Scrolling 2 Death

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 of the biggest challenges families are facing: excessive screen time, school-issued laptops, i-Ready and other EdTech platforms, YouTube access, AI embedded in school devices, opting out, student privacy, and what to do when a school simply says no.

Emily offers practical advice for parents who want to push back without making teachers' jobs harder—and challenges us to rethink the way we approach school technology.

Instead of asking schools, "Can I opt out?", she suggests a different approach:

"I decline this technology until you can show me that it is effective, safe, legal, and better than teacher-led instruction—and that the evidence is independent, verifiable, and replicable."

We also talk about why hearing "no" from your school doesn't have to be the end of the conversation, how parents can organize with other families, when to take concerns to the school board, and why incremental change matters.

And Emily makes an important distinction: she isn't anti-technology. She's pro–technology education, not educational technology. Children need to learn how technology works, how to think critically about it, and how to use it responsibly—but that doesn't mean they need unrestricted access to technology throughout their childhood.

As Emily puts it, "The best preparation for a digital future is an analog childhood."

If you've been wondering how to protect your child's childhood and education in an increasingly digital school environment, this episode is for you.

Part 3 with Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath

Is 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 questions submitted by parents, we tackle some of the biggest debates in education today: Are devices improving student outcomes? How much classroom screen time is too much? Does AI help students learn—or replace critical thinking? And what is all this technology doing to children's attention, memory, reading comprehension, and developing brains?

We also discuss Dr. Cooney-Horvath's groundbreaking review of i-Ready, one of the most widely used EdTech platforms in the United States, and why he believes parents and schools should demand stronger evidence before adopting products that shape millions of children's education.

If you've ever been told that "kids need technology because it's the future," this conversation will challenge assumptions, unpack the research, and give you the science you need to make informed decisions for your family.

This episode is part of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we're bringing your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Part 2: Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes

Can 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.

Using questions submitted by parents, we tackle the biggest concerns families have about school technology, including student privacy, AI, YouTube access, Google Classroom, Minecraft for Education and what children can actually access during the school day.

Chris explains what schools are doing well, where the biggest risks still exist, and—most importantly—what parents can do to better protect their children. We also discuss whether parents can opt out of certain technologies, what rights families have when it comes to student data, and the practical questions every parent should ask before signing a school technology agreement.

If you've ever wondered whether your child's school device is as safe as you think it is, this episode will leave you better informed and better prepared for the school year ahead.

This episode is part of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we're bringing your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Part 1 with superintendent Dr. Greg Taranto

Schools 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 of teacher-led instruction.

Together, we tackle questions from parents:

• Why his district decided to reverse course on classroom technology
• Whether AI belongs in schools—and why he says no
• How parents can advocate for less screen time without making teachers' jobs harder
• Whether you can opt your child out of Chromebooks, AI tools, and digital learning platforms
• Why schools rely so heavily on EdTech, and what parents should ask before accepting it
• What rights parents have to review classroom technology and digital curriculum
• The growing concerns around student privacy, online testing, and Responsible Use Agreements
• How to work with teachers, principals, school boards, and legislators to create meaningful change

If you've ever felt dismissed by your school, wondered whether all this technology is really helping your child learn, or wanted practical advice on how to advocate for healthier classrooms, this conversation is for you.

This episode is part of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we're bringing your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development.

Resources mentioned in the episode: 

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 navigate this rapidly changing technology.

Together, they explore the rise of AI companions like Character.AI and PolyAI, the concerns surrounding tools such as Snapchat's My AI and Meta AI, and the impact AI may have on critical thinking, creativity, emotional development, and real-world relationships. They also discuss how schools are introducing AI into classrooms, what parents should know about AI on school-issued devices, and why children may be particularly vulnerable to misinformation and emotional manipulation from AI systems.

Most importantly, Nicki and Titania share practical steps families can take today—from delaying access and setting boundaries to having ongoing conversations that help kids use technology as a tool rather than a replacement for human connection.

