Scrolling 2 Death

Is AI really going to kill us all? ft. Sarah Gardner Oct 12, 2026 00:30:46 AI experts are warning us that the risks are real—and that we may be running out of time to get this right. So why are we racing to build it faster, and why are the people creating AI asking for guardrails while our government backs away from regulation?Nicki Petrossi brought in Sarah Gardner of the Heat Initiative to unpack the AI headlines keeping parents up at night, from a whistleblower’s warn

Frances Haugen: The Woman Behind The Social Reckoning Oct 9, 2026 00:37:46 Five years ago, Frances Haugen walked away from Facebook and exposed what the company knew about the harms its platforms were causing—including the impact on children. Now, with The Social Reckoning bringing her story to the screen, Frances joins Scrolling 2 Death for a powerful conversation about what has changed, what hasn’t, and where we go from here.Frances opens up about what it was really li

Your Attention Please: The Stories Behind the Film (ft. Kristin Bride and Sara Robin) Oct 6, 2026 00:34:34 What happens when the technology designed to connect us starts pulling us away from our humanity?In this deeply personal conversation, I’m joined by Your Attention Please director Sara Robin and parent survivor Kristin Bride to talk about the story behind the film—and the movement it captures.Kristin’s son Carson’s experience with cyberbullying became one of the threads connecting this documentary

We saw The Social Reckoning [MINI-EPISODE] Oct 2, 2026 00:13:07 We saw The Social Reckoning—and we have a lot to say.Sarah Gardner (of Heat Initiative) and I got an early look at The Social Reckoning, and even after everything we thought we knew about Meta, we walked away with a deeper understanding of how Facebook became so powerful, addictive, and harmful. We talk about what surprised us, the bravery of Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen, what the film reveal

Your Child’s First Device: A Psychologist Weighs In (ft. Dr. Carrie Mackensen & Titania Jordan) Sep 28, 2026 00:47:20 When is your child ready for their first phone or watch—and how do you make that transition without handing over too much, too soon? In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist Dr. Carrie Mackensen and Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies for a very real conversation about giving our kids their first devices.We talk about the iPad that often comes before the first phone, why “educational” screen ti

Big Tech's Education Playbook: Exposed (ft. NY Times journalist Natasha Singer) Sep 21, 2026 00:43:44 What happens when Big Tech gets to decide what our kids learn?Technology companies have worked their way into our schools—not just providing the devices and software, but influencing curriculum, training teachers, lobbying lawmakers, and shaping what educators are told our kids need to succeed.In this episode, I sit down with NY Times journalist Natasha Singer, author of Coding Kids, to unpack how

I gave my kid their first device (ft. Sarah Gardner & Titania Jordan) Sep 14, 2026 00:33:41 What happens when two parents who have spent years saying “not yet” to devices finally decide their kids are ready?In this conversation, Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner share their very personal experiences giving their oldest children a first device — the Bark Watch — and why they chose a tool designed for communication without opening the door to social media, browsers, games, or endless scroll

Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition (Part 4) Aug 31, 2026 00:52:11 What can parents actually do when their child's school is using too much technology?In the final episode of our Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition back-to-school series, I'm joined by Emily Cherkin, The Screentime Consultant, a former middle school teacher, parent, author, and longtime advocate for healthier technology use in schools.Using questions submitted by parents, we tackle some o

Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition (Part 3) Aug 24, 2026 00:44:16 Part 3 with Dr. Jared Cooney-HorvathIs classroom technology actually helping children learn—or have we accepted a massive educational experiment without the evidence to support it?In Part 3 of our Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, I'm joined by neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath to examine what decades of brain science actually tell us about screens, AI, and learning.Using

Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition (Part 2) Aug 17, 2026 00:33:32 Part 2: Chris McKenna of Protect Young EyesCan your child access YouTube, AI chatbots, or the open internet on their school-issued device? And if so, who is responsible for keeping them safe?In Part 2 of our Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, I'm joined by Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes and one of the nation's leading experts on digital safety for children.Usin

Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition (Part 1) Aug 10, 2026 00:36:34 Part 1 with superintendent Dr. Greg TarantoSchools were promised that more technology would improve education. But did it?In this episode of Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition, Superintendent Dr. Greg Taranto shares why his district made the bold decision to eliminate screens in K–2 classrooms, reduce technology use across all grade levels, and move away from EdTech platforms like IXL in favor o

