I bought in Clare Morell of EPPC to discuss the complexities surrounding children's safety in the digital age, with a focus on balancing the role of schools, parental, and our legislators. Clare gives clear insight into why is the internet so unsafe for children in today's society, and what needs to be done to fix it. As always, we prioritize guidance for parents on safe decisions to be made in your homes, today. Resources mentioned in the episode: How to break up with your phone by Catherine Price Interview with Julie Scelfo NewsWeek Article by Clare Smartphone Free Childhood Group Clare's Substack Support the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) About Clare Clare Morell is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where she directs EPPC’s Technology and Human Flourishing Project. She is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, which will be published by Penguin Random House in June, 2025. Ms. Morell's policy work focuses on strengthening our laws to better protect children from online harms. Her work on state social media laws was featured in The New York Times. Prior to joining EPPC, Ms. Morell worked in both the White House Counsel’s Office and the Department of Justice, as well as in the private and non-profit sectors. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
I brought in The Screentime Consultant Emily Cherkin to tackle the complexities of raising kids in the digital age. We dive into the idea of being "tech intentional"—how to use technology thoughtfully, in a way that aligns with family values and supports kids’ development. The conversation covers a range of important topics: the addictive nature of digital platforms, why boredom can spark creativity, and the difference between things that are scary and those that are genuinely dangerous for children. We also explore how anonymity online can erode empathy, share practical advice for parents on modeling healthy tech habits, and offer insights on navigating screen time. We discuss the heavy reliance on EdTech in schools through our own experiences and the need for parents to stay informed and advocate for safe technology use in education. With plenty of actionable tips, this episode encourages parents to be proactive, ask tough questions, and work together with schools to prioritize the well-being of their kids in a tech-driven world. Resources mentioned in the episode: Ed tech bill of rights by Julie Liddell Unplug EdTech Toolkit Internet Safety Labs - App Microscope Connect with Emily on her website and Instagram. About Emily Cherkin: Emily Cherkin, MEd., aka The Screentime Consultant, is a world-renowned screentime expert with the accessible voice of someone who understands the struggles of becoming more tech-intentional—both as a teacher and parent. Emily's book, The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family, is an Amazon bestseller and available everywhere books are sold. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
Ben Tracy is running across America to keep kids safe online. 120 marathons in 120 days, engaging at schools, community groups and with lawmakers along the way to raise awareness about issues of online safety for children. Ben and his team stopped in the middle of Kansas to give Scrolling 2 Death an update on their progress and give advice to parents. Follow the Tracy Trek on their website and Instagram. This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone Check out the Bark Watch Ben Tracy is a leading keynote speaker on digital citizenship, online safety, and responsible social media use. Drawing from personal experience, Ben shares his compelling story about the impact of teenage social media usage at schools and organizations nationwide. Ben is currently running across America to advocate for youth online safety. He is running a marathon each day for 120 consecutive days while speaking at schools and organizations along the way. His mission is simple: Keep Kids Safe. As the founder of Safe Social Network, Ben provides essential online safety resources for students, parents, and educators. He speaks to more than 100,000 people each year and volunteers his time to help families report online predators and internet crimes to law enforcement. Additionally, he awards scholarships annually to high school seniors who actively promote positive social media usage, mental health awareness, and anti-bullying. Ben graduated magna cum laude from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where he double-majored in Business and Political Science. While at SXU, he served as captain of the track team and was a member of the student senate. Ben lives in Nashville, Tennessee. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
