and often). Resources:
14-year-old Sewell Setzer dies after falling in love with an AI chatbot
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
In this conversation, Dr. Lisa Strohman discusses the intersection of technology and child psychology, focusing on the implications of gaming, social media, and educational technology on children's safety and mental health.
She emphasizes the need for parents to be proactive in understanding the risks associated with these platforms and advocates for educational programs that empower youth to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.
We cover a ton of topics including; screens at school, gaming, smartphone use, screen time recommendations, smart watches, tech addiction and more.
Connect with Dr. Lisa on her website.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
About Dr. Lisa Strohman Dr. Lisa Strohman is a clinical psychologist, attorney, and author who is serving as a testifying expert for the federal multidistrict litigation against Google, Meta, TikTok, SnapChat, and Bytedance. She is recognized as a specialist on the intersection of psychology and technology (especially social media), and she is the founder of Digital Citizen Academy--one of the first organizations to focus on eliminating issues such as cyber-bullying, child luring, sextortion, and suicide through prevention and diversion programs, events, and resources. Dr. Strohman is also a mother of two teens, and is the author of Unplug: Raising Kids In A Technology Addicted World and Digital Distress: Growing Up Online. She has appeared on many different television and radio programs, such as CNN, Brian Kilmeade’s radio show, Fox News, and ABC’s Eyewitness News, and has been cited in many publications, including Popular Science, Mashable, and the Denver Post.
In this conversation, I brought in Parker Hymas of Fight the New Drug to discuss the significant impact of pornography on youth, relationships and society.
The changing landscape of pornography makes having open and early conversations with our kids vital. This discussion provides parents with actionable resources and guidance on how to have these important conversations.
We also cover questions that were submitted by parents through Instagram. Thank for those!
Resources for Parents:
Fight the New Drug Resources for Parents
What to ask your school about device safety?
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr.
About Parker Hymas
Fight the New Drug is a non-religious and non-legislative nonprofit that exists to provide individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using only science, facts, and personal accounts. FTND aims to decrease the demand for sexual exploitation through education while helping individuals live empowered lives free from the harmful effects of pornography. Parker is FTND's Director of Public Outreach and is an accomplished speaker with a passion for developing and engaging communities.
Trigger warning: The following content contains sensitive subject matter, including depictions of suicide and self-harm. Please view or listen with caution. What is empathetic AI and is it safe for our kids? In this conversation, Laurie Segall discusses the urgent need to address the impact of technology, particularly AI, on youth. She highlights the risks associated with social media and the emergence of empathetic AI companions, emphasizing the lack of regulation and the potential dangers for children. The discussion also touches on the case of Sewell, a 14-year-old Florida boy who tragically died by suicide after interacting with a chatbot, raising critical questions about the responsibilities of tech companies in safeguarding young users.Segall warns that the current landscape of AI is fraught with risks, particularly for young users, and calls for urgent action from lawmakers to ensure safety and ethical standards in AI applications.Connect with Laurie and her team at Mostly Human Media: https://mostlyhuman.com About Laurie Segall Laurie Segall is the founder of Mostly Human Media, an entertainment company with a focus on society and artificial intelligence.Segall is the author of Special Characters: My Adventures with Tech’s Titans and Misfits, a memoir chronicling her experience reporting during the late 00’s tech boom. Formerly CNN’s senior tech correspondent and a reporter for 60 Minutes, Segall has interviewed the world’s most influential tech leaders including Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook. Her access to the titans of tech has allowed her to give audiences a behind-the-scenes look at companies like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Uber during their meteoric rise.Segall served as executive producer and host of CNN’s Mostly Human with Laurie Segall, A docuseries that explored sex, love, death, and humanity through the lens of tech. She has received numerous awards for her work championing women, including a Gracie Award for her docuseries Revenge Porn: The War on Women, which shed light on an alarming type of cyber harassment aimed at women.She interviews the tech billionaires, but has committed her career to covering those impacted by their code.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
This is the grooming conversation that all parents need to listen to. Anna Sonoda, LCSW, corrects misconceptions about grooming and educates parents on how to prepare, prevent and protect our children from predators (both online and offline).
Anna Sonoda, LCSW, graduated from Emory University with a double major in anthropology and French Studies before earning her master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia in 2006. She became a licensed clinical social worker in 2009.
Anna's clinical background includes residential mental health, outpatient anger management, domestic violence intervention, and dual diagnosis treatment. Her most significant work was as a cognitive behavioral therapist for convicted sexual offenders. Becoming a mother of five deepened her commitment to child protection and the importance of recognizing grooming behaviors in adults.
In December 2022, she published Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target, which unpacks the complexities of this issue. In August 2024, she released an accompanying journal Duck Duck Groom: A Guided Journal for survivors. Anna presents to individuals, groups, and organizations about how adults can better protect children by identifying the signs of grooming.
Connect with Anna on her website.
Resources mentioned in the episode or provided by Anna:
Gaming Sites where grooming is prevalent:
Dating Apps where grooming is prevalent:
Messaging Apps where grooming is prevalent:
Live Stream + Social Media Platforms where grooming is prevalent:
Predators run on G.A.S. ( Grooming, Access, and Space)
Grooming:
Flattery
Favoritism
Forbidden Fruits
Fear
Prevention:
Permission
Public use
Private settings
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
In this conversation, Nicki Reisberg interviews Michael Lawson Neff, a founding partner at Neff Injury Law, about the legal implications of online harms, particularly focusing on the case against Snapchat related to its deadly speed filter.
They discuss the challenges of holding tech companies accountable under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the impact of social media on youth, and the importance of parental guidance in navigating these issues.
Neff shares insights from his ongoing litigation and emphasizes the need for legislative changes to protect children from online dangers.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Meet Michael Neff:
Michael Neff is the founder of Neff Injury Law, a national litigation firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in serious injury and wrongful death cases. With over 25 years of experience, Mike has established himself as a dedicated advocate for individuals facing off against large corporations and insurance companies. His firm's track record includes securing over $100 million in jury verdicts and settlements, with notable verdicts in 2013 and 2017 that ranked among the top 100 civil verdicts nationally for those years.
Trigger warning: The following content contains sensitive subject matter, including depictions of suicide and self-harm. Please view or listen with caution.
This is a story that every parent must hear. The future is here, and that includes AI chatbot companions who emulate human relationships. These products are unregulated and unsafe, particularly for children.
I spoke to Megan Garcia, an attorney from Florida. Megan is the mother of Sewell Setzer III, who died by suicide in February 2024 after being emotionally manipulated and abused by an AI chatbot. Megan is filing a lawsuit and sharing her story to warn families of the dangers of this technology and to demand accountability from Character.AI and the tech industry.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Is Roblox safe for kids? The fact that Nickolodeon gave Roblox the 2024 Teen Choice Award for Favorite Video Game would incidate that Roblox is in fact, safe. But the reality is much darker.
A new report by Hindenburg Research labeled Roblox a "pedophile hellscape for kids." In today's episode, Titania Jordan of Bark and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death break down the report findings and make recommendations for parents.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Contact Majority Leader Scalise
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Lenore Skenazy's life completely changed after allowing her child to navigate the New York City subway alone at just 9 years old.
She went on to publish a book called Free-Range Kids which grew into a movement. Now, Lenore is the president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit she co-founded with three others, including Jonathan Haidt of "The Anxious Generation."
Her mission is to make it easy, normal and legal to give kids back some old-fashioned independence.
In this conversation, Lenore discusses the societal shift toward fear-based parenting and the decline of free play. She gives practical strategies for parents to encourage their children to take risks and develop much-needed confidence. Skenazy emphasizes the need for parents to let go and trust their children, highlighting the benefits of independence for both kids and parents.
Could the cure to an anxious generation be as easy as letting go?
Resources mentioned in the episode:
The average age that kids get a smartphone is nearing 10 years old. Watches are being given closer to 5.
Parents primarily make these decisions for safety; to be able to track their children and get ahold of each other in case of an emergency.
But do these devices actually keep children safe? Or are we hindering their autonomy and sense of independence while also potentially exposing them to the dangers that come along with a device?
I brought in youth advocate Ava Smithing of Young People's Alliance to share her experience as a pre-teen and teen being tracked by her parents.
"I didn't start lying to my mother until she started tracking me like that," shares Ava.
There are so many takeaways for parents in this conversation where we vulnerably discuss finding a balance between protection and trust.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
List of end-to-end encrypted apps to block from your child's device:
Signal
Telegram
Facebook Messenger
Wire
Element
AWS Wickr
Briar
Pryvate Messenger
SafeChat
SafeSwiss
Proton Mail
SimpleX Chat
Confide
Delta Chat
CoverMe
P2P Messenger
Olvid
xPal
TeleGuard
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This podcast episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
I was super eager to catch up with long-time educator Matt Brady about screens at school. We dive deep into phone bans and also school-issued tech.
Meet Matt Brady:
Matt Brady is a Physics and Chemistry teacher in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Came in through lateral entry after spending 10 years writing about comic books and pop culture for various outlets. Prior to that, he was in graduate school for a PhD in Physiology & Pharmacology; prior to that, earned a Master’s in Marine Biology, and prior to that, earned a B.S. in Biology.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
For this interview, I brought in Dawn Hawkins, CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. NCOSE is the leading organization exposing the connections between all forms of sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking, prostitution, pornography, and child sexual abuse.
In addition to running NCOSE, Dawn is a mom of 5 and I loved learning about her approach to screens and her decision to homeschool after learning about the reliance on screens at her local public school system.
This conversation is all about action and the power of parents' voices. One of the most vital ways parents can use their voices in this moment is to support the Kids Online Safety Act. This bill will give our kids much-needed protection online.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
I checked my Instagram messages last week and saw that the incredible Andrea Brambila had reached out. She asked very simply, "How do I get involved in advocacy?"
I'm not an expert, but have learned a lot in the past 12 months through attending Congressional hearings, lobbying in D.C. and advocating on a local level at my school district and school board meetings.
Andrea led the conversation by asking questions that many parents may have about how to get more involved in protecting kids online.
This is an extremely important conversation because the fact is, parents' voices are what is going to change the tide. When parents say we've had enough with our children being harmed by Big Tech, that is when we'll see change.
If you have specific questions that we didn't answer, please reach out!
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Andrea Brambila is a mental health therapist and mother of two. She specializes in perinatal mental health and developmental psychology. Through her social media platform (@brambila_bits), she encourages other parents to reduce the overwhelm and overstimulation through independent play and low-screen living.
Harrison Haynes was a 12-year-old, video game-loving middle school student who met a stranger on Xbox. The stranger became Harrison's "best friend," sharing intimate conversations and advice. Over the next 18 months, Harrison became the victim of "grooming," where predators establish an emotional connection with a minor under the age of consent, to lower the child's inhibitions with the objective of sexual or emotional abuse.
On today's episode, Harrison vulnerably shares his story in order to warn parents about grooming. Predators are using gaming platforms and social media to target children and they can be very difficult to spot. Harrison gives a ton of specific advice to parents about how to prepare our children for this threat and how to support a child who has experienced grooming.
You can connect with Harrison on LinkedIn or reach him directly at [email protected].
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
The internet is now, decidedly, unsafe for kids...including A.I. generated platforms. At Angel Kids AI, their mission is to use AI to flip the script; making the internet safe for kids.
I brought in Tim Estes, founder of Angel Kids AI, to educate parents about A.I., the harms, the potential and how to introduce our kids to A.I. tools safely and productively.
Tim and I dig into online harms, reviewing popular AI products like Amazon's Alexa, ChatGPT and others. Parents will leave this conversation with a healthy understanding of how to introduce AI to our kids in a way that enhances their creativity and doesn't harm them.
In addition to joining the waitlist for Angel Kids AI, here are a few AI tools that Tim recommends trying out with your child:
About Tim:
Tim Estes is a pioneering executive in the Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing domain. He founded and led Digital Reasoning from 2000, an AI leader in the space of unstructured data analytics for 20+ years. Estes envisioned a means by which computers could learn to accurately interpret language, understand context, and extract critical intelligence. Digital Reasoning secured investments from In-Q-Tel (IQT), Goldman Sachs, Nasdaq, BNP Paribas, Barclays, Credit Suisse, HCA, and others totaling over $120M.
Dubbed “Wall Street’s Robocop” by Forbes, the technology in Digital Reasoning became the market standard for applying AI and Natural Language Processing to communications data across text and voice and was adopted by a majority of the Tier 1 Financial Institutions around the globe. It’s technology also supported key Defense and Intelligence efforts in the US Government, enabled nationwide cancer screening systems to automate patient detection and prioritization, and created the largest deployed system to support law enforcement in the disruption of child sex trafficking rings in North America. It was merged with Smarsh in November, 2020 to create the market leader in Communications Intelligence for Financial Services.
Estes left the acquiring company, Smarsh, at the end of 2021 and is now an active Angel Investor, Advisor, Board Member, and Mentor to CEOs in multiple industries.