How AI Is Impacting Kids: What Every Parent Needs to Know (with Titania Jordan) Jul 27, 2026 00:48:40 Artificial intelligence (AI) is already woven into nearly every part of our children's digital lives—from Google searches and school-issued devices to Snapchat, Instagram, voice assistants, and AI chatbots. In this episode, Nicki Petrossi brings in Bark Technologies' Titania Jordan to unpack where kids are accessing AI, the growing risks parents should understand, and how families can navi

The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: The Evidence (with attorney Previn Warren) Jul 21, 2026 00:31:43 The courtroom battles are still unfolding, and the evidence continues to grow.In this episode of The Heat is On: Big Tech on Trial, Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner chat with attorney Previn Warren, co-lead counsel on thousands of federal lawsuits brought against TikTok, YouTube, Meta, and Snap. They discuss the landmark case brought by Kayley (KGM), who won her lawsuit after evidence showed that

The Heat is On...DC: How many more? (with parent survivor Amy Neville) Jul 6, 2026 00:31:35 This week, Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner take listeners to Washington, D.C., following an emotional and powerful Social Media Victims Remembrance Day (SMVRD)—a day dedicated to honoring the children lost to social media harms and the families fighting to prevent more names from being added to the memorial each year.The episode explores why families, advocates, and lawmakers gathered on Capitol

The Heat is On...Snapchat (One Week on Snapchat as a 7th Grader) Jun 29, 2026 00:26:57 What really happens when a 13-year-old joins Snapchat?In this episode, we break down a disturbing new investigation from ParentsTogether Action and Heat Initiative that followed two avatar accounts posing as 7th graders on Snapchat for just one week — and what researchers found is deeply alarming.The report claims Snapchat recommended hundreds of unsafe videos to the teen accounts, including drug

Is the iPhone Finally Safe for Kids? (with Titania Jordan & Chris McKenna) Jun 22, 2026 00:36:07 Apple wants parents to celebrate its latest parental control updates. But child safety advocates aren't buying the hype.In this episode, I brought in Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies and Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes to separate PR from reality. They discuss why Apple's changes arrived only after mounting lawsuits and legislative pressure, what the company still isn't doing to

The Heat is On...Apple (powered by child sexual abuse) Jun 15, 2026 00:33:04 Apple has built its brand on privacy, trust, and innovation. But when it comes to protecting children, has the company done enough?In this episode of The Heat Is On, hosts Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner examine Apple's long and controversial history with child safety. While Apple recently announced new parental controls and family safety features at WWDC 2026, critics say the company continu

New Data Exposes the School Tech Crisis (with Titania Jordan) May 25, 2026 00:24:26 When schools hand children Chromebooks, iPads, Google accounts, and Microsoft Teams access, what’s really happening behind the screen?In this eye-opening conversation, Titania Jordan joins Nicki Petrossi to reveal alarming new data from Bark Technologies’s monitoring of school-issued technology used by millions of students across the U.S.The findings are staggering:12% of children encountered cybe

The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Beyond the Headlines (with Kaley’s lead attorney Mark Lanier) May 18, 2026 00:56:20 Legendary trial attorney Mark Lanier joins Nicki and Sarah for an emotional, behind-the-scenes look at the landmark social media addiction trial that ended in a jury verdict against Meta and YouTube.For nearly two months, we sat inside the Los Angeles courtroom documenting every moment — filling 589 pages of notes as grieving parents, advocates, reporters, jurors, and teams of attorneys battled ov

The Canvas Breach: 275 Million People at Risk (with attorney Andy Liddell) May 11, 2026 00:24:34 When parents log into Canvas, they expect homework assignments and grades — not ransom notes.In this urgent episode, I spoke with attorney Andrew Liddell about the massive alleged breach involving Instructure and its learning management platform, Canvas, reportedly affecting thousands of schools and millions of students, teachers, and college faculty worldwide.Here's a full list of the 8,000+

This Isn't a Parenting Problem (with Glen Pounder of Scouting America) May 4, 2026 00:32:16 When kids are harmed online, the first question people ask is: “Where were the parents?”In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, we challenge that instinct—and expose why it is doing more harm than good.Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Petrossi is joined by Glen Pounder, Executive Vice President and Chief Safeguarding Officer at Scouting America, to unpack one of the most persistent myths in child safety