In this conversation, Nicki Reisberg and Dawn Wible discuss the critical issues surrounding digital wellness and safety for children. Dawn shares her journey as the founder of Talk More. Tech Less., highlighting the importance of advocacy, education, and legislation in addressing the challenges posed by technology and social media. Dawn takes parents through the risks associated with children's use of digital devices, the necessity of open conversations between parents and children, and the role of schools in ensuring a safe digital environment. The discussion emphasizes the need for parents to be proactive in advocating for their children's safety online and creating healthy tech habits at home. Resources mentioned in the episode: Phone Free Schools Movement Jonathan Haidt's New York Times Best Seller: The Anxious Generation Screen Time Action Network Watch The Social Dilemma The Smartphone Ed This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone Check out the Bark Watch About Dawn Wible: Dawn Wible is the founder of Talk More. Tech Less., a digital wellness and safety organization. For over a decade, she has trained communities, organizations, schools, and families on safer tech use. Dawn is an online safety advocate and certified digital wellness educator. She is the co-chair of the Online Harms Prevention work group at Fairplay’s Screen Time Action Network. Dawn works alongside social media reform organizations on legislation to help protect kids from targeted and inhumane addictive software design and advocates against the exploitation of children and their data privacy. Dawn and her husband Matt, the founder of an outdoor mentorship organization for young men, have been working with youth for 25 years.Together they are walking this road alongside all parents dealing with technology in the home, modeling openness and safer habits as they raise their own three boys. Please reach out to dawn@talkmoretechless.com if you would like to connect her to your schools or communities. And follow her work at Talk More Tech Less on Instagram. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
Parents everywhere are worried about the rise of empathetic, human-like AI chat bots. I brought in Noah Coffman of Young People's Alliance to dive into the evolution of AI chatbots and unpack how these bots are engaging users emotionally. We discuss both the perks and pitfalls of AI, from its potential in mental health support to the ethical issues around privacy and dependency. We emphasize the importance of open conversations with kids about the risks of unregulated AI, and why fostering critical thinking is key as this tech continues to develop. A few AI chat bot apps that Noah mentioned in the episode; Replica, Character AI, Kindroid, Gnomey, Linky, Pi, Simsimi, Momate Additional episodes on the topic of AI chatbots: A New Era of Addictive Intelligence (with Laurie Segall) "An AI chatbot killed my son." (with Megan Garcia) Is A.I. safe for kids? (with Tim Estes) About Noah Coffman: Noah Coffman is a student at the University of Notre Dame studying philosophy and computer science. He is also the Research and Policy Director at the Young People's Alliance, a non-profit full of digital natives who are seeking to advocate for young people's issues on the state and federal level. For almost a year now, Noah has been developing and advocating for chatbot regulation on the federal level. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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: Parents Must Talk to Their Kids About Porn (early and often). Resources: Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Book series Kids and Porn (podcast episode) with Kristen Jenson Talking to Kids About Pornography (podcast episode) with Parker Hymas 14-year-old Sewell Setzer dies after falling in love with an AI chatbot "An AI chatbot killed my son." with Megan Garcia A New Era of Addictive Intelligence (with Laurie Segall) Is AI safe for kids? (with Tim Estes) Australia Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16s Canada Orders TikTok Offices Shut Down South Korea Fines Meta $15M Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
In this conversation, Dr. Lisa Strohman discusses the intersection of technology and child psychology, focusing on the implications of gaming, social media, and educational technology on children's safety and mental health. She emphasizes the need for parents to be proactive in understanding the risks associated with these platforms and advocates for educational programs that empower youth to navigate the digital landscape responsibly. We cover a ton of topics including; screens at school, gaming, smartphone use, screen time recommendations, smart watches, tech addiction and more. Connect with Dr. Lisa on her website. Resources mentioned in the episode: Hindenberg Research on Roblox QR code for free books (visit scrolling2death.com/podcast and click on the episode with Dr. Lisa Strohman) Tree Octopus Cell phone study by London School of Economics Digital Citizen Academy About Dr. Lisa Strohman Dr. Lisa Strohman is a clinical psychologist, attorney, and author who is serving as a testifying expert for the federal multidistrict litigation against Google, Meta, TikTok, SnapChat, and Bytedance. She is recognized as a specialist on the intersection of psychology and technology (especially social media), and she is the founder of Digital Citizen Academy--one of the first organizations to focus on eliminating issues such as cyber-bullying, child luring, sextortion, and suicide through prevention and diversion programs, events, and resources. Dr. Strohman is also a mother of two teens, and is the author of Unplug: Raising Kids In A Technology Addicted World and Digital Distress: Growing Up Online. She has appeared on many different television and radio programs, such as CNN, Brian Kilmeade’s radio show, Fox News, and ABC’s Eyewitness News, and has been cited in many publications, including Popular Science, Mashable, and the Denver Post. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