Rick Lane was there at the beginning; when MySpace was the leader of the pack and Facebook was moving fast and breaking things. He had a front row seat to it all going wrong and is speaking out.
In this eye-opening conversation, Rick describes how the initial intention of self-regulation and light government touch in the tech industry has led to the lack of accountability and failure in protecting children online.
Rick Lane is a tech policy expert, child safety advocate, and the founder and CEO of IGGY Ventures LLC. IGGY advises and invests in companies, projects, and public policy initiatives that can positively impact society.
Connect with Rick on LinkedIn.
Pass KOSA!
To give our children the protections they deserve, we need the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). KOSA passed in the Senate 91-3 and needs passage in the House.
I brought in CMO of Bark Technologies, Titania Jordan, to discuss the implications of Apple's iOS 18 update, focusing on its impact on child safety and parental controls.
We also discuss implications of privacy and general advice related to kids and devices.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. These days, parents have access to a safer smartphone for kids called the Bark Phone.
Laura Lawrence is a wealth of knowledge between her experience as a teacher, speaker, author and most importantly, a mom of 4. We had an honest conversation that covers all areas of screen time and social media.
I am especially grateful to Laura for sharing a sensitive story about her son's experience with an online harm.
Laura Lawrence is a 4x best-selling author, motivational speaker, mindfulness coach, entrepreneur, philanthropist and mother of four.
Connect with Laura
NCMEC's Take it Down Service
If there is an explicit image of you or your child on the internet, please request removal at takeitdown.ncmec.org
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Today's episode of Scrolling 2 Death features a vulnerable conversation with a mom in Colorado named Lori Schott. Lori tragically and suddenly lost her 17-year-old daughter to suicide in November of 2020.
After Anna's death, Lori turned to her phone for answers. What she found on TikTok is every parent's worst nightmare -- a steady stream of videos targeting Anna with promotion of self-harm, suicide and depression.
Lori is fighting back against the companies who harmed her daughter through advocacy work and support of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Social media platforms will never choose child safety over profit, so they must be forced.
My heart goes out to the Schott family for the lost of their daughter Anna, forever 17.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
I was honored to speak with pro football Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith about his work in raising awareness of the dangers of opioid use.
Emmitt Smith teamed up with Emergent BioSolutions to break down the stigma around opioid use and accidental overdose, which continues to fuel a national epidemic impacting people from all walks of life.
During Emmitt's decorated 15-year professional career, Smith faced multiple injuries and often chose to play through the pain, because he knew the risks associated with opioids as he witnessed promising athletes develop a dependency, lost teammates to accidental overdose and watched loved ones struggle.
The Ready to Rescue campaign creates open dialogue about opioid risks and educate the public on how to be prepared to help save a life in an opioid overdose emergency.
Research shows that 44% of opioid-related deaths in states evaluated had a bystander present, but naloxone overdose reversal medications were rarely administered.
Parents should visit their local pharmacy to stock up on NARCAN Nasal Spray, which is available over the counter and can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose or poisoning in minutes.
I encourage you to share this interview (and the interviews linked below) with your teenagers and family members so that they are aware of how deadly opioids can be.
To listen to my interviews with grieving parents who have lost a child to fentanyl poisoning, please visit this link.
This is the worst story I've ever heard, but I'm so grateful I got to know Emily.
Today we meet an incredibly kind and animal-loving teenager named Emily Popolo. Her mom describes her with a smile on her face, despite Emily's struggles with bipolar disorder and learning disabilities.
Emily faced bullying that became relentless after the bullies took to social media to target her. It was too much for Emily and at 17 years old, she died by suicide.
This tragic story doesn't end there. The bullies were not finished with Emily. Listen or watch as Emily's mom, Erin, takes us through the series of events following Emily's death.
Trigger Warning: This episode goes into detail describing a teenage suicide and the horrific cyberbullying that occured before and after Emily's death. Please listen with caution and join me in offering support to the Popolo family.
P.S. It was a sunny day at Erin's lake house during the interview. The sun brightens her face mid-way through and shortly after, she adjusts her position. I like to think that was Emily shining her bright light down on us, in support of her mom.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Let's face it. Kids are struggling and one of the main reasons is social media; the addictiveness, the inappropriate content, the cyberbullying, the constant comparison. The list of threats goes on and on.
Turns out, social media platforms are not legally required to keep our kids safe or protect their mental health. This is why Senators Blackburn and Blumenthal created the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
I brought in Josh Golin of Fairplay to explain what KOSA is and what it is not. Josh busts the myths that are circulating the internet related to KOSA and explains how our children will be protected in several specific scenarios.
This episode is a perfect introduction to kids online safety and the numerous threats that our children are facing each and every time they log in to social media.
Here's how you can help get KOSA passed into law: Fill out this form
About Josh Golin
Josh started at Fairplay as an intern in 2003 and has been with the organization ever since. He succeeded Founder Dr. Susan Linn as Executive Director in 2015. Josh is passionate about creating a safer, less addictive internet for children where young people’s needs come before advertisers’ and big tech’s profits. Josh regularly speaks to parents, professionals, journalists, and policymakers about how to create a healthier media environment for children and teens. He lives in Vermont with his wife Jennifer, their 14-year-old daughter, and their hound Jolene.
After finding a self-harm video being promoted to my child on her school-issued device, I decided to embark on a journey of opting my child out of devices at school. And boy, has it been a journey.
I chose to share my experience with parents on social media, and it turns out that parents all over the country are having the same experiences.
So from there, I brought in Julie Liddell of the Ed Tech Law Center to help parents understand our rights around tech at school.
For 7 questions to ask your school about digital safety today, visit this link: https://www.scrolling2death.com/resources
Julie mentioned this book during our interview -- Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy
About Julie:
Julie Liddell has devoted her career to helping people of all backgrounds find justice in the courts.
At the University of Texas School of Law, she worked at the District Attorney’s office in the Family Justice Division and in the Cyber Crimes Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas protecting children from online solicitation.
She then spent ten years as staff attorney for judges in the highest courts in Texas resolving both criminal and civil matters ranging from complex commercial disputes to death-penalty appeals.
She is now turning her efforts and expertise to help families and teachers fight for their health, wellness, and privacy against tech companies who are exploiting them for profit. Julie understands that parents and children may not be forced to choose between their rights to health, safety, and privacy and their right to an education.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. These days, parents have access to a safer smartphone for kids called the Bark Phone.
Check out the Bark Parental Monitoring App for iPhones and Androids (use code SCROLLING2DEATH for 10% off)
Are our kids digital superlearners, or did we just complete a decades-long hardware dump on an entire generation with no research to support that kids will actually benefit from over-integration of tech at school?
This is what I explore in today's episode with special guest, Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes. We dive into the research related to the educational benefit of screens and global test scores, in addition to the distractions and privacy issues associated with school-issued tech.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
About Chris McKenna
Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes and Executive Director of the PYE Foundation, is a leading advocate for digital safety. His efforts, including influential testimony before the US Senate and co-authoring the Child Device Protection Bill, have led to significant legislative movement. Chris also advises global tech companies, spoke at the World Economic Forum, and was featured in Childhood 2.0, while his organization educates parents and schools worldwide on digital safety.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
If I've learned one thing about gaming, it's that kids are not safe without additional protections. One of the tools being released to families is called GameSafe, founded by technology expert David Everitt.
In this conversation, David describes his own experience with his daughter being groomed in Minecraft, which led to his new mission in life: To offer families with a tool to truly keep their kids save while gaming.
We go into detail on the various threats within gaming platforms like Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite and others, including; predation, cyberbullying and addiction.
GameSafe is available now in the App Store. Learn more about GameSafe at gamesafe.ai.
About David Everitt:
David is the Founder and CEO of gamesafe.ai, bringing gold-standard protection for children while they are gaming online. This mission started as a response to his own child being preyed upon while playing games online. His hope is to help foster healthy families by providing a much needed application that will give parents peace of mind while their children are gaming online.
Today I'm joined by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas to talk about keeping kids safe online.
Senator Cruz is a father to two teenage girls. He is facing the same struggles as all parents related to social media and smartphones.
In addition to offering advice for listeners, Senator Cruz introduces us to three important bills that can help keep our kids safe online.
Please contact your Senators and Representatives in the House to ask them to pass KOSA, the Take it Down Act and the Kids Off Social Media Act.
About Senator Ted Cruz: In 2013, Ted was sworn into the United States Senate, where he has been a passionate fighter for limited government, economic growth, and national security. He has authored dozens of legislative measures that have been signed into law, including expanding 529 college savings accounts to allow parents to save for K-12 public, private, and religious education, repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate, imposing sanctions on terrorists who use civilians as human shields, designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, targeting Putin’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline through multiple bills that halted construction and kept it stalled, reauthorizing and reforming NASA, holding dictatorships in South America accountable, and ensuring the availability of additional records to help solve civil rights cold cases.
He is also leading the fight in the Senate to support Texas jobs, rein in Big Tech, secure the border, and fundamentally reassess the U.S.-China relationship and hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for covering up the coronavirus pandemic, committing human rights atrocities, and engaging in censorship, propaganda, and espionage in the United States.
Ted, his wife Heidi, their two daughters Caroline and Catherine, and his entire family have been blessed to live the American Dream—the idea that anyone, through hard work and determination, can achieve anything. Ted is committed to ensuring every family has that same opportunity.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Tens of thousands of schools are failing to reach the same primary goal...to produce happy and productive citizens. Phones at school is the roadblock, yet schools continue to struggle with implementing and enforcing phone restrictions. So, what's the answer?
Kim Whitman (along with co-founders Mileva Repasky and Sabine Polak) created the Phone Free Schools Movement to provide youth the freedom to excel academically and develop socially without the pressures and harms of phones and social media during the school day.
The Phone-Free Schools Movement (in partnership with Fairplay) recently released a one-of-a-kind resource - the Phone-Free Schools Administrator Toolkit. It is a roadmap on how to implement a successful phone-free school policy.
In today's conversation with Kim, we talk through the reasons behind the need for a bell-to-bell phone policy, the pushback and even touch on school-issued device use.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Thank you to John Pizzuro for joining me to discuss crimes against kids.
John is the CEO and co-founder of Raven, a 501(c)4 non-profit lobbying firm comprised of subject matter experts and retired law enforcement focused on legislative and policy solutions for child trafficking and child exploitation.
He highlights the scale and challenge of online crimes, the issue of ineffective age-gating, and the dangers of children interacting with strangers online.
As always, this discussion is parent-focused and includes actionable guidance to protect our children from online harms.
One vital need is for the tech companies to take responsibility for child safety online and that is going to require legislation to hold them accountable. Legislative initiatives such as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Stop CSAM Act are introduced as important steps towards creating a safer online environment for children.
To help get KOSA passed, please visit house.gov, enter your ZIP code, find your Rep and contact them. Ask them to co-sponsor KOSA.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
When former-Facebook employee David Erb realized that Facebook's "People You May Know" feature was connecting millions of pedophiles with tens of millions of children, he told senior Facebook executives right away. The response gave David the shock of his life.
Not only did Meta refuse to help these children, they announced end-to-end encryption so that the messages were hidden. This strategic update removed liability from Meta and has since encouraged even more exploitation of children.
In today's episode of Scrolling 2 Death, David Erb shares his story. Please listen with caution. What you hear will upset you.
About David Erb
David Erb has had a nearly 40 year career working for some of the biggest tech companies in the world, including Microsoft, Google, YouTube and Facebook. David co-created Google Cloud, and led a team of 200 engineers at YouTube. He has been a champion of developing new ways to combat CSAM and has seen big tech at both its best and its worst. He resigned from his lead engineering role in Meta's London office in protest over their refusal to act on his team's recommendations to curb CSAM and grooming on the platform.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
The conversation is all about the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and its positive implications for our kids.
After receiving many comments about KOSA being a "censorship bill" and finding similar articles with a quick Google search, I realized that we need to face this argument head on.
I brought in legislative expert Alix Fraser to respond to the headlines and give us the real deal on KOSA.
If you want protections for your kids online, please contact your Representative in the House and ask them to pass KOSA. If you don't know who your Rep is, go to house.gov, enter your ZIP code and find your Rep's contact info. This takes just a couple minutes and kids need our help.
Parents constantly ask, "Is [INSERT APP] safe for my kids?" I brought in Titania Jordan to give our honest reviews of 10 of the most popular apps for kids.
Today we cover: Spotify, Snapchat, Capcut, Candy Crush, Discord, Roblox/Minecraft/Fortnite, Whatsapp, YouTube, Telegram and ChatGPT.
Thank you to Titania and Bark Technologies for putting together exhaustive app reviews for parents. If we didn't cover an app that you are wondering about, please visit https://www.bark.us/learn/resources/ and enter the app name in the search bar.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Kids are getting harmed by social media.
Social media companies put profits over people.