This isn't a conversation about fear—it's a conversation about preparation. As AI becomes an increasingly permanent part of modern life, parents have an opportunity to help shape how the next generation engages with it safely, thoughtfully, and responsibly.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

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 Meta and YouTube contributed significantly to her anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, as well as the recent settlement in the Brethitt County Schools case just days before trial.

As more families, school districts, and states take social media companies to court, one thing has become clear: the evidence uncovered through these lawsuits is too important to stay buried in court filings. Previn joins the show to make a major announcement about a new effort to organize and make this evidence more accessible to the public.

What did these companies know about the harms their products could cause?

What have years of litigation revealed?

And how can parents, educators, journalists, and policymakers learn from the growing body of evidence?

The trials are continuing, the stakes couldn't be higher, and the evidence is finally coming into view.

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 Hill to demand action, and why so many parents believe the burden of protecting children online can no longer rest on families alone. Nicki and Sarah reflect on the growing national awareness of social media harms, the momentum created by the ongoing addiction trials, and the frustration of watching meaningful reform continue to stall.

They also break down two major developments in Washington: reports that tech CEOs may avoid a highly anticipated Senate hearing on social media harms, and the passage of the controversial Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), which critics say prioritizes Big Tech interests over child safety.

Later, parent survivor and Alexander Neville Foundation founder Amy Neville joins the show to share why she and Kristen Bride created SMVRD, what this year’s event meant to impacted families, and why keeping courthouse doors open and holding platforms accountable remains critical to protecting future generations.

Plus, Nicki and Sarah discuss the growing global movement to raise the age of social media access, why age-gating alone won’t solve the problem, and the one change experts believe would make the biggest difference: eliminating the addictive features that keep children hooked.

Because remembrance without action isn’t enough.

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 content, sexual material, self-harm videos, violent content, and connections to strangers who appeared to be adults. Researchers say the accounts were shown unsafe content at an average rate of about one video per minute, often without searching for it.

We unpack the most shocking findings:

• Adult strangers recommended as friends
• Sexualized comments on videos featuring children
• Drug sellers and explicit creators suggested to minors
• Content promoting self-harm, violence, and disordered eating
• Concerns around live location sharing for young teens

This episode explores what the report reveals about algorithmic recommendation systems, platform safety promises, and the growing concerns parents are raising about social media and children.

Apple wants parents to celebrate its latest parental control updates. But child safety advocates aren't buying the hype.

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 continues to ignore one of the most urgent child protection issues on its platform: the presence of known child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in iCloud.

Sarah shares her decade-long experience pushing Apple to address the problem, including behind-the-scenes conversations with the company, Apple's abandoned 2021 CSAM detection initiative, and the ongoing debate between privacy and child protection. The discussion also explores Apple's role in hosting AI nudify apps, concerns about App Store safety, and the direct-action campaigns that have brought survivors, advocates, and national media attention to Apple's doorstep.

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 cyberbullying 
• 3.74% encountered instances of depression
• 7.46% encountered discussion or content related to suicidal ideation, imminent suicide or self-harm
• 39.83% of students encountered violent content
• 22% were exposed to drug-related content
• 10.77% encountered sexual content
• 11.64% encountered medically-concerning content
• 2.69% encountered hate speech
• 0.23% encountered body image content
• 1.79% encountered anxiety-related content

They discuss how students are using Google Docs like disappearing-message apps, why schools are struggling to keep up, and what parents can do right now to better protect their children.

This episode is a wake-up call for parents, educators, school administrators, and policymakers about the unintended consequences of putting addictive, poorly protected technology into children’s hands.

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 over one central question: did these platforms knowingly build products that addict children, like Kaley?

In this deeply personal interview, Mark breaks down exactly how the case was won, why Snapchat and TikTok settled just before trial, and what the jury ultimately decided about Kaley, the young woman at the center of the case. He also reveals shocking moments the public never saw — defense witnesses backing out, chaos inside the courthouse, the strategy behind avoiding a billion-dollar “runaway verdict,” and the cross-examinations that changed everything.