Does i-Ready Work? A Neuroscientist Weighs In (with Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath) Apr 27, 2026 00:29:46 In this eye-opening conversation, Nicki Petrossi sits down with neuroscientist Jared Cooney-Horvath to unpack the claims behind i-Ready—one of the most widely used EdTech tools in U.S. classrooms. What starts as a discussion of Nicki’s data privacy lawsuit quickly expands into a deeper investigation: does i-Ready actually help kids learn?Jared breaks down the startling lack of credible, peer-revie

MINI EPISODE: LAUSD Passes Landmark School Screen Policy (with Lila Byock) Apr 22, 2026 00:07:42 In this mini-episode of Scrolling 2 Death, Nicki brought in Lila Byock to break down a major victory: the Los Angeles Unified School District has unanimously passed a sweeping new technology policy that limits screen use for students. After months of relentless advocacy from parents and teachers, the district is eliminating devices for its youngest learners, restricting platforms like YouTube, and

I've sued i-Ready | Answering your questions (with attorney Andy Liddell) Apr 6, 2026 00:17:37 So…I’ve sued another EdTech company. Here's a direct link to information on the lawsuit.This time, it’s Curriculum Associates — the multi-billion-dollar maker of i-Ready, used by more than 14 million children in grades K–8, including my own.In this episode, I break down why we’ve filed a lawsuit alleging that Curriculum Associates’ core business model depends on harvesting massive amounts of s

[THE VERDICT] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial Mar 27, 2026 00:39:52 On March 25, 2026, after eight days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict in the first bellwether trial against Meta and YouTube.The verdict: The jury ruled in favor of Kaley on all counts. Scroll down to the bottom of this description for the full verdict.This week, we take you inside the final, nerve-wracking days in the hallway and courtroom — the jury questions about expert testimony, de

[WEEK 7 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Final Witnesses. Closings. Deliberations Begin. Mar 15, 2026 01:04:13 This week on The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial, we reached a turning point.After weeks of testimony, we heard from the final witnesses — including Meta’s paid medical expert, internal researchers, and YouTube leadership. New details emerged about deleted watch history data, internal warnings about teen risk, and what company executives knew about under-13 enforcement.Then came closing arguments.Mar

[WEEK 6 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: A Psychologist, A Whistleblower + Plaintiff Rests Their Case Mar 8, 2026 01:12:28 This week inside the courtroom, science took center stage — and the stakes were higher than ever.Dr. Kara Bagot, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist who helped develop the NIH’s landmark ABCD brain study, spent five days on the stand. She testified that to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, Kaley developed social media addiction — and that YouTube acted as the “gateway,” beginning at just six

[BONUS EPISODE] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Meta Whistleblower Brian Boland Mar 5, 2026 00:49:36 What really happens inside one of the most powerful companies in the world?This week, we sit down with Brian Boland, a former senior leader at Facebook (pre-Meta), who spent more than a decade helping build and scale Facebook and Instagram's advertising systems — and later testified in court about what he saw.Brian was in the courtroom for nearly five hours. In this candid conversation, he pul

[WEEK 5 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Kaley Takes the Stand Mar 1, 2026 01:02:38 This week, we’re joined by Meta whistleblower Brian Boland, who appeared as a witness in this trial, and law student Christine Almadjian, who has spent hours inside the courtroom watching this case unfold. Christine is also a legislative consultant with END OSEAC.Thousands of families, school districts, and dozens of states have filed consolidated lawsuits against TikTok, YouTube, Meta, and Snap I

[WEEK 4 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Zuckerberg. A Whistleblower. The Trial Ignites. Feb 21, 2026 00:59:46 This week on The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial, the spotlight was on Mark Zuckerberg — but it didn’t stay there for long.Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner take you inside a dramatic week in court as Zuckerberg faced questioning about youth safety, platform design, and internal company practices — followed by testimony from a former insider whose statements directly conflicted with his.In this episod

[WEEK 3 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Opening Statements. First Witnesses. Feb 14, 2026 00:57:25 Week 3 marks a turning point inside the courtroom: opening statements begin, the first witnesses take the stand, and the stakes become unmistakably real. Hosts Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner (of Heat Initiative) bring you inside the proceedings as plaintiffs and defense lay out competing narratives about what happened to Kaley—and what responsibility tech giants bear.Plaintiff attorney Mark Lani