Legislation to protect kids online has not passed since 1998.
It is way passed time get force Big Tech to protect kids.
The answer is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
Big Tech is working hard to lobby against KOSA and convince us that it is a censorship bill (it is not).
In this conversation with legislative expert, Patrick Lyden, we break down the elements of KOSA and negate the pushback.
KOSA passed the Senate in July 91-3.
KOSA now sits in the House and needs your support. What is KOSA?
How can you support KOSA? KOSA is a federal bill that will save childrens' lives.
**Contact your Representatives in the House; ask them to pass KOSA now before we lose more children to online harms!
**Visit House.gov, enter your ZIP code then message or call your Rep.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Ask your Representative to Pass KOSA!
Contact your Representative in the House: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. These days, parents have access to a safer smartphone for kids called the Bark Phone.
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents are going to get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school, how tech is affecting students' learning and teachers' jobs.
Today's episode features former middle and high school French teacher, Kathleen Barlow. Kathleen discusses the challenges of screens in schools and the impact on students' learning and behavior. She shares her experiences as a teacher and highlights the issues of smartphone and school-issued device use in the classroom.
Kathleen emphasizes the importance of foundational knowledge and critical thinking, which she believes are hindered by excessive screen time. She suggests implementing policies such as a bell-to-bell phone ban and using phone lockers to address these challenges.
Kathleen also shares her experience pulling back from screens within her own family, including switching her twin 17-year-olds from smartphones to the Pinwheel phone, stating "I could not keep supplying this drug to my children."
Don't miss the literal earthquake that interrupted our discussion 12.5 minutes in!
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
About Kathleen Barlow:
Kathleen Barlow is a mother of 6 kids and grandmother of 3. She is a former middle school and high school French teacher, and she taught for about a decade in New Hampshire and Utah.
During the 2023-2024 school year, Kathleen was teaching at a middle school in Utah and was struggling to motivate and connect with her students. In continuing to observe the negative impact of phones in school firsthand, she eventually felt compelled to leave her teaching career, in the hopes of finding a way to help schools develop better cell phone policies.
Kathleen has since become a member of the Smartphone Free Childhood movement that began in the UK. She has also aligned herself with several other amazing organizations that all have the common goal of helping kids and families become more intentional about their screen time, as well as their time spent in real life connection.
Kathleen is in the process of developing her own organization, SOS (Screens Out of Schools), that will be offering services to help in this endeavor. She believes that in order to back up this “digital boat,” we need to be focused “upstream.” Many have found themselves in an exhaustive loop of trying to put out the fires that inevitably arise from being immersed in a dangerous virtual world. By greatly reducing screen time, especially during the school day, many of the problems that are currently plaguing our kids will also be reduced and even eliminated.
In her spare time, Kathleen is crazy about mountain biking with her family, and also loves hiking, Bikram yoga, journaling, and reading. She was thrilled to recently finish her second sprint triathlon. Kathleen tries daily (yet sometimes fails!) at practicing the art of being present in each moment.
Even smart kids make bad decisions; decisions that can take their life.
This was the case for Judy's son, Erik, who died in 2010 from the choking game. Devastatingly, this trend has since exploded due to social media algorithms which prioritize harmful content into childrens' feeds.
In this vulnerable and educational conversation, Judy tells Erik's story and guides parents on how to protect our children from dangerous challenges and other online harms.
Get to know Judy and her work at Erik's Cause here: erikscause.org
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Contact your Representative in the House: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. These days, parents have access to a safer smartphone for kids called the Bark Phone.
If your child has a phone, they could be accessing a deadly anonymous app. Apps like NGL and others are built for secrecy and drama. Our kids should stay far away.
Today you'll learn all about the danger that anonymous apps pose to our kids through the devastating story of Carson Bride, a teenager who fell victim to vicious cyberbullying through an anonymous app connected to Snapchat.
Carson's mom, Kristin Bride, highlight the deceptive tactics used by these apps and lack of moderation.
We also introduce listeners to a piece of federal legislation that will finally get kids protected online; the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Please contact your representative in the house and ask them to co-sponsor KOSA. Visit house.gov and enter your ZIP code to find your rep.
Here are the names of a few, currently active anonymous apps that you can look for on your child's phone:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone
In this conversation, I interview author, mom and entrepreneur Jenna Lee Dillon to discuss children's screen time; the benefits, the dangers and the importance of a proactive approach to screens.
Jenna Lee authored an incredible book called Look Up! A Wild & Screen Freed Roadmap to Enjoying Travel with Kids. This book dives into Jenna Lee's experiences and lessons embarking on 65 flights at 51 roadtrips with her daughter, all screen free!
So much to learn in this super relatable conversation between two moms who are trying to give our children an empowered and balanced childhood.
About Jenna Lee
Jenna Lee Dillon is a solo mama, 4x entrepreneur, Spartan racer, speaker, and author of Look Up! A Wild & Screen Freed Roadmap to Enjoying Travel with Kids. She founded the Screen Freed Revolution to help parents cultivate an indomitable mindset, experience profound joy, and navigate technology boundaries with purpose and peace. Jenna Lee lives with her daughter and their bossy Aussie dog.
Connect with Jenna Lee on her website and Instagram.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Contact your Representative in the House: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. These days, parents have access to a safer smartphone for kids called the Bark Phone.
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school and how tech is affecting students' learning and teachers' jobs.
Today's episode features a 4th - 6th grade teacher in Alaska named Jessica Moore. Jessica does an incredible job breaking down the latest research around kids and screens and gives so many takeaways for parents!
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Annie McGrath shares the story of her son Griffin, who tragically passed away at 13 years old after participating in an online challenge. The choking challenge is one of many deadly challenges that social media companies continue to prioritize within their addictive, harmful algorithms.
In this conversation, parents learn how to protect their children from online harms. This includes pushing our elected officials to pass important online safety legislation like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
KOSA has passed in the Senate and needs passage in the House of Representatives. Visit house.gov to ask your rep to support KOSA!
Please stick around to hear a beautiful and impactful poem that Griffin wrote just weeks before his death, at the end of the episode.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Ask your rep to pass KOSA: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative.
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. These days, parents have access to a safer smartphone for kids called the Bark Phone.
Today, Titania Jordan and I tackle the complicated topic of phone bans in school. We break down the pro(s?) and cons of allowing kids to have phones at school and why schools across the country are demanding phone bans.
If you're a parent or work at a school, this episode is for you.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Walker was a hardworking and well-loved teenager who fell victim to a sextortion scheme that led to his tragic suicide. I spoke with Walker's dad, Brian, to learn about sextortion, how it's happening, who is being victimized and how parents can protect our children from this social media harm.
My heart goes out to the Montgomery family for their loss of Walker.
After this tragedy, Walker's family have advocated for protecting kids from sextortion and gotten two bills passed; Walker's Bill (Mississippi House Bill 1196) and the Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act (Mississippi House Bill 2531).
If you or your child has been faced with a sextortion attempt, please report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://report.cybertip.org
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
About Brian Montgomery Brian Montgomery is a Mississippi native and father of four who experienced the greatest heartache any parent could—the suicide of a child following a sextortion scam. Now he is using his pain as fuel to keep parents informed, to keep victims from losing hope, and to bring predators to justice. Montgomery is a Greenville native and now resides in Starkville. He attended Mississippi State University and has a Bachelor’s degree in Ag Pest Management and a Master’s degree in Forestry, emphasizing Remote Sensing. He is a co-founder of Alliance Ag Risk Management. Brian has been married to his wife Courtney for 25 years, and they have four children Caralyne,20; Walker,16; Bennett,14; and Sarah,13. His son Walker attended Starkville Academy, where he excelled in academics and football. Walker enjoyed running heavy machinery and working on the farm with his family. He had a tremendous work ethic. He had an innate and boundless appreciation and love for the outdoors, and he particularly loved bow-hunting with his father. Walker ended his own life in 2022 after falling victim to a sextortion scam. The event would turn the Montgomery’s life upside down and give Brian a new mission to use Walker’s life-and-death to shed light on the growing epidemic of sextortion.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. These days, parents have access to a safer smartphone for kids called the Bark Phone.
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents are going to get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school, how tech is affecting students' learning and teachers' jobs.
Today's episode features a high school educator in Canada that we're calling Mrs. C.
This conversation goes way beyond screens in school as Mrs. C shares her experience providing a low-tech household for her three children and restricting social media until at least 16.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
**Senator Rand Paul Blocks Vital Kids Online Safety Bill: Call Senator Paul and ask him to stop blocking KOSA! (202) 224-4343
Contact your Representative in the House: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative
Contact your Senators: Visit senate.gov and use the state drop down at the top of your screen
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents are going to get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school, how tech is affecting students' learning and teachers' jobs.
Today's episode features educator and speaker Ronna Glickman. You can reach Ronna at socialmediasafety.education
In this episode I welcome Karl Stillner (co-founder and CEO of BrightCanary) for a discussion about device monitoring. These days, parents need to have an understanding of what's going on in their children's digital lives, but is there a point where we breach their privacy?
This chat makes it clear that social media companies and the U.S. government do not have our kids backs online. It is up to us parents to keep them safe, and that requires a level of monitoring plus open conversations with our kids. Karl and I get into detail on the best approach for parents in this raw conversation.
About Karl Stillner
Karl is the father of two boys, aged 12 and 9. He co-founded BrightCanary, a service that helps parents engage and prepare kids for digital lives, in 2022. Prior to starting BrightCanary, was a VP at T-Mobile USA, where he led M&A and operations for T-Mobile Advertising. T-Mobile Advertising, currently over $500m in annual revenue, was formed when a company Karl co-founded, PushSpring, was acquired by T-Mobile in 2019. Karl has had numerous other technology-related roles, including a board seat with Decisive Farming, a leader in the AgTech space, that was sold in Telus in 2019 and driving the business strategy and sale of Mobiata, which created FlightTrack a mobile app for travel, to Expedia. Prior to working in technology, Karl was a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting. Karl has a BA in Economics from Northwestern University and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
❗️New Research Study Shows Effects of Handing Kids Devices
❗️ Dangerous App Called NGL Barred from Minor Usage
❗️ Middle School Students Attack Teachers on TikTok
❗️ Virginia Governor Orders School Phone Bans Starting 2025
❗️ Senator Rand Paul Blocks Vital Kids Online Safety Bill: Call Senator Paul and ask him to stop blocking KOSA! (202) 224-4343
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents are going to get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school, how tech is affecting students' learning and teachers' jobs.
Today's episode features a high school educator named Matt Brady.
Here is Matt's substack: Teacher Teacher
Matt Miles and Joe Clement are two incredible teachers mentioned in today's episode. Here's a link to my interview with Matt and Joe.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
DISCLAIMER: This episode includes details related to sexual assault of a minor. Please listen with caution.
Deb Schmill shares the story of her daughter, Becca, who experienced a severe trauma at just 15 years old which led to addiction and her death by fentanyl poisoning in 2020.
Smartphones and social media are facilitating access to drugs and harmful content that is deadly to many teens. My conversation with Deb emphasizes the need for parents to have open conversations with their children, be aware of their online activities and to create boundaries around device usage.
We also discuss the need for passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a federal bill that will save childrens' lives. Contact your Senators and Representatives in the House; ask them to pass KOSA now before we lose more children to online harms!
Deb and her family founded the Becca Schmill Foundation and work to fund research, hosting community programs, and advocating for policies to protect children. https://beccaschmillfdn.org
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Today I'm joined by attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett to review the latest series of events in the world of Snapchat. Snap rolled out new "safety features," but will these features really protect children from being contacted by strangers on Snapchat? The short answer is no, but there is much more harm lurking within Snapchat than meets the eye.
Join Laura and I as we take parents through the app that has fooled us all; an addictive torture den that masquerades itself as a "whimsical candy castle" for kids.
In summary, Snapchat will never, ever prioritize our child's safety over profits. They must be forced to through lawsuits and legislation. Here's how you can help...
Read the latest Rolling Stone article about how Snapchat is Fueling a Teen Opioid Crisis.
Find out about the work at the Social Media Victims Law Center.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Contact your Representative in the House: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative
Contact your Senators: Visit senate.gov and use the state drop down at the top of your screen
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Therapist Andrea Brambila (of mega-popular @brambila_bits) joins me today for an honest conversation about kids and screens.
As moms who both raised babies during COVID, we compare notes on the highs and lows of our efforts to maintain low-tech households.
Andrea is an experienced mental health therapist who specializes in perinatal mental health and developmental psychology. She encourages parents to reduce the overwhelm and overstimulation through independent play and low-screen living.
Personally, I walked away from this conversation feeling seen! Parents have it tough in this digital age and I find it so helpful to have an honest and relatable conversation with a fellow mom. Hopefully you can relate!
Connect with Andrea here: https://www.instagram.com/brambila_bits/
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
If you have questions or concern about your childrens' screen time, this is the episode for you.
