Scrolling 2 Death (Nicki Reisberg)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Scrolling 2 Death
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
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| 12 Jun 2024 | The Trouble with TikTok (with Representative Kat Cammack) | 00:28:03 | |
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. | |||
| 24 Jun 2024 | The Deadly Speed Challenge (with Meg Stuhmer) | 00:33:30 | |
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 | |||
| 31 Aug 2024 | Meta Turns its Back on Kids (with ex-Facebook executive David Erb) | 00:45:30 | |
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. | |||
| 08 Mar 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of March 4, 2024) | 00:06:07 | |
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. | |||
| 05 Sep 2024 | Phone-Free Schools (with Kim Whitman) | 00:41:11 | |
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.
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| 05 Jun 2024 | Kids' Online Safety (with Senator Marsha Blackburn) | 00:11:15 | |
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. | |||
| 24 Aug 2024 | Kids Online Safety Act: A Breakdown (with Patrick Lyden) | 00:29:50 | |
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. | |||
| 17 May 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of May 13, 2024) | 00:11:10 | |
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 | |||
| 26 Oct 2024 | The Hidden Dangers of Roblox (with Titania Jordan) | 00:31:25 | |
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.
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| 18 Oct 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of October 14, 2024) | 00:08:50 | |
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:
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.
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| 16 Jan 2025 | Drugs Gone Viral: How social media normalizes the use of deadly opioids (with Detective Patrick Craven) | 00:33:56 | |
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.
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| 13 Sep 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of September 9, 2024) | 00:06:47 | |
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.
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| 27 Feb 2025 | "I swapped their smartphones for simple phones." (with Kathleen Barlow) | 00:36:40 | |
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 | |||
| 22 Mar 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of March 18, 2024) | 00:07:57 | |
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. | |||
| 14 Feb 2025 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of February 10, 2025) | 00:08:23 | |
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. | |||
| 06 Jun 2024 | TikTok Killed My Son (with Jennie DeSerio) | 00:39:40 | |
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:
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| 05 Jul 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of July 1, 2024) | 00:06:16 | |
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.
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| 27 Jan 2025 | Childhood is not for sale (with Jason Frost) | 01:04:40 | |
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. | |||
| 06 Apr 2024 | It's Not All Fun and Games (Gamers Tell All) | 00:34:50 | |
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. | |||
| 11 Mar 2024 | Take a Bite out of Crime (with Paul DelPonte) | 00:41:33 | |
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. | |||
| 26 Sep 2024 | Social Media & Our Kids (with Laura Lawrence) | 00:38:38 | |
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.
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| 28 Oct 2024 | Snapchat Filters That Kill (with attorney Mike Neff) | 00:34:00 | |
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. | |||
| 22 Jan 2024 | The Dark Side of Social Media (with Imran Ahmed) | 00:41:14 | |
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. | |||
| 03 Apr 2025 | Parental Control: Titania Jordan on Kids & Tech | 00:30:01 | |
In this episode, Titania Jordan dives into her book Parental Control, sharing real-world advice for parents trying to navigate the wild world of raising kids in the digital age. We cover everything from the impact of technology on mental health to building resilience and setting up solid parental controls. Titania breaks down why protecting kids' sleep is a game-changer, how to create safe environments, and the very real dangers lurking online and even in schools. Plus, she shares must-have resources to help parents take charge of their kids' tech use. [Get the Book] Parental Control This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.
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| 15 May 2024 | Protecting Kids From Sextortion (with Paul Raffile) | 00:23:12 | |
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. | |||
| 16 Feb 2024 | [UPDATE] Kids Online Safety Act (with Laura Marquez-Garrett) | 00:21:22 | |
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. | |||
| 21 May 2024 | Protecting Our Kids Online (with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers) | 00:24:49 | |
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/ | |||
| 10 Jun 2024 | "My daughter was deceived to death." (with Matt Capelouto) | 00:42:09 | |
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: | |||
| 29 Apr 2024 | The Truth About Snapchat (with Titania Jordan) | 00:25:48 | |
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 | |||
| 25 Nov 2024 | Keeping Kids Safe From Grooming (with Sheri Lopez) | 00:35:08 | |
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.
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| 21 Mar 2024 | Parenting in the Digital Age (with Nate Webb) | 00:33:54 | |
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. | |||
| 06 Mar 2025 | Can social media be safe? (with Nick Rotola of Up) | 00:49:49 | |
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. | |||
| 19 Jan 2024 | How Tech Impacts Teens (with Dr. Mark Woodall) | 00:39:49 | |
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:
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| 01 Nov 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of October 28, 2024) | 00:07:33 | |
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.