[BONUS EPISODE] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: A Conversation with Toney & Brandy Roberts Feb 11, 2026 00:24:34 This bonus episode of The Heat is On… Big Tech on Trial slows down to hold space for the weight of this moment.Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner are joined by Brandy and Toney Roberts, parents of 14-year-old Englyn Roberts, whose life was cut short after being exposed to harmful content on Instagram and other social media platforms. What unfolds is not just a conversation about Meta’s technology—bu

[WEEK 2 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Meta Stalls. Families Stand Feb 7, 2026 00:34:52 Week 2 inside the courtroom didn’t unfold the way anyone expected.Just as jury selection was set to continue, the judge announced a sudden pause—triggered by illness, followed by a denied request from Meta to delay the trial for 30 days. What does a delay really mean in a case like this? And who benefits when time is bought?In this episode of The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial, hosts Nicki Petrossi

[WEEK 1 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Jury Selection Jan 31, 2026 00:27:10 The courtroom doors are open—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.In this Week 1 recap of The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial, we take you inside the very beginning of what some are calling the tobacco trials of our generation: the first case in the social media addiction litigation, where some of the most powerful companies in the world—Meta and YouTube—are facing off against a child.This week was all

[PRE-TRIAL] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial | What This Trial Means for Parents Jan 26, 2026 00:46:42 The Calm Before the Storm — What This Trial Means for ParentsWhat happens when families finally take Big Tech to court—and win the right to be heard?In the premiere episode of The Heat Is On… Big Tech on Trial, hosts Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner take parents inside what some are calling the trial of the century: consolidated lawsuits brought by thousands of families, school districts, and 29 s

EdTech is Big Tech: Schools, Screens, and the Law (with Emily Cherkin) Jan 19, 2026 00:47:38 In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, I’m joined by Emily Cherkin, known as The Screentime Consultant—a leading voice pushing back against the digitization, commodification, and gamification of childhood.Emily is a best-selling author, professor, speaker, and lead plaintiff in lawsuits challenging EdTech’s exploitation of children’s privacy. This week, she’s taking that fight straight to Washingto

Is your child's best friend an AI? (with Sam Hiner) Jan 12, 2026 00:42:49 What happens when artificial intelligence stops acting like a tool—and starts acting like a friend?In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, I’m joined by Sam Hiner, founder of Young People's Alliance, a national youth-led organization organizing across 55 college campuses to take on Big Tech and protect the next generation.Sam began cold-calling lawmakers as a high school student during COVID—and

"AI or Opt-Out": How One Mom Took Her Kids Off School Chromebooks (with Julie Frumin) Jan 5, 2026 00:55:09 What happens when a school-issued Chromebook starts talking to your child—without permission?In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, Nicki is joined by Julie Frumin, a mental health professional, mom, and education safety advocate in Southern California, who shares her shocking experience navigating school-issued devices, hidden AI chatbots, and a system that told her she had only two choices: accep

Smartphones, School Devices & AI: The New Education Crisis (with Rep. Chris Deluzio) Dec 29, 2025 00:23:46 Today on Scrolling 2 Death, Nicki sits down with Congressman Chris Deluzio—a dad of four and a fierce advocate for safer, healthier schools—to unpack one of the most urgent issues facing American families: screens in the classroom.Rep. Deluzio recently released a major report on smartphone use in schools after months of research and conversations with teachers, administrators, and parents across W

The Heat is On...Meta (Part 2) Dec 18, 2025 00:37:17 In Part 1, we revealed how Meta’s products are harming kids — not by accident, but by design.In Part 2, we uncover how Meta responds when confronted with these dangers. Spoiler: it’s manipulation, PR spin, and “safety features” that don’t actually keep kids safe.We break down Meta’s Teen Accounts rollout, the massive marketing campaign behind it, and the independent tests and new research showing

A Neuroscientist Takes on EdTech (with neuroscientist Jared Cooney-Horvath) Dec 15, 2025 00:58:53 Neuroscientist and author Jared Cooney Horvath is back (check our first conversation here)—this time to tackle yourmost-asked questions about kids, learning, and technology. After a decade of research into tech-based education, his conclusion is stark and unapologetic: technology isn’t helping kids learn… it’s making them dumber.The pushback he hears most?“But won’t my child fall behind without te