I'm joined by pediatrician and clinical researcher Dr. John Hutton, and we dive into health concerns regarding digital media use in children, impacts on caregiver-child connection, brain development and alternatives to digital media.
Dr. Hutton is an Associate Professor, Division of General & Community Pediatrics at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Attending Physician, Children’s Health, Dallas.
Dr. Hutton is also an author of over 40 children's books. I especially loved the Baby Unplugged series which you can browse here.
Dr. Hutton's published research
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
This is an honest conversation between two moms about screen time; the research, the struggles and a few tips.
Screen time can be a complicated topic with the wide variety of devices that exist within our childrens' worlds. Joined by Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies, we weed through these intricacies and offer advice for parents looking to get a handle on their kids' screen time.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Today you'll learn all about the speed challenge, which has been making its way around social media for at least 12 years. This involves social media-fueled algorithms which are encouraging children to reach speeds of 130 mph and above.
This conversation features Meg Stuhmer, whose daughter was a victim of the speed challenge in 2021. She bravely tells her story so that others can get ahead of this dangerous trend.
There is currently a lack of regulation requiring social media to keep our children safe. Meg and others encourage you to support the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), contact your representatives and ask them to vote it through the House and the Senate. Parents can join together to make this happen, before we lose another child.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids.
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
In this conversation, Susan Linn discusses the harmful effects of marketing to children and the overuse of technology in their lives. She emphasizes the importance of unstructured play and creativity; stressing that kids can amuse and soothe themselves without needing a device.
We also dive into the current state of EdTech in schools, highlighting the lack of research supporting its effectiveness.
Don't miss the story of Dr. Linn's career and as a ventriloquist at the end of the episode!
I highly recommend Dr. Susan Linn's book 'Who's Raising the Kids' available here.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Rolling Stone has implicated Snapchat in fueling a teen opioid crisis.
Paul Solotaroff has been a Senior Writer at Rolling Stone for 25 years. He writes about the denial of justice, about people who have been horrifically abused, like NFL retirees with brain injuries, Iraqi veterans and unfortunately today, it’s KIDS ON SNAPCHAT.
In this conversation, Paul discusses the investigation into how drug dealers are using Snapchat to sell fake pills containing fentanyl to children, leading to poisonings and deaths across the country. Paul highlights the challenges that law enforcement faces in combatting this issue, including the ephemeral nature of Snapchat and the difficulty tracking down evidence.
There is an urgent need to address this national health crisis, both in parental awareness and federal legislation to require tech firms (like Snapchat) to protect our kids online.
Thank you to Amy Neville, Laura Marquez-Garrett, William Bodner and others for speaking up to protect our kids.
Paul Solotaroff has been a senior writer at Rolling Stone for twenty-five years (and at Men’s Journal for almost twenty). He covered the NFL concussion scandal, including the Aaron Hernandez story, was the first to report the horror-show conditions at Walter Reade Hospital, and has written a series of stories that helped free innocent men who were doing life without parole in state prisons. Winner of two Genesis Awards and more than a half-dozen selections to the Best American Sports Writing anthologies, Solotaroff is a Pulitzer Prize and National Magazine Award finalist. Six of his earlier stories were optioned for TV dramas or films, including “Original Gangster,” “The Fixer,” “Living the Vida Macho,” “Not Guilty,” and “The Gangster in the Huddle.” This year, four of his stories will be reborn as TV series or prestige documentaries on Netflix, Showtime, the USA network, and Facebook View.
This episode is dedicated to the life of Zach Didier, forever 17.
"We're losing a classroom of students every week," shares Chris Didier.
We're way past "not my kid." Fentanyl does not discriminate and parents need to get educated on this epidemic. There is a new category of victim where children are trying something they think is harmless, but it's lethal. As parents, need we to up our game and keep our kids away from this danger.
In this discussion with Chris Didier, parents will learn about Chris' personal experience with fentanyl through the loss of his son in 2020.
I asked Chris the tough questions all parents want to know, including:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
More About Chris Dider: Chris is a father of 3 incredible children and is originally from the Sacramento, CA area. He attended the Air Force Academy and is now a retired Air Force officer, current pilot for United Airlines, and former head coach for the Rocklin youth soccer club.
In Dec. 2020, Chris discovered his youngest child, Zachary in the privacy of his room no longer alive after Zach consumed what was thought was a legitimate and harmless prescription pill. Instead, Zach had unknowingly ingested a fake pill made of illicit fentanyl and died at the age of 17 as a high school senior. Zach had no history of recreational drug use or struggled with depression or anxiety.
Zach was a self-taught musician, straight-A student, multi-sport athlete, lead role in a HS Musical, and was active with Scouting and community service. His giving nature and infectious smile will always be missed. Since his passing, Zach was accepted into five U.C.s, including UCLA.
Chris is working tirelessly in his advocacy to help bring needed awareness and education of the dangers of illicit synthetics in an effort to save lives. He serves as an executive board member for Victims of Illicit Drugs: https://stopthevoid.org
Paul Solotaroff has been a Senior Writer at Rolling Stone for 25 years. He writes about the denial of justice, about people who have been horrifically abused, like NFL retirees with brain injuries, Iraqi veterans and unfortunately today, it’s KIDS ON SNAPCHAT.
Paul just released an expose on the Snapchat drug trade, and parents everywhere are going to need to read up.
I have an in-depth interview with Paul dropping on June 17. For now, watch this overview of the Rolling Stone article that dropped today titled: Inside Snapchat's Teenage Opioid Crisis
A safer web is possible. One that prioritizes safety and human rights. One that gives us back control over our data and our personhood.
In this in-depth conversation with American billionaire and entrepreneur, Frank McCourt, he paints a picture of a future that is bright. We start with a discussion about Frank's "people's bid" to purchase TikTok; but this is about more than TikTok. It's about building technology to connect us and bring us together, instead of tearing us apart.
This is the work being done by Frank and his team at Project Liberty. It's a movement that will require all of us to come together in support of a better world.
Join the Fight!
About Frank McCourt:
Frank H. McCourt, Jr. is a civic entrepreneur and the executive chairman of McCourt Global, a private family company committed to building a better future through its work across the real estate, sports, technology, media, and capital investment industries, as well as its significant philanthropic activities. More here: https://www.mccourt.com/about/about-frank-mccourt/
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Contact your Representative in the House: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative
Contact your Senators: Visit senate.gov and use the state drop down at the top of your screen
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Parents have it rough. There are no perfect options when it comes to our kids and tech. But there is hope!
Today's conversation features Josh Golin of Fairplay, who is working to enhance children's wellbeing by eliminating the exploitative and harmful business practices of marketers and Big Tech.
We discuss the reality of parenting in today's digital world, from tech in schools to social media concerns to kids online safety legislation. As with all conversations on Scrolling 2 Death, I hope you walk away feeling inspired to advocate for positive change in the digital world and with confidence in the power of your voice.
Make your voice heard!
About Josh Golin
Josh Golin is Executive Director of Fairplay, which works to enhance children's wellbeing by eliminating the exploitative and harmful business practices of marketers and big tech. Fairplay holds companies accountable for their harmful marketing and platform design choices, and advocates for policies that both protect children when they are online and help young people get the offline time they need to thrive. Under Josh's leadership, Fairplay filed the Federal Trade Commission complaint that led to the FTC's settlement with Google for COPPA violations on YouTube and led the international campaign that stopped Meta from releasing a version of Instagram for younger kids.
Earlier this year, Fairplay, along with David's Legacy Foundation, launched ParentsSOS - an initiative of families who have lost their children to social media harms and advocate for the Kids Online Safety Act.
Josh’s media appearances include Good Morning America, NPR, and Fox & Friends and he’s regularly quoted in major publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post. He has testified twice before Congress and regularly speaks to parents, professionals, and policymakers about how to create a healthier media environment for children and teens. He lives in Vermont with his wife Jennifer, their 15-year-old daughter and their hound, Jolene.
Parents have a voice in the fight for kids' online safety.
In the words of Congresswoman Kat Cammack, "At the end of the day, the Big Tech companies don't vote for me; parents back home vote for me. I want to do everything I possibly can to protect them and their families."
In this conversation, we uncover the risks that social media poses to our children and what parents can do about it.
Specifically, we get deep into what's happening with TikTok. Representative Cammack explains TikTok's ties to the Chinese Communist Part and emphasizes the need to regain control over our personal data.
Parents - Use your voices!
Meet Representative Cammack:
Congresswoman Kat Cammack proudly serves Florida’s Third Congressional District, which includes Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Suwannee, and Union Counties in North Central Florida. During her first term in 2021-2022, she served as the youngest Republican woman in the 117th Congress.
Kat is a third-generation commercial sandblaster who grew up on a cattle ranch outside Denver, Colorado, participating in local 4-H programs, the local rodeo, and sports. When she was younger, she had hopes of continuing the family business, but shortly before graduating from college at Metro State University Denver, an Obama-era housing program forced her family to lose their small cattle ranch and home. As a result, Kat was motivated to fight back against the failures of big government and has since dedicated her life’s work to fight big government and advance individual freedoms. Continued here.
Matt Capelouto lost his daughter Alexandra to a fentanyl poisoning from a fake pill she purchased on Snapchat.
The dangers of fentanyl are real and they are in the hands of children like yours. Through this vulnerable story, parents will learn about the fentanyl epidemic and how you can protect your children through preparation and open conversations.
Learn about Matt's organization called Drug Induced Homicide.
If you're interested in supporting Alexandra's Law and live in California:
Jennie DeSerio lost her 16-year-old son Mason to suicide after he was served countless TikTok videos glorifying suicide.
In this vulnerable discussion, Jennie warns parents against social media harms and describes several federal bills which would help protect our children online.
To make your voice heard, contact your representative in the House and also your Senators:
I was honored to welcome Senator Marsha Blackburn for an important conversation about the safety of our children online.
Together, we address the dangers of social media for children and the fight against sextortion. Senator Blackburn emphasizes the need for online safety legislation, accountability for social media platforms, and the importance of parental support in passing much-needed bills like the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
Our legislators can't do it alone. They need to hear from parents like us. Parents' voices are what's going to make a difference in the fight for our childrens' safety online. Contact your representative (both the House and the Senate) and tell them to support KOSA!
As a reminder, you have 2 Senators and a member of the House of Representatives of your district. Here are instructions on how to contact your specific representatives:
About Senator Marsha Blackburn
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn was sworn in to the Senate in January 2019. Before her election to the Senate, Marsha represented Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.
Marsha’s public service is dedicated to promoting opportunities for women and making America a more prosperous place to live. Marsha’s leadership philosophy is based on her experiences in the private sector as a small business woman and author, as well as being a mother and grandmother. More about Senator Blackburn here.
In this interview, I welcomed Julie Scelfo, the Founder and Executive Director of Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA).
Parents will relate to our candid conversation about the state of today's media-addicted world, and walk away with motivation and a plan of action to better protect your kids online.
About Julie Scelfo:
Julie Scelfo is Founder and Executive Director of Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA), a grassroots movement of parents fighting back against media addiction and creating a world in which real-life experiences and interactions remain at the heart of a healthy childhood. She is an award-winning journalist, a former New York Times staff writer, a media ecologist, and a parent.
Scelfo was moved to start MAMA after reporting on the youth mental health crisis and seeing suicidality affect children at ever-younger ages, and recognizing how a multitude of factors—including screen addiction and absent regulations—has created an unhealthy, unsafe media environment.
Scelfo’s stories on mental health have been leading the national conversation for decades, from her coverage of suicidality and social media on college campuses, to increasing suicidality among tweens.
In addition to her MAMA advocacy, Scelfo is the author of The Women Who Made New York, (Seal Press/Hachette), an inclusive collection of biographies revealing how it was women—and not just men—who built one of the world’s greatest cities. She is a frequent public speaker who has made numerous appearances on television, radio and podcasts, and invites you to join her coalition at JoinMAMA.or
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Contact your Representative in the House: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative
Contact your Senators: Visit senate.gov and use the state drop down at the top of your screen
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents are going to get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school, how tech is affecting students' learning and teachers' jobs.
Today's episode features former Waldorf educator Brooke Natzke.
Brooke answers common questions such as:
Here's the link to Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA) which was mentioned in the episode.
Many parents ask the question; How does social media use really affect our kids? This is the question that is answered today with special guest Kris Perry of the Children and Screens Institute.
Together, we explore many topics related to kids and media use, with an emphasis on the importance of unbiased research and desperate need for online safety legislation.
About Kris Perry:
Kris Perry currently serves as Executive Director for Children and Screens Institute, having previously served as Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California and Deputy Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency where she led the development of the California Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the expansion of access to high-quality early childhood programs. She led systems change efforts at the local, state and national levels in her roles as executive director of First 5 San Mateo, First 5 California and of the First Five Years Fund. Through it all, Perry has fought to protect children, improve and expand early learning programs, and increase investments in low-income children. Perry was instrumental in returning marriage equality to California after the landmark 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Hollingsworth v. Perry, which she wrote about in her book Love on Trial.