The episode also revisits some of the most unforgettable lines from the trial, responding directly to claims made in court by executives and attorneys from Meta and YouTube.

But this conversation is bigger than one verdict. It’s about children, addiction, grief, corporate power, and the parents fighting back against trillion-dollar tech companies. Mark shares what he believes this case means for the future of Big Tech accountability, why he calls it a defining trial of the 21st century, and the message he hopes families around the world take away from Kaley's story.

The episode closes with a powerful discussion about parenting, love, and why human connection may be the strongest defense families have against platforms designed to exploit vulnerability.

If you followed this trial in real time — or if you’re just beginning to understand what these platforms are doing to children — this is an episode you won’t forget.

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.

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: that better parenting can prevent online harm.

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-reviewed research supporting i-Ready’s effectiveness, explaining how most claims rely on weak comparisons or company-backed studies. He reveals why “time on task” can be misleading, how EdTech companies shape persuasive narratives without solid evidence, and why human-led instruction consistently outperforms digital tools when it comes to real learning.

Together, they connect the dots between data privacy concerns and academic outcomes—arguing that if a product isn’t meaningfully improving learning, schools must question why it’s being used at all. The episode also explores the growing national momentum among parents, teachers, and districts pushing back on excessive screen time and demanding accountability from EdTech companies.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really behind the tools your child is required to use in school, this conversation gives you the data—and the questions—you need to start pushing for answers.

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 setting clear screen time boundaries. They discuss what passed and how this moment could spark a nationwide shift in how schools use technology—and how you can bring these changes to your own district.

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, deleted accounts, Instagram usage, punitive damages, and the moment they told the judge they were deadlocked with one defendant.

We walk through what each question meant, what it revealed about the jury’s thinking, and how both sides responded. You’ll hear what happened in real time as families waited, attorneys speculated, and the stakes became crystal clear.

We’re joined by Laura Marquez-Garrett of the Social Media Victims Law Center to break down:

• What the verdict actually means
• Whether an appeal is likely
• Why early bellwether cases often shape — but don’t decide — the larger war
• What happens next in the thousands of cases still moving forward

Because this was never just about one family.

It the most powerful tech companies in the world… versus families. And this verdict is the accelerator of justice.

The trials continue. Thousands of families. Dozens of states. School districts. The pressure is building. We’ll continue to be inside the courtroom translating it all for parents everywhere.

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.

Mark Lanier argued that platform design targeted Kaley from a young age. Attorneys for Meta and YouTube pushed back, claiming there is no proven causal link between social media and mental health struggles, for Kaley or anyone else.

Friday morning, the jury began deliberating.

Now nine jurors must decide:

Were these platforms negligently designed in ways that substantially contributed to Kaley’s anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts? Or not?

We’re inside the courtroom translating what this case means for parents everywhere — because these trials aren't just about one child. It could shape the future of accountability for TikTok, YouTube, Meta, and Snap Inc..

Verdict watch has begun.

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 years old. She walked the jury through the platform features that fuel compulsive use: infinite scroll, autoplay, algorithms, notifications, likes, filters, Shorts, Reels, and the lack of meaningful age verification.

Under intense cross-examination from Meta and YouTube’s attorneys, Dr. Bagot held her ground — insisting on context over yes-or-no soundbites. Jurors watched closely. When she was finally excused, there as a quiet applause.

Then came former Meta safety executive and whistleblower Arturo Bejar. He testified that by 2019, Meta researchers had identified addiction as a serious issue — but leadership discouraged even using the word, replacing it with “problematic use.” He described internal knowledge of harmful design choices, ineffective safety tools, and what he called “dark patterns,” including the infamous “blue button” that discouraged user reporting.

Arturo also testified that age verification is not technically difficult — and that Meta could remove millions of under-13 users if it chose to.

Next up was child safety expert and mom, Brooke Istook. Brooke powerfully described the generational tech gap, Instagram's growth team promoting FINSTAs, misleading safety promises, and the no-win position families face trying to supervise platforms designed to outmaneuver them.