The Heat is On...Meta (Part 1) Dec 11, 2025 00:51:30 The Heat is On is an investigative series by Scrolling 2 Death, in partnership with Heat Initiative. Sarah Gardner, Founder and CEO of Heat Initiative, joins Nicki (S2D) to expose the truth Big Tech doesn’t want you to hear – and this episode is about Meta.Meta’s roots reveal a troubling origin story—from Facemash, where students were rated based on their appearance, to becoming one of the most po

Roblox Isn’t a Rite of Passage: Rethinking Online Competence (with Titania Jordan) Dec 8, 2025 00:38:38 Parents everywhere are wrestling with the same impossible question: How do you protect your kids from online harm without raising them in a bubble?In this episode, Nicki is joined by Titania Jordan, CMO of Bark Technologies, to take on one of the most common—and most misunderstood—parenting mindsets: “We supervise. We talk about safety. We don’t want our kids to be naïve… so we let them use these

The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide for Parents (with Clare Morell) Dec 1, 2025 00:33:22 On this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, host Nicki Petrossi is joined by Clare Morell, author of The Tech Exit and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Together, they tackle one of the biggest questions parents face today: Do kids really need smartphones and social media to thrive?Clare reveals why the conventional wisdom—just add parental controls or screen-time limits—is a lie parents h

The Heat is On...Snapchat (Part 2) Nov 26, 2025 00:37:34 The Heat is On is a new investigative series by Scrolling 2 Death, in partnership with The Heat Initiative. Sarah Gardner, Founder and CEO of The Heat Initiative, joins Nicki (S2D) to expose the truth Big Tech doesn’t want you to hear – and our next episode is all about Snapchat.In Part 1, we revealed how Snapchat built its empire by marketing a sexting app to kids, fueling addiction, exploitation

How Youth Voices are Reclaiming the Digital Future (with Ava Smithing) Nov 24, 2025 00:34:19 Ava Smithing, Advocacy Director at the Young People’s Alliance, returns to Scrolling 2 Death to share an exciting new project. If you missed her previous episodes, Ava is a leading youth voice for nonpartisan policy solutions for safer technology development. Growing up in the early days of social media, she experienced firsthand how harmful algorithms can shape young users’ lives - even contribut

The Heat is On...Snapchat (Part 1) Nov 20, 2025 00:50:11 The Heat is On is an investigative series by Scrolling 2 Death, in partnership with Heat Initiative. Sarah Gardner, Founder and CEO of Heat Initiative, joins Nicki (S2D) to expose the truth Big Tech doesn’t want you to hear – and this episode is all about Snapchat.From a disappearing-nude app in 2011 to a social media giant in 2025, Snapchat’s story is one of innovation, imitation, and controversy

Taken by Social Media: Honoring London Gadd, forever 12 Nov 17, 2025 00:41:54 This episode discusses youth suicide and social media harm; listener discretion is advised.London was bright, goofy, empathetic, brilliant. She played soccer year-round, read nonstop, danced through the kitchen, and filled her Michigan home with laughter. But during the pandemic, when she was just eight, a smartphone and social media entered her life. What followed was a years-long battle with alg

The Heat is On...AI Chatbots Nov 13, 2025 00:37:10 Have AI companies lost control of their bots — or are the bots designed to harm?In this episode, Sarah Gardner and Nicki Petrossi dive deep into the disturbing rise of AI chatbots gone rogue — and the tragic human cost. From teens who formed emotional bonds with bots that later encouraged suicide, to lawsuits against OpenAI, Character.AI, and others, we expose how Big Tech’s newest frontier of “AI

"If I could go back" | A Mother’s Regret in the Age of Devices (with Titania Jordan) Nov 10, 2025 00:39:38 What happens when a tech-savvy parent — someone who’s been sounding the alarm about online dangers for years — realizes she could have made safer choices for her child?In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Nicki Petrossi sits down with Titania Jordan, Chief Marketing Officer at Bark Technologies & author of the new book Parental Control— but more importantly, mom to a teenage son — for

Families Sue OpenAI: Claim ChatGPT Drove Children to Suicide, Delusions Nov 7, 2025 00:44:08 This is not a hypothetical. This is not science fiction.This is happening right now.Today, multiple families across the U.S. and Canada filed lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging that ChatGPT triggered psychosis, isolated vulnerable users from loved ones, and—even worse—encouraged suicide.Four families lost their sons.A 17-year-old. A 23-year-old. A 26-year-old. A 48-year-old.All believed they were t