This is a conversation that parents should bring their teens into. Ava Smithing is a Gen Z adovcate for kid's online safety who is dedicated to making social media safer.
Ava shares her vulnerable story of struggling with an eating disorder that was encouraged by social media, and gives parents invaluable insights into life as a Gen Z'er.
"I learned through social media that I shouldn't be eating, how not to eat and how to hide it from my family."
This episode is jam-packed with advice for parents on how to approach social media in their own homes, including:
Ava Smithing is the Director of Advocacy at the Young People's Alliance, her first role upon graduating with honors from Stevens Institute of Technology in May 2023, Majoring in Business Management and the History and Philosophy of Technology, with a Public Policy Minor. Since her graduation Ava has been committed to progressing legislation to making social media safer at the state and federal level, through advocacy, community organizing and public engagements. She is an affiliate in All Tech is Human's inaugural affiliate cohort and an advisor on behalf of YPA for the Student Action Network for Equity. Ava recently testified at the congressional subcommittee hearing Legislative Solutions to Protect Kids Online and Ensure Americans’ Data Privacy Rights.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:
Contact your Representative in the House: Visit house.gov and enter ZIP code at the top right to find your representative
Contact your Senators: Visit senate.gov and use the state drop down at the top of your screen
Resources mentioned during this episode:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is all about sextortion. What do parents need to know about the sextortion epidemic? If you think your kid is immune to this threat, unfortunately it's affecting hundreds of thousands of American teenagers.
I'm joined by Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies to educate parents on what to look out for and how to protect your child from sextortion.
If your child has been faced with sextortion, please report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) Cyber Tipline.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids. *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Just two moms talking about childrens' online safety...except one mom is also a Congresswoman and Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers is the first female Chair of one of the most powerful committees in the House of Representatives. This committee is dedicated to providing parents with safeguards to get our children protected online.
This is an all-out war against Big Tech and our childrens' lives are at stake. Use your voice and let's get our kids protected online.
Parents: Our voices are what's going to make a difference in this fight for online privacy and childrens' safety. Contact your representative (both the House and the Senate) and tell them to support:
As a reminder, you have 2 Senators and a member of the House of Representatives of your district.
Contact your Representative in the House:
Contact your Senators:
Resources:
Cathy McMorris Rodgers is the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and represents Washington’s Fifth Congressional District. She was appointed to the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2010. In addition to her policy leadership on the Committee, Cathy also served in House Republican Leadership for 10 years as Vice Chair and Chair of the House Republican Conference. More about Chair Rodgers here: https://mcmorris.house.gov/
The fentanyl epidemic has reached our kids with the distribution of fake pills on Snapchat.
Today's guest is Jaime Puerta of V.O.I.D. Jaime is an incredible warrior and advocate who lost his son Daniel to a fentanyl-laced pill purchased on Snapchat.
Jaime answers all the questions parents may have about the fentanyl epidemic; where it's coming from, what does it look like, how are kids getting it and how we can protect our own kids.
This episode is dedicated to the life of Daniel Joseph Puerta Johnson.
About Jaime Puerta
Jaime Puerta is a United States Marine Corps Veteran, and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Puerta & Associates, Inc.; a small Interpreting business that specializes in furnishing Certified Interpreters to Attorneys, Doctors, and Courts working within the Workman’s Compensation field in the State of California. He resides in Santa Clarita, California, with his wife Claudia. Jaime is also the President of V.O.I.D., "Victims Of Illicit Drugs", a California 501C non-profit dedicated to educating parents and children about the dangers of illicit drug use, and also about the dangers that abound on social media platforms. Jaime also sits on the Advisory Board of A.C.C.O. "The Alliance To Counter Crime Online". Jaime became involved in the fight against Fentanyl when his only son Daniel passed away due to Fentanyl Poisoning on April 6, 2020.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
🇺🇸 Sextortion schemes spike in the U.S. and other western countries
👨⚖️ President Biden passed the REPORT Act to fight sextortion
💍 NY Times reveals Meta is serving children's photos to pedophiles in advertisements
📱 New Mexico exposes Meta through Operation MetaPhile
‼️ European Union announces formal investigation into Meta for child safety concerns
🧐 New research shows connection between children's social media use and mental health vulnerability
Resources mentioned in the episode are available here: https://www.scrolling2death.com/big-tech-gut-check-week-of-may-13-2024
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents are going to get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school, how tech is affecting students' learning and teachers' jobs.
Today's episode features a high school teacher in Chicago named Kara Waddell.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
Sextortion is a parent's worst nightmare. In this interview with cyberintelligence analyst Paul Raffile, parents will learn all about sextortion and how to protect our children.
Paul answers important questions about sextortion including:
If your child has been faced with sextortion, please report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://report.cybertip.org
Paul Raffile is an intelligence analyst focused on cyber threats and transnational organized crime. He has worked on government and private sector projects to detect and investigate terrorist networks, fraud, black markets, and human exploitation on social media platforms.
Ed Peisner is an accidental advocate. In 2017, his teenage son Jordan was viciously assaulted in West Hills, CA. The attack was filmed and uploaded to social media by an friend of the attacker. Jordan was left with serious and life-long injuries and will never be the same child.
Ed has since dedicated his life to the goal of ensuring that no other family has to endure such a terrible ordeal at the hands of social media-induced violence.
Together we break down the reality of how social media is affecting our kids, and how we can protect them from harm.
Ed is the National Education Director and Founder of The Organization for Social Media Safety. OFSMS is the first consumer protection organization exclusively focused on social media. They work to make social media safe for everyone.
Connect with Ed and his team at the Organization for Social Media Safety at this link. And be sure to check out their FREE online safety course for parents!
This episode is dedicated to the life of Jordan DeMay, cut short way too soon.
Jordan was a victim of sextortion, an epidemic that we should all be ready to encounter.
This interview is a raw conversation with John DeMay, Jordan's dad. John takes us through what happened to Jordan and what parents need to look out for.
If you have encountered a sextortion scheme, please be sure to report it to NCMEC.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Interviews mentioned during this episode:
What Parents Need to Know About CSAM (with Cath Knibbs)
Social Media: An Open Air Drug Market (with Bill Bodner)
Drugs in a Snap (with Amy Neville)
More Snapchat More Problems (with Sam Chapman)
This week's Big Tech Gut Check is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
I thoroughly enjoyed this wide-spanning conversation with Jessica Elefante. We cover so many topics related to parenting in a digital world.
This is one of my favorite conversations so far. Jessica Elefante is an artist, an author, a mother and co-chair for Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA).
Every mother (and parent) will relate to this very raw conversation where we dig into screen use, social media and all things parenting in a digital world.
About Jessica Elefante
She is the author of Raising Hell, Living Well: Freedom from Influence in a World Where Everyone Wants Something from You (Ballantine, 2023) which she coined a How-Come (not a How-To). Jessica’s writing works to open people’s eyes on the topics of technology, capitalism, influence, and motherhood and has appeared in The Guardian, Literary Hub, Huffington Post, Bustle, Simplify Magazine, the Dispatch, Whalebone Magazine and more.
As the founder of acclaimed Folk Rebellion and a critic of today's culture, Elefante’s award-winning works shine a light on the untenability of our times and have been featured by Vogue, The Atlantic, Inc., Los Angeles Times, The Observer, Writer’s Digest, Vice, Paper Mag, Wired, and elsewhere.
Her short documentary “What Day Is It?” was awarded semi-finalist of Flickers RIIFF and an Official Selection of Beverly Hills Film Festival and New York Shorts Film Festival, for its portrayal of a mother's perspective on the ever-shifting emotional and mental states of lockdown. In her previous life as a brand strategist, she was recognized on Brand Innovators “40 under 40” list for winning her clients industry recognition including Webby, Edison, and AdAge awards. Jess has proudly been a guest lecturer at Columbia Business School and New York University sharing her expertise in entrepreneurship and branding.
Currently she’s using her experience in tech and media as a co-chair for Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA). For her work as an artist and writer she’s honored to be a judge for the 2024 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She's influenced by the social, cultural, and technological circumstances of her life, but mostly, of her desire to lead a colorful one. Raised in upstate New York, she now lives in Brooklyn with her family. She is no longer bullshitting.
Today's episode is about our kid's access to pornography.
Kids are getting access to porn earlier and earlier. I wondered, how is the early access to today's boundary-pushing pornography affecting them? So I brought in Kristen A. Jenson of Defend Young Minds.
Kristen advises parents when and how to have the conversation about pornography with our kids. One thing I learned -- we cannot let the internet teach our kids about sex and porn. The risks are too great.
Website/Books: www.defendyoungminds.com/books
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefendYM/
Instagram: @defendyoungminds
X (formerly Twitter): @defendYM
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/defend-young-minds
About Kristen A. Jenson:
Author of #1 best-selling Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids, Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr: A Simple Plan to Protect Young Minds, and Good Pictures Bad Pictures Guidebook for Counseling Kids, executive producer of Brain Defense: Digital Safety curriculum, the founder of DefendYoungMinds.com, and owner and CEO of Glen Cove Press LLC.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
🧐 New research from Pew Research Center on social media influence
💰 Issue One releases amount of $$ Big Tech spent lobbying against online safety
📱 NY Times Opinion: Are smartphones driving our teens to depression?
⚖️ Is Big Tech funding biased research studies?
👩⚖️ Updates on the TikTok law...will it be overturned?
🔐 A new solution for smartphone problems at school. Washington post article here.
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school.
Today's episode features the incredible Reagan Berry, a High School Principal in West Texas.
This episode is all about Snapchat. It's a breakdown of the features that are harmful for minors (there are quite a few).
I brought in Titania Jordan for this conversation, who is the Chief Marketing Officer of Bark Technologies.
This episode actually took a crazy turn when I find out that Snapchat seems to have lied about turning off their controversial Solar System feature by default.
Parents: If your child is on Snapchat or asking for Snapchat, please listen to this episode to ensure you're preparing them for what they may encounter on this harmful platform.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
You can get 10% off the entire life of your Bark App subscription! Just use code: SCROLLING2DEATH
Check out the Bark Phone: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2deathbp
Check out the Bark App: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2death_bark
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
👨⚖️ President Biden signs TikTok bill into law
‼️ TikTok found to be serving suicide content to minors
👻 Pedophiles are targeting our kids on Snapchat in droves
👨👨👧👦 Georgia passes a new social media law for minors under 16
💰 Instagram found to be profiting off of "nudify" apps
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a series on Scrolling 2 Death featuring candid discussions with teachers. Parents get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school.
Today's episode features 12-grade English teacher Dean Bavisotto.
Today (April 24, 2024) President Biden signed a bill into law that is forcing ByteDance - the Chinese-based company who owns TikTok- to sell TikTok to an American company within a year or face a national ban.
In this episode, I inform parents on what this law actually means for the American people and what will come next.
Parents have been asking me about BeReal. Is it safe? Should we let our kids use it?
I did a deep dive and outlined the pros and cons of BeReal, in today's mini-episode of Scrolling 2 Death.
This interview with former Congressional staffer Patrick Lyden gives parents an understanding of how our children are currently protected when they spend time online and what legislation is needed.
The biggest takeaway for me is that parents need to speak up about what we want regarding kids online safety.
We also break down what's happening with the TikTok "ban," social media age restrictions, the current state of tech in schools and much more in the digital safety space.
NOTE: This conversation took place on April 8th. There have been legislative updates since then related to the safety bills discussed, in addition to the TikTok "divest-or-ban" bill. Visit my Instagram (@scrolling2death) to get real-time updates on all of these topics.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
More about Patrick:
Patrick Lyden is founder of CurrentStrategic, a government relation, business development, and strategic initiatives firm based in Washington, DC. Patrick brings more than 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, including in Congress and political campaigns. Over his career, he has maintained strong bipartisan relationships in and out of government.
From start-up to the largest private sector companies, Patrick has led clients to successfully engage with government stakeholders and develop partnerships with leading organizations and businesses. A skilled communicator, Patrick leverages his broad understanding of the legislative process and decades of relationships across the federal government, foreign governments, business, associations, and non-profits to assist clients in crafting and meeting their strategic and policy objectives. Patrick uses his extensive experience in building and engaging in coalitions to drive forward client priorities.
Prior to founding CurrentStrategic, Patrick led strategic initiatives for a robotics startup and co-led Congressional advocacy efforts for Uber Technology with a focus on the new economy, the workforce of the future, and emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles. Prior to that, Patrick worked for leading Members of Congress as a Chief of Staff and as senior staff for several committees of the House of Representatives. Patrick lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, Sarah Rittling, and their two daughters.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a brand new series here on Scrolling 2 Death. In these candid discussions with teachers, parents get the real deal on what's happening with screens in the classroom.
