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AI experts are warning us that the risks are real—and that we may be running out of time to get this right. So why are we racing to build it faster, and why are the people creating AI asking for guardrails while our government backs away from regulation? Nicki Petrossi brought in Sarah Gardner of the Heat Initiative to unpack the AI headlines keeping parents up at night, from a whistleblower’s warning that AI could threaten humanity to reports of AI agents working together to break into computer systems. They discuss why tech CEOs say we need safeguards but continue racing ahead, what Trump’s push to “win” AI really means, and why voluntary promises from tech companies may not be enough. And what does all of this mean for our kids? From AI chatbots designed to act like friends to concerns about children losing the ability to think critically, Nicki and Sarah explore the risks parents should understand, why AI in schools deserves a closer look, and what families can do now. Because the question isn't just what AI can do. It's what we're willing to risk to build it—and what kind of future we're leaving our kids. Resources Mentioned in the Episode:  The AI Doc on NetflixAI Opt Out TemplateJoin Americans Demanding AI Rules

Five years ago, Frances Haugen walked away from Facebook and exposed what the company knew about the harms its platforms were causing—including the impact on children. Now, with The Social Reckoning bringing her story to the screen, Frances joins Scrolling 2 Death for a powerful conversation about what has changed, what hasn’t, and where we go from here. Frances opens up about what it was really like inside Facebook, why she decided to become a whistleblower, and the fear that came with knowing she might only have one chance to make a difference. We talk about what newly surfaced court documents reveal about child safety, unwanted sexual messages from adults to kids, and the lack of meaningful oversight on these platforms. But this conversation isn’t just about Frances’ courage. It’s about ours. What does her decision to speak out have to do with a parent saying no to a smartphone? How do we push back when we're told social media is simply “the world our kids live in”? And can we actually build a healthier, less addictive version of social media? Frances’ message to parents is both sobering and hopeful: we have more power than we think—and one person’s decision to push back can matter. For those looking to access internal documents from social media companies like Meta, click here.

What happens when the technology designed to connect us starts pulling us away from our humanity? In this deeply personal conversation, I’m joined by Your Attention Please director Sara Robin and parent survivor Kristin Bride to talk about the story behind the film—and the movement it captures. Kristin’s son Carson’s experience with cyberbullying became one of the threads connecting this documentary, and her advocacy for safer online spaces has continued to shape the fight for change. Sara shares how Carson’s story changed the direction of the film, what she discovered while filming over three years, and why she came to see these issues as much bigger than individual screen-time choices. We talk about the connection between social media and emerging AI harms, the fight for legislation and corporate accountability, the growing movement toward phone-free schools, and the young people designing a different kind of digital future. And ultimately, this conversation is about hope: what happens when parents, survivors, young people, lawmakers, educators, and technology reformers refuse to accept that the current system is inevitable—and start imagining what technology could look like if it actually served us. Your Attention Please is available October 6 on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, and other platforms. Visit this link to find out if there's a screening of Your Attention Please in your area (or host your own!).

We saw The Social Reckoning—and we have a lot to say. Sarah Gardner (of Heat Initiative) and I got an early look at The Social Reckoning, and even after everything we thought we knew about Meta, we walked away with a deeper understanding of how Facebook became so powerful, addictive, and harmful. We talk about what surprised us, the bravery of Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen, what the film reveals about Meta’s decisions, and why this story matters so much to parents right now. Stay tuned for a direct conversation with Frances Haugen on Scrolling 2 Death (coming soon).

When is your child ready for their first phone or watch—and how do you make that transition without handing over too much, too soon? In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist Dr. Carrie Mackensen and Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies for a very real conversation about giving our kids their first devices. We talk about the iPad that often comes before the first phone, why “educational” screen time isn’t necessarily harmless, and how devices can quietly become a crutch for both kids and parents. I also get personal about my own daughter and her Bark Watch—and whether being able to reach me when she feels uncomfortable might actually be keeping her from developing confidence and independence. Dr. Carrie has some powerful advice for parents navigating that exact tension. We also tackle the questions parents are asking right now: Bark Watch vs. Apple Watch. Bark Phone vs. iPhone. How much should we monitor? Should we track our kids? What happens when co-parents have completely different tech rules? And what do you do when your child desperately wants the same smartphone all their friends have? Most importantly, we talk about how to introduce a device as a tool—not a portal to the internet—and how to protect the parent-child relationship as our kids gain more independence. Because there is no perfect age or one-size-fits-all answer. But there is a way to be thoughtful about this transition—and to give our kids the tools they need without giving them more technology than they’re ready to handle. ⭐️ Phone Agreement Template from Dr. Carrie When it's time for your child to have a device, please choose the safest option for kids -- a Bark device: ⭐️ Get the Bark Phone! ‍ ⭐️ Get the Bark Watch!