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| 28 Sep 2024 | What parents need to know about Apple iOS 18 (with Titania Jordan) | 00:24:25 | |
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.
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| 26 Jul 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of July 22, 2024) | 00:07:45 | |
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.
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| 04 Jul 2024 | Kids and Screens (with Andrea Brambila of @brambila_bits) | 00:54:04 | |
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.
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| 07 Oct 2024 | "I survived grooming." (with Harrison Haynes) | 00:41:32 | |
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 harrison@wiredhuman.org. | |||
| 09 May 2024 | Phones keep our kids safe? Think again. (with Jessica Elefante) | 00:46:57 | |
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. | |||
| 11 Dec 2023 | Big Tech: Putting Profits Over People Since '96 (with Alix Fraser) | 00:41:07 | |
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. | |||
| 11 Jul 2024 | Teachers Talk (with Matt Brady) | 00:44:36 | |
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.
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| 10 Mar 2025 | Kids Online: What's it really like? (Titania Jordan presents new research) | 00:32:18 | |
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.
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| 02 Nov 2024 | A New Era of Addictive Intelligence (with Laurie Segall) | 00:35:17 | |
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. | |||
| 29 Aug 2024 | Duty of Care for Kids (with Alix Fraser) | 00:23:35 | |
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. | |||
| 10 Feb 2025 | "I lost my child. Now I'm suing TikTok." (Isaac Kenevan, forever 13) | 00:37:54 | |
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. | |||
| 01 Dec 2023 | Phones in School (a teacher's take) | 00:26:10 | |
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 | |||
| 04 Oct 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of September 30, 2024) | 00:07:52 | |
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. | |||
| 28 Jun 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of June 24, 2024) | 00:08:32 | |
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.
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| 05 Dec 2024 | "I canceled myself." (with Erin Loechner of Opt Out Family) | 01:00:33 | |
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.
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| 08 Apr 2024 | What happened to our attention spans? (with Dr. Gloria Mark) | 00:46:21 | |
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. | |||
| 06 Dec 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of December 2, 2024) | 00:09:20 | |
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. | |||
| 18 Jul 2024 | Teachers Talk (with Ronna Glickman) | 00:31:12 | |
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 | |||
| 22 Sep 2024 | Ready to Rescue (with NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith) | 00:17:04 | |
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. | |||
| 06 Sep 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of September 2, 2024) | 00:08:09 | |
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.
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| 25 Mar 2024 | Social Media: An open air drug market (with Bill Bodner DEA-Ret.) | 00:34:31 | |
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. | |||
| 30 Jul 2023 | Scrolling 2 Death Teaser | 00:00:31 | |
Scrolling 2 Death is a podcast for parents worried about social media. | |||
| 24 Apr 2024 | TikTok Bill Signed Into Law! (what parents should know) | 00:06:17 | |
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. | |||
| 13 Mar 2025 | Sarah Wynn-Williams can't speak, so I will. | 00:06:45 | |
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. | |||
| 25 Oct 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of October 21, 2024) | 00:09:21 | |
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. | |||
| 22 Apr 2024 | What's the deal with BeReal? (mini-episode) | 00:06:38 | |
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. | |||
| 23 Aug 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of August 19, 2024) | 00:08:20 | |
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.
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| 07 Apr 2025 | Grandparenting in the Digital Age (with Chris Vineis) | 00:35:00 | |
In this episode, Nicki Reisberg sits down (virtually) with Chris Vineis, founder of Unite for Safe Social Media, to dive into the critical role grandparents can play in protecting kids online. Christine shares her journey from government relations to online safety advocacy, highlighting why we need a united front—parents, grandparents, and communities—to push for change. They tackle the real dangers kids face on social media, how to align between parent and grandparent approach to screen use, and the urgent need for legislative action. Plus, they explore how AI is reshaping the online world and why it’s more important than ever to equip kids with the right tools to navigate it safely. It’s a conversation about bridging generations, taking action, and making the digital world safer for the next generation. Tune in! | |||
| 02 Sep 2024 | Social Media's Role in Crimes Against Kids (with John Pizzuro) | 00:39:14 | |
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.