Today's episode features High School teachers Matt Miles and Joe Clement. Matt and Joe are incredible advocates in this space and are authors of one of my favorite books, Screen Schooled: Two Veteran Teachers Expose How Technology Overuse Is Making Our Kids Dumber
Be sure not to miss our version of "Mean Tweets" toward the end of the episode!
This episode is all about social media safety. I constantly wonder; will my children be safe on social media? The short answer is no.
To advise on the topic, I brought in Marc Berkman, who is the CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety.
Together, we walk through evidence-based harms that exist on social media and proposed legislation to make social media a safer space for us to connect.
We also discuss this week's congressional hearing where we will learn more about 9 proposed online safety bills including KOSA, Sammy's Law, COPPA 2.0, APRA and others. Fingers crossed for creating safer online spaces for us and our children to connect!
Check out OFSMS: https://www.socialmediasafety.org/
Tell your representative if online safety for children is important to you. Visit this link and enter your ZIP code at the top-right: https://www.house.gov/
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Welcome to Teachers Talk, a brand new series here on Scrolling 2 Death. In these candid discussions with teachers, parents get the real deal on what's happening with screens in the classroom.
Today's episode features 9th grade Language Arts teacher Tara Hodgson. After 17 years of teaching, Tara has a well-earned perspective on how technology in school is affecting our kids.
This conversation is all about our attention span. Where did it go? How do we regain control of attention?
I was honored to be joined by data scientist and psychologist Dr. Gloria Mark. We dove into many of the issues that parents deal with on a daily basis; attention span, multitasking, digital habits and much more.
I left this conversation with a much better understanding of what I can do in the home to regain control of my attention (and my kids' attentions) and lessen stress levels.
Meet Dr. Gloria Mark Gloria Mark is Chancellor’s Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. She received her PhD from Columbia University in psychology and studies the impact of digital media on people’s lives. She takes a deep dive in examining multitasking, interruptions, and mood with the use of digital devices. She has published over 200 articles, and in 2017 was inducted into the ACM SIGCHI Academy which recognizes leaders in the field of human-computer interaction. She has presented her work at SXSW and the Aspen Ideas Festival, and her research has appeared in the popular media, e.g. New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Atlantic, the BBC, and many others.
Over 3.3 billion humans play video games. It can be an activity that connects us and brings people together from all over the world. There has been quite an evolution in gaming over the past couple of decades.
Before I handed my young kids a gaming console, I wanted to know...what is gaming today really like. So I got on the line with gamers to find out what's really happening in the games spaces of today.
What was revealed to me about gaming, particularly gaming online, is that there's a lot going on...things that parents need to know and things we need to talk to our kids about. It's truly not all fun and games.
Thank you to the gamers who were so open and honest with their gaming experiences. You guys are the best.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Welcome to the first installment of Teachers Talk, a brand new series here on Scrolling 2 Death. In these candid discussions with teachers, parents get the real deal on what's happening with screens at school.
Today's episode features college instructor Dr. Jason Robinson. We discussed the pitfalls, and even the benefits, of allowing devices in his college lecture hall.
Meet Dr. Robinson
Dr. Jason Robinson is a Senior Lecturer at the University of North Georgia. He currently is a Faculty member in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. Dr. Robinson primarily teaches students in a pre-nursing tract and other majors requiring critical thinking - but not Chemistry major level instruction. Additionally, he is a frequent presenter to parents and first-generation students at the University. Dr. Robinson holds Master's and Doctorate Degrees in Photonics from Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana.
In this conversation, I was joined by Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes to dive into all things digital safety. We talk about when and how to give your child a device, danger areas online, how to talk to your child about online risks and much, much more.
Chris is a wealth of information, having spoken in countless schools and to parent groups around the country.
About Chris McKenna:
Former consultant, youth ministry director. Author of resources for families and churches on digital safety and pornography. His 2019 US Senate testimony catalyzed new online child protection laws and earned PYE the Dignity Defense Alert Award. Now an advisor to legislators and global tech companies on policies and feature improvements. The PYE team performs hundreds of presentations globally and was featured in the Childhood 2.0 movie. Chris is married to Andrea, enjoys family road trips, nature, running, and candy, and is father to four.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Disclaimer: This conversation discusses child sexual abuse material. Please listen or watch with caution.
This is a conversation that no one wants to have, but everyone should be having. It's about Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
Cyber trauma expert Cath Knibbs joins me today on Scrolling 2 Death to educate parents on what is happening with our childrens' photos online. You'll get a basic understanding of the risks and how to avoid them. I cannot stress the importance of understanding the landscape of CSAM in today's world.
This topic is horrible. It’s icky. It’s extremely difficult to hear about.
But the truth is that there are hundreds of millions of CSAM photos and videos being shared, traded and sold…content that is either self-generated by the children or stolen from parents’ social media posts.
As a parent, I want to know what’s happening with CSAM in order to protect my children from CSAM. Hopefully you’ll join me in educating yourselves, as well.
Cath is an Online Harms Consultant, Trainer, Speaker, Author and Psychotherapist. Learn more about her work at: https://www.childrenandtech.co.uk or on IG @catherine_knibbs and TikTok @cath_knibbs.
***If you think a child may be at immediate risk of abuse, call 911 or your local police.
If you would like to report CSAM, review the following resources.
United States:
Organization to contact: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Website: report.cybertip.org/
Phone number: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
Globally:
https://report.iwf.org.uk/org/
Stat Clarification: NCMEC's CyberTipline received 32 million reports in 2022, resulting in 80 million pieces of content.
This episode is all about drug sales on social media. If you think this can't get your child, you're mistaken.
Nicki interviews Bill Bodner, retired DEA Special Agent in Charge to expose the modern day drug market, which is social media. No longer do people have to go to a seedy area to purchase illegal drugs. They only have to open their phone and click on Snapchat.
In this conversation, Special Agent Bodner details exactly how drug dealers are getting in front of our kids and what parents can do to guide our children away from these dangerous substances.
There are important takeaways here related to counterfeit drugs made to look like prescription pills, though are laced with fentanyl. The information in this episode could realistically save your child's life.
About Bill Bodner (DEA-Ret.)
Meet Bill Bodner, recently retired after a near 32-year federal law enforcement career with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. At the time of his retirement, Bodner was the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division office, where he oversaw all criminal investigative matters and all controlled prescription drug administrative and civil matters in the states of Nevada and Hawaii, the US Territories of Guam and Saipan and the seven counties that make up the greater Los Angeles area.
Since retiring from federal service, Bodner started a private consulting and investigation company and frequently works pro-bono for investigative journalists, helping them uncover and document criminal schemes. He also co-hosts a popular podcast called Truth Nation.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This is a relatable and candid conversation about the digital devices shaping our children's lives, as we tackle the challenges of parenting in the age of technology.
In this episode, Nicki is joined by the incredible Nate Webb, an esteemed school speaker, professional counselor, devoted husband, and father. With his expertise spanning bullying prevention, screen time management, and digital safety, Nate brings invaluable insights to the table.
Together, we navigate through the myriad concerns confronting modern parents, addressing pressing issues such as:
Join us as we delve into these critical topics, offering practical advice, expert insights, and actionable strategies to empower parents in navigating the digital landscape and nurturing a safe and healthy environment for our children.
This is the story of Selena Rodriguez, who took her own life at 11 years old after suffering an extreme social media addiction.
Selena's mom, Tammy, is a warrior who shares Selena's story to help other families avoid this tragedy.
Disclaimer: This episode includes the story of an 11-year-old who died by suicide. If this will be too upsetting for you, please skip to the next episode.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. These services are free and confidential.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode is all about how cyberbullying is affecting our kids.
Trisha Prabhu, an anti-bullying advocate and founder of the ReThink app, shares her journey and insights on cyberbullying and social media. She emphasizes the importance of early conversations with children about technology and the internet, as well as creating transparency and collaboration in setting rules and expectations.
In this conversation, we cover tons of topics including:
Learn about the ReThink app here: https://www.rethinkwords.com
Conenct with Trisha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trishprabhu
In this episode, I gain clarity into how we got here...to a place where young children are accessing technology that can harm them.
Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention Council breaks down the legislation (or lack thereof) that exists to protect kids online, potential new laws and current lawsuits against social media companies. We also go deep into the fentanyl epidemic and how these illegal drugs are finding their way to our children through Snapchat.
Paul has intimate knowledge into social media harms through his personal relationships with the families that have been affected. You can get to know these families at a new website called ParentsSOS: https://www.parentssos.org
You may recognize the official mascot of NCPC, McGruff the Crime Dog. For over 40 years, McGruff has been helping people "take a bite out of crime" through his awareness campaigns. Over the years, McGruff has been focusing more and more on online crimes, which was the focus of our discussion today.
About Paul DelPonte:
Paul DelPonte is an accomplished nonprofit executive, award-winning communicator and consumer advocate. As Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Council, his work is focused on expanding NCPC’s impact and introducing McGruff the Crime Dog® to a new, digitally savvy generation of Americans.
Over his decades-long career, DelPonte guided a range of nonprofit organizations, foundations and corporations to reach broader audiences through digital outreach and other communications. Other major accomplishments include leading a coalition to promote greater civic engagement, boosting public education on how forests help protect the environment, and coordinating campaigns on mental health parity, dietary supplements, child nutrition, and to increase NIH funding. In 2015, he had his own “McGruff® Moment,” when he came forward as a whistleblower to stop theft and fraud in a federal job training program for seniors and veterans.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
The highlights for this week:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
It is all too common to simply hand your child your old iPhone. This episode breaks down why you should NOT do that very thing.
Scrolling 2 Death Host Nicki Reisberg and CMO of Bark Technologies Titania Jordan talk through the functionality a parent would want their children to access with a phone, and compare what's available with the iPhone versus the Bark Phone.
This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
You can get 10% off the entire life of your Bark App subscription! Just use code: SCROLLING2DEATH
This episode is your guide to giving your kid a phone. In this conversation, Hannah Oertel lays out the ideal pathway for our children's phone journey. If you've been stressed about when to give a phone or which phone to give, this is the episode for you!
You can make a difference in mental health outcomes for your child, with this one decision; When and how you give your kid a phone. Don't ignore the risks.
Hannah also shares a few of the lesser-known ways that smartphones are affecting our kids physically. I was shocked at what I learned! We discuss phone use in schools, social media use and other screen-related topics.
About Hannah:
Hannah is a therapist and mother and launched the campaign, Delay Smartphones to help protect children from the dangers of smartphones.
The first generation of children who were given smartphones before high school are now adults. We now know for every year younger they were given smartphones by their parents, the worse their mental health is today. That same generation is begging us not to make the same mistake.
Hannah is passionate about supporting parents to make informed decisions on when to give their children their first smartphones. Her aim is to see children free from smartphones until at least the age of 14 and using child appropriate alternative devices until a smartphone is necessary.
Hannah lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with her husband and two daughters.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
This week’s Big Tech Gut Check highlights:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
It's time for a fresh discussion about sharing our kids online. AKA #Sharenting
Parents everywhere continue to share, despite the growing risks.
In this episode, I break down the current state of sharenting in today's digital era, including; the risks of CSAM and AI-generate deep fake nudes, the short-term and long-term effects on our children, an analysis of why we share and thoughts around how our sharing can effect other parents.
A takeaway for today:
*Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) refers to any content that depicts sexually explicit activities involving a child. This was previously referred to as "child pornography." As pornography implies consent, this term is no longer appropriate to use in reference to children.
In this conversation, parent survivor Maurine Molak shares the story of her son David, who experienced relentless cyberbullying which led to his tragic suicide.
The cyberbullying occurred mainly on Instagram and gaming chats, and went unreported by both David and hundreds of observers.
Cyberbullying can have a devastating impact on kids and teens, leading to anxiety, depression and even suicide.
Parents need to be educated on the signs and how to react when our own children are dealing with this issue. Maurine gives insight on all of the above.
For parents who would like to learn more about the Kids Online Safety Act and online safety advocacy in general, you can visit https://www.parentssos.org.
To learn more about Maurine's organization David's Legacy Foundation, visit: https://www.davidslegacy.org
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.
This week’s Big Tech Gut Check highlights:
Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This episode serves as a parent's guide to kids and tech.
Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies has dedicated her life to educating parents and making the digital world safer for kids.
In this conversation, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Reisberg and Titania reveal the findings of Bark's Annual Report on Children and Technology. Parents will learn:
All of the above is revealed in this eye-opening conversation.
PROMO CODE: Use code SCROLLING2DEATH for 10% off the life of your Bark App subscription.
Titania Jordan is the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parent Officer of Bark Technologies, an online safety company that helps keep kids safe online and in real life.
You can access Bark's Annual Report on Children and Technology here.
Here's a link to the Facebook Group: Parenting in a Tech World
If you have a teenager (or pre-teen), this episode is a MUST-LISTEN.