By week’s end, the Plaintiffs rested their case and the Defense began calling witnesses in the form of video depositions.

Meanwhile, outside this courtroom, the pressure is mounting. Big tech lobbyists have infiltrated important online safety legislation and 33 new families across 19 states have joined the consolidated JCCP litigation, with Roblox newly added to the complaints.

Thousands of families. Dozens of states. And now jurors — everyday people — watching some of the richest companies in the world fight a single family over what caused a young girl’s harm.

These are the tobacco trials of our generation.

We’re inside the courtroom translating it all in real time — joined this week by Christine Almadjian, legislative consultant and courtroom observer, and Lennon Torres of Heat Initiative — bringing you the moments that mattered, the legal context behind the strategy, and what it means for families everywhere.

Because this fight isn’t abstract.

It’s about the apps in our kids’ pockets.
It’s about truth, justice and accountability.
And it’s about whether these companies will finally be forced to change.

We stand with families.

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 pulls back the curtain on:

• What it feels like to testify under oath against your former company
• How Meta’s internal culture shifted after whistleblowers like Frances Haugen spoke out
• The reality of Mark Zuckerberg’s power inside the company — and why the board can’t remove him
• How algorithms are built, tested, and optimized — and why even engineers don’t fully understand their long-term impacts
• Whether Meta is truly incentivized to limit teen usage
• The truth about ad revenue from minors
• How accurate age-estimation technology really is — and why that matters
• What whistleblowing actually costs the people who do it

Brian doesn’t call for the end of social media. In fact, he believes these platforms could be built to strengthen communities. But he’s clear: the current incentives — profit, growth, daily active users — drive decisions that put engagement above safety.

He also shares what he told executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, before he left — and the response he received.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Are these platforms intentionally habit-forming?
• Do they really know how young users are?
• Could they reduce harm if they wanted to?
• Why don’t more insiders speak out?

This episode is essential listening.

It’s a rare, inside look at how power, profit, algorithms, and accountability collide — and what it might actually take to force change.

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 Inc., alleging their platforms were deliberately designed to addict and harm children. Some are calling this “the tobacco trial of our generation.”

The first case centers on Kaley — a child like yours and mine — facing the most powerful companies in the world.

This week, YouTube’s VP of Engineering defended the algorithm as internal documents revealed research linking excessive use to addiction, sleep disruption, anxiety, depression, and body image issues — along with features like autoplay designed to increase watch time. We heard testimony that kids using YouTube while logged out are treated like adults, with no safety features enabled.

A data expert challenged Meta and YouTube’s reported ad revenue from minors, citing “significant errors and contradictions,” followed by testimony from Kaley's therapist.

Then Kaley took the stand.

She described creating multiple accounts to like her own videos and posts, sneaking her phone at night, spending up to 16 hours a day on Instagram, feeling panic without her device — and still, at 20 years old, struggling to stop. When asked whether she had addiction, anxiety, depression, or body dysmorphia before social media, her answer was simple: no.

Meta and YouTube pushed back hard, pointing to family conflict and school bullying. In just a few weeks, the jury will decide if social media was a subsantial factor in her mental heath struggles.

This case isn’t just about one family. It’s about millions of kids — and what happens next affects all of us.

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 episode:

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 (of Scrolling 2 Death) and Sarah Gardner (of Heat Initiative) break down what happened behind the scenes, why jury selection may be the most important phase of the entire trial, and how defense strategies are already taking shape.

You’ll hear legal context from veteran trial attorney Michael Quade, along with firsthand perspective from affected parents Toney and Brandy Roberts, who lost their 14-year-old daughter Englyn and are suing Meta, Snap, and TikTok for wrongful death and negligence.

This week was grounded not by legal maneuvering—but by the parents.

Survivor parents from around the world gathered in Los Angeles to witness the trial. Together, they held a vigil on the courthouse steps, honoring their children and demanding accountability. Nearly 20 media outlets showed up to hear their stories—not corporate talking points, but the human cost behind them.

This case isn’t just about evidence or arguments. It’s about children.

