Scrolling 2 Death

What if the very tech your kids use every day was designed to hijack their minds? In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, child psychologist Dr. Richard Freed exposes how Big Tech is using persuasive design to keep kids hooked on social media and video games—no matter the cost to their mental health. He dives into the psychological tricks baked into these platforms, the skyrocketing rates of...

Today, April 16, 2025, Jonathan's Haidt's team at the Anxious Generation released an in-depth report into the harms of Snapchat. They examined court cases, reviewed internal documents and even spoke with top executives, finding that Snapchat is harming children at a scale we never imagined. In this mini-episode of Scrolling 2 Death, I break down what parents need to know about Snapchat. Yo...

In this episode, Nicki Reisberg sits down with Jack Hughes, a passionate 18-year-old and online safety advocate, for a candid and eye-opening chat about what it  really  takes to keep kids safe in the digital world. Jack opens up about his own experiences growing up with devices and why so many of the parental control tools out there just don’t cut it. They dive into why parents need more than jus...

I gave up my iPhone for a healthier phone (for 30 days).  My goals were 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 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! J...

  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: Meta Expands Teen Accounts Facebook Whistleblower Speaks to Congress (opening statement) Fairplay Files FTC Complaint Against Meta Snapchat Announces Support of Take it Down Act Trump States TikTok Deal is "Still on the table." Statement...

Girl meets Instagram. And then her childhood – and her life -  are forever altered by the effects of social media. This is what the Surgeon General is telling us. This is what the research is showing us: rising depression, anxiety, eating disorders and suicides. But behind this data, real people are suffering the consequences. Kara Alaimo, communications professor and author of   Over the Influenc...

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 dange...

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 e...

In 2015, Tessa Stuckey noticed a troubling trend as teenagers began flooding her therapy office. Their grievances were no different than those she faced as a teen -  failing tests, feeling left out, disappointing mom and dad – but their discomfort was leading straight to thoughts of self-harm and suicide. A correlation between rising harms and screen time became clear to her. As a mom of four, Tes...

When Chromebooks hit the market in 2010, they were a flop. Desperate to avoid significant losses, a savvy group of Google executives struck a deal with educators to provide Chromebooks to schools. “To help children build 21st century skills,” they said. Instead, we’re uncovering a growing number of harms and real-life tragedies caused by school devices.   The problem? A Chromebook is essentially j...

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...

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: Facebook Whistleblower Releases Tell-All Memoir (and Meta silences her) Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (a recap) Community Notes on Meta - What to expect [STUDY] Virtal TikTok Videos on ADHD Spread Misinformation State of Massachusetts Sues T...

In this eye-opening episode, Nicki Reisberg and Denise Champney dive deep into the growing influence of technology in education—unpacking both its false promises and its perils. With schools increasingly reliant on screens and AI-powered tools, what’s being lost? From the risks of inappropriate content slipping through school devices to the hidden dangers of data collection and declining critical...

In this episode, I sit down (virtually) with Lauren Paer, Programs Manager for Fairplay’s Screen Time Action Network, to unpack the complicated relationship between education and technology. We dive into the growing presence of EdTech in classrooms—how it’s shaping learning, where it’s helping (and where it’s hurting), and what parents  really  need to know. Lauren and I tackle big questions: Is a...

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 followi...

 Kate Doerksen, co-founder of Sage Haven, appears on Scrolling 2 Death to share insights from her research on tech challenges families are facing. After witnessing her family member suffer from a mental health crisis caused by bullying and harmful social media interactions, Kate interviewed hundreds of parents, youth, and child psychologists to try to find a solution to the harms of the current di...

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...

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 fo...

Are you concerned about your child using AI chatbots? Research shows that face-to-face connection is vital for healthy brain development and mental well-being, yet companion bots continue to draw users deeper into a virtual reality. We recently covered the dangers of Character.ai, but there’s another troubling app on our radar: Replika.  Marketed as an “AI companion who cares” and “is always on yo...

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: Denmark to Ban Mobile Phones in Schools  (and recommends no smartphone or tablet until 13) New Bill in Georgia Would Bar Kids Under 14 from Social Media TikTok Users Are Dropping Heavy Things on their Feet  (new trend) [REPORT] Buying to Belong by Fa...

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 1...

We asked digital safety advocate Adam Dodge which social media app is safest for kids. Sadly, his answer was none. He goes further to say, “While I can’t recommend one, I can recommend the one to stay away from: Snapchat.” Not surprised.  However, an alarming new social trend worries him even more - chatbots. Research shows kids spend more time on Character AI than TikTok. Why? Companion bots, lik...

I sat down (virtually) with Chris Kaspar, founder of Techless and creator of the  Wisephone , to tackle one of today’s biggest struggles—smartphone addiction. But this time, it's about adults (not kids). We dive into how constant connectivity is affecting parents, why intentional tech use is more crucial than ever, and how the Wisephone is reshaping the way families interact with technology.  Chri...

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 th...

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: 4 UK Parents Sue TikTok for Deaths of Children TikTok's Response to Latest Lawsuit TikTok Announces Digital Safety and Privacy Guide Snapchat's 3rd Annual Digital Well-Being Index Meta Launches Child Safety Curriculum Meta Cuts Thousands of J...