Scrolling 2 Death

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

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

We spend so much time stressing about our kids’ screen time — but have you ever stopped to ask,  what about mine?  The truth is, our kids are watching us way more than we realize. Every time we pick up our phones at the dinner table or scroll while they’re talking to us, we’re showing them what “normal” tech use looks like. In this episode, I brought in Titania Jordan from Bark Technologies to hav...

What happens when your child chats with an AI “friend”? You might think it’s harmless fun—but new research shows otherwise. In this gripping conversation, Sarah from The Heat Initiative uncovers disturbing findings about Character AI and its impact on teens. The evidence is chilling: AI bots are exposing kids to sexual grooming, violent content, and other dangers at an alarming rate. Find the full...

The digital age has brought incredible conveniences for modern parents—but along with them come some unintended consequences. If screens are your go-to for tantrums or boredom, you may be interfering with your child’s ability to regulate emotions and develop essential coping skills. With over two decades of experience in education, Shona Schwartz has emerged as a crucial voice addressing technolog...

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

“This is the first generation in a millennium to be worse off than their parents.” Neuroscientist, educator, and author Jared Cooney Horvath issues a powerful warning: the rapid rise of technology in education is contributing to a sharp decline in intelligence across key metrics—including IQ, memory, critical thinking, creativity, and more.  For generations, we've seen steady progress in IQ fr...

In this eye-opening episode of  Scrolling 2 Death , host Nicki Petrossi sits down with Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies to unpack the high-stakes decision many parents face: what should your child’s first phone be? From the hidden risks of iPhones to the powerful parental controls offered by alternatives like the Bark phone, they dive into the pressures, misconceptions, and cultural norms drivi...

We’ve talked about the devastating impact of social media and how tech companies’ “profit over people” mindset has harmed countless families. This powerful new documentary,  Can’t Look Away , delivers the wake-up call the world needs: the time for industry reform is now. In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, host Nicki speaks with  Can’t Look Away  directors, Matthew O’Neill and Perri Peltz, about...

Dr. Mary Pulido, Executive Director of  World Childhood Foundation USA , joins Scrolling 2 Death to talk about the evolving fight against child sexual abuse in the digital age. There was a time when parents only worried about their children’s safety while they were out. But now, even at home, danger can reach them through screens. Social media, gaming platforms and chatrooms have become hunting gr...

Over 1,500 parents spoke up — and the results are in. In this episode, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Petrossi breaks down brand-new national survey data that reveals what parents  really  think about technology, screen time, and AI in K–12 schools. From overwhelming concerns about excessive screen use and digital safety to a stunning 91% of parents saying they  don’t  want their kids using AI at sc...

Why are kids using so much tech at school? A hint: the year was 2020. It started when COVID shut the world down and EdTech became an emergency measure. One-to-one devices kept learning going while schools were closed. It was necessary. But the pandemic ended- and the screens stayed. At first, digital learning seemed full of promise. In a tech-driven world, it felt like the future. But now, the har...

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

The Big Tech Gut Check is a weekly update for parents on all things social media and Big Tech.  Updates for this week:  Meta AI Wants to Access Your Camera Roll, Analyze Pics You Haven't Uploaded Leaked Documents Show Meta is Training Chatbots to Message You First, Remember Chats, Keep You Talking Former Facebook CEO says Site Should be Banned for Children MIT Study Shows Weakened Cognitive Capaci...

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

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

What happens when a Big Tech insider turns child advocate and parent educator? In this powerful conversation, Sarah Gallagher Trombley — former Snapchat executive — joins Nicki Petrossi to pull back the curtain on the hidden dangers kids face on social media. From Snapchat to TikTok, YouTube to Instagram, no platform is safe. Sarah shares the uncomfortable truth about what parental controls  can’t...

Lavanya Gupta, CEO and Founder of Silana Learning and a former Meta employee, is raising awareness about the hidden dangers of tech. With insight into the inner workings of Big Tech, she made the deliberate choice to keep her young daughters offline. But when the pandemic hit and remote learning became a necessity, she realized the inescapable - and often harmful - role that digital platforms can...

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: Snapchat Launches on Apple Watch Snapchat Partners with McDonalds to Promote Snapchat+ Sign the Petition to Urge McDonalds to End Partnership with Snapchat Teenage girls’ TikTok skincare regimes offer little to no benefit, research shows New Study...

We often hear the most extreme stories - eating disorders, overdoses, suicides – linked to social media.  But in reality, many kids are struggling in silence, even while appearing to be okay. Gabriela Nguyen, a recent Harvard graduate and founder of Appstinence, is working to shed light on this issue.   Raised in the Silicon Valley during the rise of social media, Gabriela was hooked from a young...

Sextortion scams targeting teen boys are on the rise — and they’re happening through platforms parents trust, like Instagram, Snapchat and even Apple’s iMessage. In this eye-opening conversation, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner of Heat Initiative expose the devastating impact of these scams and the chilling truth about Apple’s inaction. Why hasn’t Apple built better protect...

"I’m convinced they hate us," says Luke Richey, co-founder of Gravity Jack, referring to gaming giants like Roblox and Fortnite - companies he believes knowingly endanger children for profit. His wife and co-founder, Jennifer Richey, adds that 63% of human trafficking involving Gen A and Gen Z now originates through gaming platforms. In 2023 alone, Roblox reported over 13,000 child explo...

In this powerful conversation, Nicki Petrossi and Rick Lane dive into the latest legislative moves to make the internet safer for kids. They break down the  Take It Down Act , a critical step in fighting back against non-consensual explicit content and AI deepfakes. But the work isn't done. Parents must continue the pressure to pass additional bills like The DEFIANCE Act, NO FAKES Act and the Kids...

In this explosive episode, I connected with Kelly Stonelake, a former Meta insider who spent 15 years at the company witnessing firsthand how the tech giant prioritizes growth at the expense of user safety. From early roles shaping the Facebook product to leading teams behind major launches, Kelly shares what finally pushed her to speak out. Most recently, she was involved in the development of  H...

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: President Trump Issues Executive Order to Advance AI Education for American Youth TAKE IT DOWN Act Signed Into Law Snapchat Test Account Shows Sexual Content Pushed to Teen Within 5 Minutes TikTok Expands Meditation Feature DEA 2025 National Drug Thr...