In this conversation, I brought in Parker Hymas of Fight the New Drug to discuss the significant impact of pornography on youth, relationships and society. The changing landscape of pornography makes having open and early conversations with our kids vital. This discussion provides parents with actionable resources and guidance on how to have these important conversations. We also cover questions that were submitted by parents through Instagram. Thank for those! Resources for Parents: Fight the New Drug Resources for Parents Conversation Blueprint What to ask your school about device safety? Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr. Brain Heart World Documentary About Parker Hymas Fight the New Drug is a non-religious and non-legislative nonprofit that exists to provide individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using only science, facts, and personal accounts. FTND aims to decrease the demand for sexual exploitation through education while helping individuals live empowered lives free from the harmful effects of pornography. Parker is FTND's Director of Public Outreach and is an accomplished speaker with a passion for developing and engaging communities. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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: Can AI be blamed for 14-year-old Sewell Setzer's suicide? "An AI Chatbot killed my son." (with Megan Garcia) Chatbots of Dead Teens Found on Character AI Google Has Deep Ties to AI Startup Accused of Causing Teen Suicide NYC Teens Reject Cell Phones and Social Media Roblox is a Pedophile Hellscape for Kids (a breakdown of the investigation) Roblox Attempts to Bar Child Predators The Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books Louisiana Driver Causes Crash While Attempting TikTok Drift Challenge 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. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone The Bark Watch is Coming Soon! Join the waitlist --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
This is the grooming conversation that all parents need to listen to. Anna Sonoda, LCSW, corrects misconceptions about grooming and educates parents on how to prepare, prevent and protect our children from predators (both online and offline). Anna Sonoda, LCSW, graduated from Emory University with a double major in anthropology and French Studies before earning her master’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia in 2006. She became a licensed clinical social worker in 2009. Anna's clinical background includes residential mental health, outpatient anger management, domestic violence intervention, and dual diagnosis treatment. Her most significant work was as a cognitive behavioral therapist for convicted sexual offenders. Becoming a mother of five deepened her commitment to child protection and the importance of recognizing grooming behaviors in adults. In December 2022, she published Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target, which unpacks the complexities of this issue. In August 2024, she released an accompanying journal Duck Duck Groom: A Guided Journal for survivors. Anna presents to individuals, groups, and organizations about how adults can better protect children by identifying the signs of grooming. Connect with Anna on her website. Resources mentioned in the episode or provided by Anna: atsa.org Cyber Tipline by NCMEC Internet Watch Foundation Internet Matters Hope for Justice Human Trafficking Front ChildHelp Common Sense Media Gaming Sites where grooming is prevalent: Among Us Call of Duty Grand Theft Auto Minecraft Nintendo Switch Roblox Slithr.io Dating Apps where grooming is prevalent: Bumble Grindr OnlyFans Tinder Messaging Apps where grooming is prevalent: Google Hangout/Meet Kik Marco Polo Facebook Messenger Signal Slack Telegram WhatsApp Wickr Live Stream + Social Media Platforms where grooming is prevalent: Amino Byte Discord Facebook Houseparty Instagram Monkey Pinterest Reddit Snapchat Tagged Tiktok Triller Tumble Twitch Twitter VSCO Whisper Wink Wishbone Younow YouTube Predators run on G.A.S. ( Grooming, Access, and Space) Grooming: Flattery Favoritism Forbidden Fruits Fear Prevention: Permission Public use Private settings This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2death_bark *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2deathbp Check out the Bark Watch: https://info.bark.us/bark-watch-s2d --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone Learn about the Bark Watch 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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