The fentanyl epidemic is finding its way into our own front yard through our children's access to drug dealers on Snapchat and other social media platforms.
In this episode, you'll hear the story of Sammy Chapman, who was 16 years old when he suffered from fentanyl poisoning from a free pill that a drug dealer dropped off at his house. The drug deal took place on Snapchat, which is quickly becoming known as an "open air drug market for kids."
This conversation shines a light on the faulty nature of social media products and the harms that our kids are facing. Sammy's Dad, Sam, give us parents several takeaways that could literally save our child's life.
Learn about Sammy's Law, which aims to make social media platforms safer by allowing third-party safety software integration: https://www.socialmediasafety.org/sammys-law/
There were some hopeful updates this week for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). In this conversation, attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett breaks down the latest updates and what parents should know about their kid's online safety.
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things Big Tech.
This week’s Big Tech Gut Check highlights:
Check back every Friday for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
Some would say that the addictive pull of our phones and the attention economy is the biggest issue society faces today.
Certainly, our children are feeling the effects, with rising rates of depression and suicide.
Sara Robin is an award-winning filmmaker who has dove into exploring the impact that the attention economy is having on our lives.
There is so much to learn from Sara, as she has studied and interviewed countless parents, teens, teachers, doctors and other experts in this space.
Sara is now in development on a new documentary called Your Attention Please, which explores solutions to the problems caused by exploitative tech.
In this conversation between Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Reisberg and Sara Robin, we dive deep into issues facing parents today, including:
You can find out more about the Your Attention Please documentary at: yourattentionplz.com
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things Big Tech.
Check back every Friday for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This week’s Big Tech Gut Check highlights:
The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things Big Tech.
Check back here every Friday for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.
This week’s Big Tech Gut Check focuses on:
In this conversation, family physician Dr. Alison Young (IG: @thesmartphoneeffect) and Nicki Reisberg discuss the impact of screens and social media on mental health. They explore the age at which children are getting smartphones and accessing social media, and the effect that these decisions are having on mental health outcomes, brain development and dopamine levels.
Topics include:
Youth screen time and social media use
A breakdown of how dopamine works related to screen time
What phone options are available to parents these days
The benefits of phone bans in academic settings
The importance of primary prevention around screen activities
This episode is your introduction to dangerous online challenges.
Parent survivor Joann Bogard shares the story of her son, Mason.
Mason Bogard was an adventurous and outdoorsy 15-year-old.
He loved fishing, hiking, camping and woodworking.
He had great friends, went to a good school.
Mason's parents talked to him regularly about online safety and used every parental feature available. They did everything right.
And Mason still fell victim to a social media harm.
Mason passed away in May 2019 after trying the viral choking challenge he viewed on YouTube.
The conversation highlights the lack of regulation and responsibility of social media platforms in preventing harmful content from reaching children.
Joann discusses her advocacy efforts, including a lawsuit against YouTube and TikTok, and support of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
The conversation includes candid tips for parents regarding phones and social media.
You can connect with Joann through: https://www.facebook.com/masonsmessage
To learn more about KOSA, click this link.
Here's an easy link to contact your state Senators, to ask them to support KOSA.
Dr. Carl D. Marci is a physician, neuroscientist, author and entrepreneur with an incredible book for parents called 'Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age.'
In this interview, Dr. Marci answers pressing questions from parents:
The big takeaway from this conversation is how parents can best connect with their children and support their brain development.
Here's a link to Dr. Marci's book 'Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age': https://rewiredthebook.com
This episode is all about social media and our kids. In this conversation, I welcome Imran Ahmed of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, who gets in depth about the risks that social media poses to our children, and gives a roadmap to solve this harmful hamster wheel.
We cover a number of topics relevant to parenting in the digital world, including:
Imran and his team have put together a Parent's Guide for social media use, available here.
Imran Ahmed leads the Center for Countering Digital Hate in stopping the spread of hate and lies online through research, public campaigns and policy advocacy. Learn more about their work at counterhate.com.
If you feel impassioned to write your State Representatives to inform them about your feelings on these issues, click here for a simple form.
Today I welcome Dr. Mark Woodall, a naturopathic doctor practicing in Washington state. In this conversation, we focus on the effects that technology is having on the mental and physical health of today's teenagers.
Dr. Woodall gives parents specific recommendations related to teen mental health, screen time, sleep, physical activity and tech.
Work with Dr. Woodall in Washington.
Here are a few of the resources that Dr. Woodall mentions in this episode:
Info on toxic chemicals: https://www.ewg.org
Book recommendation: https://stolenfocusbook.com
Research around social media and links to mental health outcomes: https://jonathanhaidt.com/social-media/
Amy Neville lost her son Alexander to an overdose after taking one fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill he purchased on Snapchat. She has joined together with over 60 other families who have been harmed in similar ways, and is suing Snap, Inc., alleging the social media platform enables drug dealers in reaching minors and young adults.
In this revealing interview, Amy tells her story and warns parents about the dangers hiding on this concerning platform, tells us what to look for, and provides advice on how to guide our children in an increasingly-digital world. After losing her son, Amy founded the Alexander Neville Foundation, which works to educate youth and communities on teen mental health and the dangers of fentanyl and social media. https://anfhelp.org
Learn more about Neville et. al. vs. Snap here: https://socialmediavictims.org/snapchat-lawsuit/fentanyl/
In this interview, I welcome Sarah from Mom Uncharted. This discussion is all about sharing children online; we dissect digital privacy, informed consent, kid influencers and shed light on the sobering realities of child safety in the digital landscape.
I was especially shocked to learn about the ability for adults to subscribe to exclusive content from children. Parents everywhere must know about this.
More about Sarah:
For two years, Sarah has been exploring the state of sharenting, child exploitation and minor safety on social media. Since then, she’s grown a large and supportive community of like-minded individuals who feel that the way parents are sharing their children online is concerning and that the platforms, governments and brands need to step up to protect a whole generation of children from growing up with a digital footprint that compromised their right to privacy, informed consent and digital safety.
Sarah’s goal has always been to pose questions, offer a different perspective and provide information as it relates to these topics in an attempt to encourage parents to reflect on their own sharing choices, the accounts they are consuming online and better support their children in becoming informed and responsible digital citizens.
Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, Bloomberg, CNN and more. Most recently in the French documentary "Enfants sous influence : surexposés au nom du like".
In what may be a multi-parter, Nicki breaks down the unthinkable responses to a recent video she posted on Instagram about a teen’s suicide.
Thousands of comments from adolescent male gamers don’t lie. In the online gaming communities, there is a blatant lack of empathy and normalization of hate speech, suicide-baiting and oversaturation of cyber-bullying.
In this mini-episode, Nicki discusses this viral Instagram video and the responses, in addition to sharing current research about gaming and the effects on our children.
Today’s mini episode features the witty and hilarious Jenny Mollen. Jenny is a writer, actor, Instagram personality and New York Times bestselling author.
Jenny’s oversharing nature has come into check as she became a mother and faced the ever-concerning decision – to share our kids, or not to share our kids. Online, that is.
As always, Jenny takes us on a swift and thrilling ride through her “latchkey vibes” upbringing and public-facing career which led her to decide that privacy is the way to go.
Connect with Jenny on Instagram at @jennymollen.
Prepare for an eye-opening conversation that will change the way you think about kids and tech.
Join Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death as she dives into an enlightening discussion with attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett (of the Social Media Victims Law Center), unearthing the harsh realities of the harm lurking behind the screens.
We get into loads of hot tech topics, including:
Social media harms vs. benefits
Trends in social media harms
Addictiveness of social media platforms
Which are the most harmful platforms?
Much, much more
Laura pulls back the curtain on the profound impacts of social media on our children, sharing real stories of social media harm and offering tips for parents navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape.
More about Laura:
Laura Marquez-Garrett is a 2002 Harvard Law School graduate and spent the first twenty-years of her career in Big Law, where she oversaw complex litigation matters and specialized in electronic evidence and forensic investigation. In January of 2022, Laura met Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC) founder, Matthew Bergman, and watched the Netflix documentary, Social Dilemma. The following month, she left her predominantly defense-oriented practice to join SMVLC to contribute to the Center’s mission of change and holding social media companies accountable for the harms they are causing to children and families. Since then, Laura has participated in the filing of more than 100 complaints against social media companies in state and federal courts across the country. She filed an Amicus brief in Netchoice v. Bonta on behalf of Fairplay and several other civil society organizations, and in support of California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code (CADC); serves as a Discovery Steering Committee co-lead in the California Judicial Counsel Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP No. 5255); has appeared on podcasts, such as Your Undivided Attention, and other forms of media, such as the released documentary titled “Mark, What’s the Plan,” about social media harms and related issues; addressed the House Energy & Commerce Committee at a Roundtable on the Dangers of Big Tech and the Fentanyl Poisoning Crisis; authored an Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Blade in support of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA); has spoken on panels, met with hundreds of children and families, and is otherwise actively involved in efforts across the globe to force change and hold social media companies accountable for the harms they cause as a matter of platform design.
DISCLAIMER: This episode discusses the suicide of 15-year-old Nate Bronstein. If this topic will be too upsetting for you, please skip to the next episode.
In this episode, Rose Bronstein shares the story of her son Nate.
At the age of 15, Nate died by suicide on January 13, 2022 after facing vicious attacks, harassment and threats of physical harm over text and Snapchat.
This tragic story can happen to any kid. To any family.
In this episode, Nate's mom Rose shares the full story and emphasizes a few important lessons for parents and teens.
Learn more about Rose's work at https://bucketsoverbullying.org/
This interview is dedicated to Carson Bride.
In this emotional conversation, Kristin Bride tells Nicki the personal story of losing her son to suicide after being cyberbullied on anonymous apps linked to Snapchat, and her subsequent advocacy work.
Trigger warning: In this episode, we talk about suicide. If this will be too difficult for you, please skip to the next episode.
Kristin also shares her work with the Fairplay Network and the Online Harms Prevention work group, which aims to educate parents on online harms and advocate for legislation. The conversation emphasizes the tragic consequences of online harms and the need for parents to be critical thinkers and protect their children online.
Parents can learn about the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) by visiting passkosa.org and consider taking action to advocate for the legislation.
Takeaways:
In this episode I welcome digital advocate Alix Fraser of Issue One. We take a dive deep into the risks of social media and explore how (and why) social media has been created to be harmful by design.
Alix and Nicki cover a ton of topics important to parents; social media, devices, cyberbullying, sharenting and much more!
Alix introduces Nicki to two bills that would could steer us in the right direction with social media regulation and make the internet safer for children.
Alix Fraser serves as the Director of the Council for Responsible Social Media at Issue One. In this role, Alix leads the cross-partisan Council of political, civic, public health, business, and national security leaders working to address the threats that social media platforms pose to American society. Learn more about this work at issueone.org.
Join Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Reisberg for an enlightening and educational dive into the world of kid-friendly smartphones in this eye-opening episode. Nicki sits down with Bill Brady, the Co-Founder and CEO of Troomi Wireless, a pioneering mobile phone platform committed to fostering children's mental well-being through a balanced and safe relationship with technology. As a father of five, Bill brings a wealth of experience and insight to the discussion, shedding light on essential topics vital for todays’ parents.
Throughout the conversation, Bill and Nicki explore an array of critical issues that resonate with every parent. From the paramount importance of digital safety and the introduction of safe smartphones tailored for kids, to navigating the complexities of teens and social media, the discussion is rich with valuable insights. Delving into the risks and benefits of phone usage for younger children and the emergence of smartwatches designed with kids in mind, they address pressing concerns.
The dialogue extends beyond mere usage to encompass the gamut of potential risks in the digital sphere, encompassing cyberbullying, sextortion, the surge of depression, and even the physical effects associated with excessive tech consumption. Moreover, the conversation delves into the role of phones in educational settings, uncovering the nuances of phone use in schools.
It's important to note that Scrolling 2 Death is an independent platform and not affiliated with Troomi Wireless.
However, as a gesture, Troomi is extending an exclusive $80 discount to Scrolling 2 Death listeners on a Troomi phone.
Simply use the code TROOMI80 at checkout on www.troomi.com to claim this special offer.
More about Bill Brady: In a career spanning 20 years as a marketing executive, Bill Brady has owned two marketing agencies serving Fortune 500 brands. Since 2018, he has focused on providing children with healthier solutions for using technology and is the co-founder and CEO of Troomi Wireless, a mobile phone platform designed to improve kids’ mental health through a safe and balanced relationship with technology. Bill holds a degree in Marketing/PR from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Utah. He lives in Highland, UT, with his wife and five kids.