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| 19 Dec 2024 | Apple Fails to Protect Children; Facing $1.2B Lawsuit (with Sarah Gardner) | 00:36:37 | |
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.
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| 06 Feb 2025 | What kids say about tech (with Titania Jordan) | 00:32:49 | |
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 | |||
| 23 Jan 2025 | Protecting Teens Online (with Utah State Senator Mike McKell) | 00:31:43 | |
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. | |||
| 29 Jan 2024 | Building a Healthy Brain (with Neuroscientist Dr. Carl Marci) | 00:44:08 | |
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 | |||
| 08 Jul 2024 | A Mother's Warning About Online Harms (with Deb Schmill) | 00:30:24 | |
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.
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| 06 Jan 2025 | Are parents using tech too much? (with Harrison Haynes) | 00:39:19 | |
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:
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| 16 Sep 2024 | Myth Busted: KOSA Edition (with Josh Golin) | 00:35:01 | |
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. | |||
| 14 Mar 2024 | Cyberbullying: The Silent Pandemic (with Trisha Prabhu) | 00:38:29 | |
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 | |||
| 04 Jan 2024 | "Not my story to tell." (with Jenny Mollen) | 00:15:08 | |
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. | |||
| 23 Mar 2025 | Snapchat's Deadly Failure (with Aaron Ping) | 00:42:39 | |
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. | |||
| 29 Jul 2024 | A Father's Warning: Sextortion and our Teens (with Brian Montgomery) | 00:46:11 | |
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. | |||
| 21 Oct 2024 | Tracking vs. Trust: Striking a Balance in the Digital Age (with Ava Smithing) | 00:36:36 | |
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. | |||
| 10 Jan 2025 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of January 6, 2025) | 00:09:05 | |
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.
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| 26 Dec 2024 | Are A.I. chatbots out of control? (with Tim Estes) | 00:53:47 | |
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
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| 17 Oct 2024 | Teachers Talk (with Matt Brady) | 00:34:07 | |
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.
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| 03 Jun 2024 | Kids Before Tech (with Julie Scelfo) | 00:27:53 | |
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 | |||
| 01 Jul 2024 | Kids & Screen Time (with Dr. John Hutton) | 00:41:21 | |
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 | |||
| 17 Feb 2025 | "I lost my child. Now I'm suing TikTok." (Maia Walsh, forever 13) | 00:51:52 | |
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. | |||
| 05 Aug 2024 | A Mother's Warning: The Choking Challenge (with Annie McGrath) | 00:31:15 | |
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.
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| 15 Jun 2024 | A Safer Web (with Frank McCourt) | 00:41:27 | |
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/ | |||
| 11 Feb 2025 | I'm giving up my iPhone. | 00:06:12 | |
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. | |||
| 02 Aug 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of July 29, 2024) | 00:07:27 | |
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.
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| 17 Jun 2024 | [BREAKING NEWS] Rolling Stone Exposes Drug Trade on Snapchat | 00:10:33 | |
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 | |||
| 12 Apr 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of April 8, 2024) | 00:08:08 | |
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. | |||
| 08 Nov 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of November 4, 2024) | 00:08:08 | |
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. | |||
| 12 Jul 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of July 8, 2024) | 00:08:19 | |
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.
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| 20 Dec 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of December 16, 2024) | 00:12:00 | |
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.
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| 26 Dec 2023 | Cyberbullying: The Deadly Truth (with Rose Bronstein) | 00:55:42 | |
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/ | |||
| 23 May 2024 | Sextortion and American Teens (with Titania Jordan) | 00:22:04 | |
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 | |||
| 26 Apr 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of April 22, 2024) | 00:07:39 | |
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. | |||
| 09 Feb 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of February 5, 2024) | 00:05:06 | |
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:
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| 14 Oct 2024 | End Exploitation (with Dawn Hawkins) | 00:29:26 | |
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.
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| 02 Jan 2024 | "They're coming for your kids next." (with Laura Marquez-Garrett) | 00:49:26 | |
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:
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.
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| 21 Jun 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of June 17, 2024) | 00:07:06 | |
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.
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| 12 Aug 2024 | A Screen Freed Roadmap (with Jenna Lee Dillon) | 00:31:04 | |
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.
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| 15 Mar 2024 | Big Tech Gut Check (week of March 11, 2024) | 00:06:51 | |
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. | |||
| 17 Jun 2024 | Protecting Kids From Fentanyl (with Chris Didier) | 01:10:56 | |
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 | |||