The Heat is On...Apple (Part 2) Nov 6, 2025 00:33:35 In Part 1 of The Heat is On Apple, we exposed how Apple’s ecosystem puts kids at risk — from iMessage to iCloud to the App Store.In Part 2, we’re asking the only question that matters: What could Apple do to protect children — and how do we get them to do it?We break down real solutions Apple could deploy tomorrow: device-based age verification, real App Store safeguards, proactive CSAM detection

The Heat is On Apple: Part 2 Nov 6, 2025 00:33:40 In Part 1 of The Heat is On Apple, we exposed how Apple’s ecosystem puts kids at risk — from iMessage to iCloud to the App Store.In Part 2, we’re asking the only question that matters: What could Apple do to protect children — and how do we get them to do it?We break down real solutions Apple could deploy tomorrow: device-based age verification, real App Store safeguards, proactive CSAM detection

AI Nudify Apps Are Targeting Teens — This Mom Is Fighting Back (with Anna McAdams) Nov 3, 2025 00:34:07 On October 1, 2023, one family woke up to every parent’s nightmare — their daughter’s phone was blowing up with messages from friends. Someone had taken innocent photos from her Instagram, run them through an AI app called DNGG, and created fake, nude images that quickly spread through her high school.This chilling episode of Scrolling 2 Death exposes the disturbing rise of AI-powered nudify apps

The Heat is On...Apple (Part 1) Oct 30, 2025 00:41:49 The Heat is On is a new investigative series by Scrolling 2 Death, in partnership with Heat Initiative. Co-hosts Sarah Gardner, Founder and CEO of Heat Initiative, and Nicki Petrossi, Host of Scrolling 2 Death, are exposing the truth Big Tech doesn’t want you to hear – and this episode is all about Apple.‍Apple revolutionized personal computing and their products didn’t just change technology — th

BREAKING: Character.AI Teen Experience (Progress or PR?) Oct 29, 2025 00:18:32 Today, Character.AI shocked the world by announcing a ban on users under 18 from using its chatbots. But when you read the fine print, the story gets murky. Is this real protection for kids — or another Big Tech PR spin? Nicki Petrossi breaks it down with Sarah Gardner of Heat Initiative and attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett from the Social Media Victims Law Center.Parents can join us in putting pres

Less Tech, More Teaching: A Superintendent’s Bold Move (with Dr. Mike Swan) Oct 27, 2025 00:27:41 In a world where screens have taken over classrooms, one superintendent decided to push pause. Dr. Mike Swan, leader of Burke County Public Schools, joins us to share how his district took a bold, low-tech approach to learning — and what happened next. From teachers rediscovering the joy of teaching to parents seeing calmer, more focused kids, Dr. Swan opens up about the wins, the backlash, and th

When Video Games Take Over: A Mother’s Story (with Melanie Hempe) Oct 20, 2025 00:53:20 What happens when a parent discovers that video games aren’t just a harmless pastime—but a trap that can derail a child’s future? In this powerful conversation, ScreenStrong founder Melanie Hempe shares her personal journey of watching her oldest son spiral into video game addiction, and how that painful experience reshaped her parenting choices for her three younger children.Melanie explains why

Your Tech Questions Answered (with Titania Jordan) Oct 13, 2025 00:39:33 In this Q&A episode, Nicki brought in Titania Jordan — Chief Parenting Officer at Bark Technologies — to tackle your biggest tech parenting challenges. From first phones to firewalls, social media to screen time, Titania shares honest, practical advice every parent needs right now.This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies, the best option for kid-safe devices. ‍Learn about the Bark Phone.

Teen Safety or PR Stunt? Meta's False Promise to Parents (with Arturo Bejar) Oct 9, 2025 00:42:12 Today on Scrolling 2 Death, Meta whistleblower and dad Arturo Bejar joins me to expose the truth about Instagram’s so-called “Teen Accounts.” From his years inside Facebook and Instagram leading safety efforts, to his 2021 warning to leadership that went ignored, Arturo reveals what Meta doesn’t want parents to know. We’re also joined by Sarah Gardner of The Heat Initiative, who brings new insight