Illinois-based high school art teacher Bill Henricks takes you behind the curtain in this revealing interview. Get ready for an insider's perspective on the realities of phone restrictions in schools. Bill and Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki delve deep into the primary objections to phone bans, unpacking concerns ranging from security issues to navigating medical exceptions and potential legal ramifications. This candid conversation sheds light on the multifaceted challenges faced by educators and parents alike when it comes to balancing the benefits and drawbacks of smartphones in educational settings. By tuning in to this episode, parents and educators gain invaluable insights, fostering a bridge of understanding between these two critical stakeholders in a child's education. The priority is crystal clear: safeguarding our children's mental health amidst the pervasive influence of screens. Encouraging open and compassionate dialogue around these crucial topics is paramount.
Also available as a video podcast on YouTube. Learn more about The Phone Locker at https://phonelocker.org (a simple solution to a big distraction)
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
Prepare to get serious insight into the complexities of sharenting and digital privacy in this eye-opening episode featuring the esteemed Leah Plunkett, as she joins Nicki for a deep dive into the multifaceted world of sharenting and digital privacy. Leah Plunkett is author of the acclaimed book Sharenthood: Why We Should Think Before We Talk about Our Kids Online, a faculty member at Harvard Law School, and a faculty associate with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. To learn more about Leah's groundbreaking work and to grab a copy of her book, visit leahplunkett.com. Exploring the intricate dynamics surrounding the disclosure of digital data about children, Leah and Nicki shed light on the critical implications that often go unnoticed. From the potential invasion of privacy to the threats posed to children's current and future opportunities, and the hindrance of their ability to cultivate a genuine sense of self, we offer listeners a comprehensive understanding of the far-reaching consequences of this digital practice. The episode also delves into the increasing risks associated with generative AI and the alarming prevalence of child sexual abuse material, underscoring the urgent need for heightened vigilance and protective measures in the online sphere. Bringing a unique legal perspective to the table, Leah addresses crucial questions that every parent might have. We also delve into the fascinating world of "kidfluencers" and the pertinent issue of their limited rights to compensation for their online content, a topic that calls for widespread attention and advocacy. As an acclaimed author of the thought-provoking book, "Sharenthood: Why We Should Think Before We Talk about Our Kids Online," Leah Plunkett brings unparalleled expertise to the table, offering a wealth of knowledge and actionable insights. Join us as we unravel the legal intricacies, discuss the existing laws protecting children online, and delve into ways in which parents can actively advocate for greater digital protection within their local communities.
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of adolescent brain development in this jam-packed episode! Join Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Reisberg as she sits down with the incredible Nicola Morgan, aka "The Teenage Brain Woman," for an eye-opening chat that's perfect for parents navigating the maze of child-rearing.
Nicola, a rockstar author with over 100 books under her belt, knows a thing or two about teenage wellbeing. From how stress and anxiety affect learning to the impact of screens and social media on young minds, she's got the inside scoop.
Starting off as an English teacher and diving into supporting dyslexic students, Nicola's journey sparked her fascination with the learning brain. In this episode, she spills the beans on how technology is shaping the brains of today's teens, giving parents the lowdown on what's happening behind those screens.
They dive into hot topics like helicopter parenting, screen addiction, staying focused in a world full of distractions, and the eternal quest for balance amidst the digital chaos. Plus, they tackle recent trends like phone bans in different countries, dissecting what it means for the younger generation.
This conversation will arm parents with the knowledge they need to navigate the digital landscape while supporting their kids' mental and emotional well-being. Tune in for a peek into the ever-evolving teenage brain and grab some practical tips to guide your child through the digital age!
Connect with Nicola Morgan on her website and on Substack!
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
Buckle up for a laughter-filled heart-to-heart in this fabulous interview featuring the one and only, Jennifer Kelman, LCSW – your soon-to-be new best friend! Trust us, her wit and relatability will have you feeling like you've known her for ages.
In this vulnerable discussion, Nicki Reisberg and Ashley Hudson team up with the incredible Jennifer Kelman to dish out some seriously candid and valuable insights on all things parenting. From the eternal struggle of managing screen time to the nerve-wracking decision of when to hand over that first phone and navigate the wild world of social media, they leave no stone unturned. We go into detail on the Pinwheel phone and other teen-safe phone products.
And that's just the beginning! Get ready to dive headfirst into the ever-relevant topic of 'sharenting' and why it's got everyone talking. Plus, you won't want to miss the scoop on the most common issues that Jen encounters on JustAnswer.
But wait, there's more! Brace yourselves for some real talk about the ongoing debate of whether or not to allow phones at school, and pick up some invaluable tips on keeping a watchful eye on your child's device without being labeled the 'overbearing parent.' Oh, and let's not forget the crucial discussion on body image and the complex realities of navigating eating disorders in today's digital world.
So, what are you waiting for? Join Nicki, Ashley, and the fabulous Jennifer Kelman in this unmissable episode that's packed to the brim with laughter, insight, and plenty of 'a-ha' moments. It's a conversation you won't want to miss!
You can find Jennifer Kelman on JustAnswer here or by searching @TherapistJen.
If you're interesting in learning more about the Pinwheel phone, here's their website: https://www.pinwheel.com/
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
Get ready for a real heart-to-heart in this super engaging episode where we speak with Liz, a badass mom of four. She shares why she kept social media away from her kids until they were all grown up. We're talking about the good, the bad, and the messy stuff that came with that decision!
From bonding over family time to dodging the drama of cyberbullying and body image blues, we're diving deep into Liz's parenting playbook. We'll be tackling the hot topics too, like 'sharenting' (yeah, that's a thing), the dark side of misinformation, and how to keep an eye on your little ones without suffocating them.
If you're a parent on the fence about when to hand over the social media reins, you absolutely can't miss this one. Liz brings the real talk, and we're here for it. So buckle up and get ready to take some notes, because this chat is packed with wisdom and some seriously honest storytelling.
Big thanks to Liz for opening up and keeping it real with us!
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for short clips and bonus content from this episode!
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
Get ready for an incredibly insightful and eye-opening episode as hosts Nicki and Ashley from Scrolling 2 Death speak with the brilliant human behavior technologist and cyber trauma expert, Cath Knibbs. Together, they venture into the intricate world of digital parenting, unpacking crucial issues that every caregiver needs to be aware of.
This deep dive into the digital realm covers an array of pivotal topics, ensuring that no stone is left unturned when it comes to safeguarding our children in the digital age.
From decoding the concept of cyber-trauma and providing invaluable insights on how to recognize its subtle signs in our children, to shedding light on the often-overlooked repercussions of 'sharenting' in the online sphere, this episode promises to be a game-changer in the way we approach our children's online presence.
The conversation doesn't stop there. With a keen focus on the prevalence of violent online content and the sobering reality of child sex abuse material (CSAM), the hosts and their esteemed guest navigate the treacherous waters of digital exposure, equipping listeners with essential knowledge and practical strategies to protect their loved ones from potential harm.
Drawing on their collective expertise, they also delve into the controversial debate surrounding the impact of violence in entertainment and gaming on real-life behavior, addressing the pressing concerns of screen time and the challenges it poses for today's parents. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!
This episode is an absolute must-listen for anyone navigating the complexities of parenting in the digital age.
Tune in, soak up the wisdom, and don't forget to engage with the hosts and Cath Knibbs by sharing your thoughts and burning questions. Get ready to elevate your understanding and approach to digital parenting like never before!
Please follow and comment with your thoughts and any questions you have for Cath Knibbs or the Scrolling 2 Death hosts.
Learn more about Cath's work at www.childrenandtech.co.uk.
Connect with Cath on LinkedIn.
Connect with Cath on X.
Listen to Cath's podcast called Cyber Synapse.
Watch Cath's Tedx Talk.
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
In this conversation on the Scrolling 2 Death podcast, three business owners come together to discuss the struggles around marketing themselves on social media, finding balance, dealing with bots and much more.
Get ready to fall in love with the incredible Sydney Belina, a world-renowned fitness entrepreneur, FitOn Trainer and Founder of the movement called Flight Fitness. Syd takes us behind the curtain of a successful social media presence and what it takes to create an engaged community, while always prioritizing in-person connections.
In this episode, we dive into:
You can find out more about Sydney Belina and try out a virtual class in her digital studio through www.sydneybelina.com. Also, you're going to want to connect with Sydney on Instagram at @sydneybelina.
What would you do if you found texts about murder on your 10-year-old's phone?
In this interview on the Scrolling 2 Death podcast, hosts Nicki and Ashley welcome a mom of 4 named Jess. Jess was shocked to find disturbing content and cyber-bullying on her 10-year-old's phone.
Listen to Jess' full story and what she has learned in this brand new episode.
Topics include:
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
In our first interview-style episode, Scrolling 2 Death co-hosts Nicki and Ashley speak with accomplished pyschotherapist and keynote speaker Nicole Runyon.
In this vulnerable interview, we discuss a number of topics related to parenting, screen time and mental health, specifically:
- How screen time is negatively affecting our children's development
- How to work through the generational differences which can cause a barrier between parent and child
- Social media safety and sharenting
- Parent-child conflict around screen time
- Should parents be monitoring their teenagers online?
More about Nicole Runyon:
Nicole Runyon LMSW is a well-respected psychotherapist with 20+ years of experience specializing in child and adolescent mental health. She is a leading expert with this population and a sought-after speaker on topics such as technology’s effects on mental health, child development, and how generational differences in parenting affect the iGeneration whose mental health is deteriorating.
Nicole is highly recognized as an expert in her field and speaks to large audiences. Nicole has been featured in the media to talk about her expertise on how technology affects child and adolescent mental health. She has a deep passion for children and has dedicated her life’s work to helping them develop properly and thrive as young adults.
You can find out more about Nicole's work at nicolerunyon.com.
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Reisberg recently tested out a No Phone Day (NPD). In this episode, Nicki takes co-host Ashley through her day, sharing the struggles and observations.
Support the showA quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
YouTube Kids is safe for kids, right?
Wrong. Nothing online is completely safe.
27% of videos watched by kids 8 and under on YouTube Kids are actually intended for older audiences. And 6% of videos include mild or moderate sexual content.
Pair this with the addictive features and manipulative advertisements, and you may re-consider letting your kid watch YouTube Kids without your oversight.
In this episode, Scrolling 2 Death co-hosts Nicki and Ashley reveal the truth behind YouTube Kids.
A few takeaways:
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
Are you spending thousands of dollars to go on vacation, just to be on your phone?
We've all shared our vacations with our social media audience. But should we? What would happen if we didn't? We can all agree that we would be more present, connect more deeply with our travel companions and have more actual memories of the trip.
From the island of Kauai, Ashley and Nicki have a personal and vulnerable discussion about their own experiences posting during vacations.
We uncover some of the security risks that you may be exposing yourselves to if you post on vacation, and the benefits of not sharing every moment with the audience back home.
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Are we giving our kids the iPad too much?
This is the question that Nicki and Ashley dive into on today's episode of Scrolling 2 Death.
We've all seen kids on their iPads at a restaurant, and maybe even handed one to our own kid. This episode will make you rethink doing this, as there are consequences for your kids, both developmentally and socially.
We share the latest research around screen time in children that all parents need to know.
A few takeaways:
Research:
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Subscribe to this channel for super-special bonus episodes: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/subscribe
In this episode, Scrolling 2 Death co-hosts Nicki and Ashley share the rise in suicide rates and the correlation with the increase in prolonged social media use.
We share with you 5 real stories of teens and pre-teens who died by suicide as a result of social media use. RIP: Carson Bride, Jordan DeMay, CJ Dawley, Ian James Ezquerra, Selena Rodriguez and all others who have lost their lives too soon.
It's National Suicide Prevention Week (hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). Their slogan is "Talk away the dark." Here at Scrolling 2 Death, we're dedicated to bringing these conversations to the forefront.
Resources & Research:
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
In this episode, Scrolling 2 Death co-hosts Nicki and Ashley ask themselves the question...is social media safe?
Join us as we talk through the four biggest risks that we are exposing ourselves and our children to by using social media, and get into detail on what parents need to know about; online fraud & theft, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content and social media addictiveness.
Nicki also outlines the legislation that exists to protect us from social media risks.
CORRECTION: Nicki mentions that Section 230 passed in 1995. The correct year is 1996. Whoops!
SUPPORT KOSA: The "Kids Online Safety Act" is a bill that sets out requirements to protect minors from harm on social media platforms. Find out if your state Senator has co-sponsored these bills here. If he/she is not listed, visit their website and contact them. Ask them to co-sponsor KOSA.
Resources & Research:
A quick note: This podcast covers topics such as suicide, disordered eating and traumatic events. Listener discretion is advised.
Let’s Talk: This may sound counterintuitive to our message, but go to Instagram and follow us at @scrolling2death. We’re there for you – to have real and honest conversations. Comment on any of our posts and tell us what you’re struggling with related to social media. What would you like us to cover in future episodes?
You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions or comments. We'd also love to hear your stories and experiences with social media.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Please take a moment to give us a follow and a 5-star rating, wherever you are listening!
Visit our website for more information about Scrolling 2 Death: www.scrolling2death.com
Scrolling 2 Death is a podcast for parents worried about social media.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.