It’s about who controls the narrative.

And it’s about which side of history we choose to stand on.

We’re inside the courtroom—so parents everywhere don’t have to rely on headlines alone.

The Calm Before the Storm — What This Trial Means for Parents

What 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 states against Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube for allegedly addicting and harming children.

Sitting in the courtroom so you don’t have to, we will break down what this trial is really about—addiction, internal knowledge, and accountability—and why it matters for how you parent right now. You’ll hear from attorneys working the case, who explain how these cases came together and what’s at stake, and from parents whose children have been harmed (or lost) to harms instigated by social media.

This episode sets the stage for what’s coming next: the first bellwether trial (KGM), the judge, the jury, the defense tactics, and what parents should be watching for as CEOs prepare to take the stand.

This isn’t about screen time.
It’s about accountability.
And it’s about protecting our children.

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 Washington, DC—testifying before the U.S. Senate.

We start by tackling the questions parents ask me every day:

• Is there a real link between screen time and declining literacy?
• What does the NIH’s ABCD brain study actually show about changes to kids’ brains?
• How do you enforce age ratings when everyone else’s kid has access to mature games?
• What can parents do about screens at school beyond 1:1 devices—from Smartboards to YouTube to GoNoodle?
• And how do you push back when schools say, “The program requires X minutes to be effective”?

Then we shift to what’s happening in the Senate:

• Why this hearing is different from past conversations about screen time
• Why EdTech is finally being put under the microscope
• What parents should know about the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)
• And what real takeaways families can use right now

Finally, we talk about one of the most powerful—and intimidating—tools parents have: lawsuits.

Emily shares updates on her EdTech cases, breaks down how the legal process works, and explains how parents can get involved without feeling overwhelmed.

This is a must-listen for parents who know something is wrong—but are ready to do something about it.

🔗 Resources mentioned:

What happens when artificial intelligence stops acting like a tool—and starts acting like a friend?

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: accept AI on her children’s devices—or turn them in entirely.

Julie walks us through:

• How her elementary-aged daughter was exposed to inappropriate content during school recess
• How an AI chatbot appeared unprompted on her middle schooler’s Chromebook, offering to do his homework
• Why schools claim parents cannot legally opt out of devices in California
• The hidden data collection, surveillance, and lack of transparency inside EdTech platforms
• The intimidation parents face when raising concerns with districts and school boards
• Why “teaching kids to use tech responsibly” ignores brain development and addiction science

We also dig into the bigger picture: Why EdTech is replacing teachers, how school budgets are being diverted to software contracts, and why parents deserve transparency, consent, and the right to refuse technology that doesn’t serve their children.

Julie shares practical advice for parents who want to push back—starting with teachers, navigating principals and school boards, and getting involved in statewide policy efforts, including proposals to:

• Require full transparency and parental consent for EdTech
• Pause AI use in K–8 classrooms
• Restore paper-and-pencil learning and assessments
• Move toward distraction-free, developmentally appropriate schools

This is an essential conversation for any parent who’s been told, “This is just how school works now.”

Because it doesn’t have to be.

‍

Resources, research, and advocacy links mentioned in this episode are available here:

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.

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 powerful (and dangerous) tech companies in the world, with over 3.3 billion daily users. Behind the sleek apps and promise for connection lies a history of harmful design choices that target young users—fueling anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, and even suicide.

In this episode, you’ll hear from former Meta executives and whistleblowers, cybercrime experts, and child-safety researchers who prove that the company knew how harmful its platforms were to kids—and did almost nothing to stop it.

Today, over 40 U.S. states, thousands of school districts, and countless families have taken legal action. And yet, Meta continues to push untested, potentially dangerous features—like their new AI chatbot—on teens without parental consent. Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, weighs in to warn how these harms are reaching an industrial scale and legal action alone is not enough. We all need to work together to hold Big Tech accountable. 

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 platforms.”

We read real parent comments about giving kids access to Roblox, YouTube, phones, and social media despite knowing the risks. Together, we break down what this approach gets right—and where it unintentionally opens the door to serious online dangers.