"I'm just a mom who got really mad." Parents Unite Against Tech Overuse at School (with Lila Byock) Oct 6, 2025 00:43:30 When the pandemic pushed school into our homes, screens became the new classroom and we never went back. But what has this shift cost our kids? In this episode, Nicki Petrossi sits down with writer and parent Lila Byock to talk about the hidden consequences of remote learning, the influence of EdTech companies, and the mental health toll of too much screen time. Lila shares her personal journey na

Screen Time & the Developing Brain (with Dr. Carrie Mackensen) Sep 29, 2025 00:40:47 It’s not too late to reset the screen-time limits and boundaries you've set for your kids—and the reasons to take action are becoming increasingly clear.In this episode, Dr. Carrie Mackensen joins host Nicki Petrossi to unpack the science behind interactive screens and short-form media and how they impact children's brain development. Her clear, accessible approach helps parents understand

Social Media on Trial: Families Score a Huge Win (mini-episode) Sep 24, 2025 00:09:35 On September 22nd, a landmark court ruling allowed expert testimony exposing the harm social media products cause children. From Meta to TikTok, Snap, and YouTube, these companies have long argued it’s content—not their addictive designs—that hurts youth. But experts in psychiatry, neuroscience, and tech safety say otherwise. In this episode, I break down their testimony, revealing how features li

An Alarming Threat to Kids: AI Chatbots (with Laura Marquez-Garrett) Sep 22, 2025 00:42:22 Live from Central Park, NYC!This week on Scrolling 2 Death, attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett from Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC) joins Nicki to unpack a major legal battle unfolding against AI chatbots. Laura’s firm just filed three new lawsuits on behalf of families whose children were harmed by the app Character.AI—while Congress simultaneously held a Senate hearing on the dangers of thes

10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World (with Jean Twenge, PhD) Sep 15, 2025 00:42:52 "Together, we can get our kids back."We live in a world where childhood is being rewritten by screens—and the consequences are showing up in our kids’ mental health, sleep patterns, and ability to thrive in the real world. In this episode, psychologist and researcher Dr. Jean Twenge joins us to unpack her groundbreaking book 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World.Dr. Twenge doesn

Mirror, Mirror: What Our Tech Habits Teach Our Kids (with Titania Jordan) Sep 8, 2025 00:29:39 We spend so much time stressing about our kids’ screen time — but have you ever stopped to ask, what about mine? The truth is, our kids are watching us way more than we realize. Every time we pick up our phones at the dinner table or scroll while they’re talking to us, we’re showing them what “normal” tech use looks like.In this episode, I brought in Titania Jordan from Bark Technologies to have a

[NEW RESEARCH] When the Chatbot is the Predator (Mini-episode with Sarah Gardner) Sep 3, 2025 00:15:39 What happens when your child chats with an AI “friend”? You might think it’s harmless fun—but new research shows otherwise. In this gripping conversation, Sarah from The Heat Initiative uncovers disturbing findings about Character AI and its impact on teens. The evidence is chilling: AI bots are exposing kids to sexual grooming, violent content, and other dangers at an alarming rate.Find the full

A Parent's Guide for the Digital Age (with Shona Schwartz) Sep 1, 2025 00:53:23 The digital age has brought incredible conveniences for modern parents—but along with them come some unintended consequences. If screens are your go-to for tantrums or boredom, you may be interfering with your child’s ability to regulate emotions and develop essential coping skills.With over two decades of experience in education, Shona Schwartz has emerged as a crucial voice addressing technology

Are we The Anxious Nation? (with Laura Morton) Aug 25, 2025 00:47:01 By now, most people have heard of the “Anxious Generation” — but Laura Morton is expanding Jonathan Haidt’s narrative. As the creator of the award-winning documentary Anxious Nation, Laura believes it’s not just youth who are struggling — it’s all of us.A little anxiety is natural – even helpful for performance – but we’re seeing a sharp rise in the chronic, debilitating kind. In 2019, as a single

The Downfall of Learning in the Digital Age (with neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath) Aug 18, 2025 00:52:07 “This is the first generation in a millennium to be worse off than their parents.”Neuroscientist, educator, and author Jared Cooney Horvath issues a powerful warning: the rapid rise of technology in education is contributing to a sharp decline in intelligence across key metrics—including IQ, memory, critical thinking, creativity, and more. For generations, we've seen steady progress in IQ from