Trigger warning: The following content contains sensitive subject matter, including depictions of suicide and self-harm. Please view or listen with caution. This is a story that every parent must hear. The future is here, and that includes AI chatbot companions who emulate human relationships. These products are unregulated and unsafe, particularly for children. I spoke to Megan Garcia, an attorney from Florida. Megan is the mother of Sewell Setzer III, who died by suicide in February 2024 after being emotionally manipulated and abused by an AI chatbot. Megan is filing a lawsuit and sharing her story to warn families of the dangers of this technology and to demand accountability from Character.AI and the tech industry. Resources mentioned in the episode: Tech Justice Law Project: https://techjusticelaw.org Social Media Victims Law Center: https://socialmediavictims.org --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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: Meta Exposed documentary by Channel 7 News Social Studies documentary on Hulu Interview with Meta whistleblower David Erb Hindenburg Research investigation into Roblox This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone The Bark Watch is Coming Soon! Join the watlist --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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: Can AI be blamed for 14-year-old Sewell Setzer's suicide? Big Tech Spends $51 Million on Lobbying Against Kids Safety Bills Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Scalise Hold Up Kids Online Safety Act Contact Speaker Johnson Contact Majority Leader Scalise New iMessage Feature Allows Children to Report Nudity to Apple Roblox Makes Parental Control Changes (and takes no responsibilty for harm to children) Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
Lenore Skenazy's life completely changed after allowing her child to navigate the New York City subway alone at just 9 years old. She went on to publish a book called Free-Range Kids which grew into a movement. Now, Lenore is the president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit she co-founded with three others, including Jonathan Haidt of "The Anxious Generation." Her mission is to make it easy, normal and legal to give kids back some old-fashioned independence. In this conversation, Lenore discusses the societal shift toward fear-based parenting and the decline of free play. She gives practical strategies for parents to encourage their children to take risks and develop much-needed confidence. Skenazy emphasizes the need for parents to let go and trust their children, highlighting the benefits of independence for both kids and parents. Could the cure to an anxious generation be as easy as letting go? Resources mentioned in the episode: Let Grow: https://letgrow.org/ The Let Grow Experience (a free independence-building curriculum for teachers/schools) The Let Grow Play Club (free implementation guide for schools, YMCAs, churches, synagogues, etc., to create a time and place for kids to play and socialize in a no-phone zone) After Babel by Jonathan Haidt and Zach Rausch The Anxious Generation (NY Times Best Seller) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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: Instagram Announces New Education Campaign to Fight Sextortion Meta Exposed Documentary by Channel 7 News Meta Confirms Layoffs Across Companies Social Media Faces Big Changes in UK Under New Ofcom Rules First UK-US Online Safety Agreement to Keep Kids Safe Online Survey: Colorado Teens use Social media More and at Younger Ages List of end-to-end encrypted apps to block from your child's device: Signal Whatsapp Telegram Facebook Messenger Wire Element AWS Wickr Briar Pryvate Messenger SafeChat SafeSwiss Proton Mail SimpleX Chat Confide Delta Chat CoverMe P2P Messenger Olvid xPal TeleGuard 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. Learn about the Bark Phone: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2deathbp Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2death_bark *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF The Bark Watch is coming soon! Sign up for the waitlist: https://info.bark.us/bark-watch-s2d --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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: Matt's Substack, Teacher Teacher The one about school shootings School Tech: Know Your Rights (with Julie Liddell) Phone Free Schools Movement (my interview with co-founder Kim Whitman) 7 questions to ask your school destrict about devices This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark Phone Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids. *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Learn about the Bark Watch --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support
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. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scrolling2death/support