This episode is for every parent trying to thread the needle between keeping kids safe and letting them live in the world.You are not powerless. You don’t have to choose between protection and exposure—you can do both, intentionally.

The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is raising kids who can navigate the digital world—
not be consumed by it.

Mentioned in the Episode: 

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 have been sold. She introduces The Tech Exit, a bold but practical roadmap for families who want freedom from addictive digital technology. Drawing from expert research, stories of families who’ve gone tech-free, and her own policy work, Clare paints a hopeful picture: children can grow up happier, healthier, and more connected without smartphones in their pockets.

This is a must-listen for any parent searching for a way out of the digital trap.

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.

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 algorithmic addiction that Charay—like millions of parents—never saw coming.

In this raw and devastating interview, London’s mom Charay Gadd shares the truth no parent should ever have to live through: TikTok pushing self-harm and suicide content when London searched for harmless topics… Snapchat teaching her to hide messages… multiple secret accounts… emotional manipulation from streaks and scores… and a child who didn’t understand the permanence of death because of what she saw online.

Charay takes us through London’s hospitalizations, the cries for help, and the night everything changed. Her message is one every parent must hear: This wasn’t London. This was addiction. This was social media.

Today, Charay fights for justice—alongside more than 1,000 families in the national lawsuit against Big Tech—and honors London’s life through a scholarship that empowers teens to make a difference in the world.

This episode is not entertainment.
It’s a warning.
And it will save lives.

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 companions” is already devastating families.

You’ll hear how chatbots like Character.AI, ChatGPT, Meta AI, and Snap’s MyAI blurred the lines between fiction and reality, leading kids to isolation, self-harm, and even death. Former tech insiders, grieving parents, and attorneys share evidence that these bots aren’t just broken — they’re built this way.

We ask the urgent questions:
🔥 Are AI companies creating the perfect predator?
🔥 Can this be fixed before more kids are harmed?
🔥 What can parents do right now to protect their children?

This is everything a parent needs to know about chatbots (and more). 

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?

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 talking to a supportive companion, a lifeline. Instead, they found themselves pulled deeper into darkness.

In this emergency episode, Nicki Petrossi speaks with attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett from the Social Media Victims Law Center about:

• Why these families are blaming ChatGPT
• How a tool used for schoolwork evolved into a psychological companion
• The chilling transcripts from the final hours of 23-year-old Zane Shamblin’s life
• What happens when AI stops saying “I can’t help with that” — and starts saying “I love you, see you on the other side”

This is the conversation tech hoped you wouldn’t hear.

Parents, lawmakers, and educators must listen.

Because if this is the future of AI — no one is safe.

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 in iCloud, global reporting tools in iMessage, and parental controls that actually work. And we examine the growing pressure forcing Apple’s hand — lawsuits, new laws, global regulators, and parents demanding accountability.

Finally, we share what families can do right now: don’t rely on Apple defaults, consider kid-safe devices, talk to another parent, and get involved in the movement pushing Apple to protect children instead of profits.

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 in iCloud, global reporting tools in iMessage, and parental controls that actually work. And we examine the growing pressure forcing Apple’s hand — lawsuits, new laws, global regulators, and parents demanding accountability.

Finally, we share what families can do right now: don’t rely on Apple defaults, consider kid-safe devices, talk to another parent, and get involved in the movement pushing Apple to protect children instead of profits.

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 that can “digitally undress” anyone in seconds. Though DNGG has been taken down, countless others have replaced it.

You'll also learn of the surprising role that Snapchat plays in this story; how Snap completely ignored both the families affected and also police warrants from investigators.

We unpack how these apps work, the devastating emotional impact on victims, and what parents, platforms, and policymakers must do to protect teens from this new form of digital abuse.

Thank you to Anna McAdams for sharing this vulnerable yet empowering story.

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.

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 the lessons learned along the way. This conversation is a roadmap for every community wondering: What if we put education — not technology — back at the center of our schools?