Choosing Your Child’s First Phone: What Apple Won’t Tell You (with Titania Jordan of Bark) Aug 11, 2025 00:29:45 In this eye-opening episode of Scrolling 2 Death, host Nicki Petrossi sits down with Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies to unpack the high-stakes decision many parents face: what should your child’s first phone be? From the hidden risks of iPhones to the powerful parental controls offered by alternatives like the Bark phone, they dive into the pressures, misconceptions, and cultural norms driving

Parents vs. Big Tech: The Documentary Sparking a Movement (with Perri Peltz and Matthew O'Neill) Aug 4, 2025 00:47:27 We’ve talked about the devastating impact of social media and how tech companies’ “profit over people” mindset has harmed countless families. This powerful new documentary, Can’t Look Away, delivers the wake-up call the world needs: the time for industry reform is now.In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, host Nicki speaks with Can’t Look Away directors, Matthew O’Neill and Perri Peltz, about what

Online predators: what every parent needs to know (with Dr. Mary Pulido) Jul 28, 2025 00:43:18 Dr. Mary Pulido, Executive Director of World Childhood Foundation USA, joins Scrolling 2 Death to talk about the evolving fight against child sexual abuse in the digital age.There was a time when parents only worried about their children’s safety while they were out. But now, even at home, danger can reach them through screens. Social media, gaming platforms and chatrooms have become hunting groun

What Parents Really Think About Tech in Schools: Survey Results Jul 22, 2025 00:10:42 Over 1,500 parents spoke up — and the results are in. In this episode, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Petrossi breaks down brand-new national survey data that reveals what parents really think about technology, screen time, and AI in K–12 schools. From overwhelming concerns about excessive screen use and digital safety to a stunning 91% of parents saying they don’t want their kids using AI at school

Schooled by Screens: How EdTech is failing our kids (with Sophie Winkleman) Jul 21, 2025 00:38:56 Why are kids using so much tech at school?A hint: the year was 2020.It started when COVID shut the world down and EdTech became an emergency measure. One-to-one devices kept learning going while schools were closed. It was necessary. But the pandemic ended- and the screens stayed.At first, digital learning seemed full of promise. In a tech-driven world, it felt like the future. But now, the harms

Unplugged: An ex-tech executive with a new mission Jul 14, 2025 00:27:51 Jenna Poste, a former tech executive, was once at the forefront of innovation at Blackberry, helping to build products during the rise of the “always on” movement – a time that felt brimming with excitement and productivity. However, as engagement metrics and data collection became the true engines of tech growth, Big Tech extended its reach beyond businesses and into childhood. The consequences a

Big Tech Gut Check (week of July 7, 2025) Jul 11, 2025 00:09:37 The Big Tech Gut Check is a weekly update for parents on all things social media and Big Tech. Updates for this week: Meta AI Wants to Access Your Camera Roll, Analyze Pics You Haven't UploadedLeaked Documents Show Meta is Training Chatbots to Message You First, Remember Chats, Keep You TalkingFormer Facebook CEO says Site Should be Banned for ChildrenMIT Study Shows Weakened Cognitive Capacity wi

Defeating the Tech Narcissists (with Gaia Bernstein) Jul 7, 2025 00:29:26 Don’t feel guilty—get angry. And then turn that anger into action.In this powerful episode, law professor and Unwired author Gaia Bernstein joins Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death to talk about the growing crisis of tech addiction—and how it’s impacting our kids. Gaia studied law and technology in the early 2000s, a time marked by great optimism about the promise of global connectivity. As social medi

A Tech-Safe Summer: Strategies for Healthier Habits (with Titania Jordan) Jun 30, 2025 00:26:00 Summer’s here—and that means more sunshine, more free time… and a lot more screen time. In this episode, Nicki Petrossi sits down with Titania Jordan to talk about the ups, downs, and everything-in-between of parenting through summer break. They swap stories, explore why boredom is actually a gift, and share practical ways to help kids unplug, get outside, and build independence. From setting heal

Former Snapchat Exec Speaks Out: Why Kids Aren’t Safe Online (with Sarah Gallagher Trombley) Jun 23, 2025 00:46:56 What happens when a Big Tech insider turns child advocate and parent educator? In this powerful conversation, Sarah Gallagher Trombley — former Snapchat executive — joins Nicki Petrossi to pull back the curtain on the hidden dangers kids face on social media. From Snapchat to TikTok, YouTube to Instagram, no platform is safe. Sarah shares the uncomfortable truth about what parental controls can’t

Episodes

Recommended