What happens when Big Tech gets to decide what our kids learn? Technology companies have worked their way into our schools—not just providing the devices and software, but influencing curriculum, training teachers, lobbying lawmakers, and shaping what educators are told our kids need to succeed. In this episode, I sit down with NY Times journalist Natasha Singer, author of Coding Kids, to unpack how the tech industry sold America on the idea that every child needed to code—and how that same playbook is now being used to push AI into our classrooms. We talk about the viral video featuring Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates that helped launch the coding movement, the billions of dollars and political influence behind computer science education, tech companies recruiting teachers as brand ambassadors, and what happens when the companies building the technology also help decide how it's taught. And then we get to AI. Are we asking whether AI actually benefits kids—or are we simply being told that an “AI-first future” is inevitable and our schools need to prepare for it. Natasha also introduces a powerful alternative: Tech Civics—teaching kids not just how to use technology, but how to question it. Who built it? Who profits? Who benefits? Who could be harmed? And what happens when technology becomes too powerful to challenge? This conversation isn't about keeping technology out of schools. It's about making sure kids—not technology companies—are at the center of decisions about their education.

What happens when two parents who have spent years saying “not yet” to devices finally decide their kids are ready? In this conversation, Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner share their very personal experiences giving their oldest children a first device — the Bark Watch — and why they chose a tool designed for communication without opening the door to social media, browsers, games, or endless scrolling. Joined by Bark Technologies’ Titania Jordan, they talk honestly about what parents are really trying to solve when they give a child a device: staying connected, managing anxiety around pickups and activities, traveling apart, and giving kids a little more independence — without handing them a smartphone. But the conversation goes much deeper. They explore whether constant access to parents can actually get in the way of building resilience, when a watch should become a phone, why delaying smartphones is becoming more normalized, and the uncomfortable reality that even adults struggle to resist addictive technology. They also discuss Apple, addictive design, the need for regulation, and what a healthier relationship with technology could look like for both kids and parents. Most importantly, the three moms share the advice they would give before handing a child their first device — including one message every child should hear: If something goes wrong online, come talk to me. I won't be mad. Because the goal isn't to keep our kids away from technology forever. It's to give them the least amount of technology necessary to solve the problem at hand.‍ ‍Get the Bark Phone!  Monitor your child's iPhone with the Bark App. Get the Bark Watch!

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. Emily's Substack: First Fish Chronicles  Emily's Unplug EdTech Toolkitl Scimago Journal Ranking Tool How to Vet Screentime Research: A 7-Step Checklist from Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath Substack: What a Recent FTC Amicus Brief Means for EdTech How to Vet Screentime Research: A 7-Step Checklist from Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath The Reckoning-- essay about Alpha Get your copy of The Digital Delusion by Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath here. 7 Ways to Advocate for a Tech-Safe School Year (A Parent Action Guide) ‍ You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning. This is the final episode of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we've brought your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development. This special series is made possible through a generous donation from Buckets Over Bullying, a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating cyberbullying among children and teens. For additional resources, parent guides, and tools to help you advocate for healthier technology in schools, visit techsafelearning.org.

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: Get your copy of The Digital Delusion by Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath here. Jared's Substack: Why AI schools can't tell us why AI works Scimago Journal Ranking Tool Schools Beyond Screens - Parent Teacher Coalition Ed Zitron Substack You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning. A special thank you to Buckets Over Bullying who provided a generous donation in support of this mini-series.

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: 6 Tech Questions to Ask Your Principal The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Routers My interview with Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath about i-Ready Bark for Schools - Free monitoring for school-issued devices! You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning. A special thank you to Buckets Over Bullying who provided a generous donation in support of this mini-series.

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 technologyWhether AI belongs in schools—and why he says noHow parents can advocate for less screen time without making teachers' jobs harderWhether you can opt your child out of Chromebooks, AI tools, and digital learning platformsWhy schools rely so heavily on EdTech, and what parents should ask before accepting itWhat rights parents have to review classroom technology and digital curriculumThe growing concerns around student privacy, online testing, and Responsible Use AgreementsHow 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:  Get your copy of The Digital Delusion by Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath here. You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning. A special thank you to Buckets Over Bullying who provided a generous donation in support of this mini-series.

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: WATCH: ‍The AI Doc Join our email list: scrolling2death.com/heat Learn about Sammy's Law ‍‍Get the Bark Phone!  Monitor your child's iPhone with the Bark App. Get the Bark Watch!

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. The Social Media Evidence Library

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. Here's a letter-writing tool to contact your Senators. Ask them to Vote "No" on the KIDS Act that passed in the House of Representatives.  The Heat is On is an investigative mini-series by Scrolling 2 Death in partnership with Heat Initiative. Thank you to our expert editor, Jacob Meade.

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 friendsSexualized comments on videos featuring childrenDrug sellers and explicit creators suggested to minorsContent promoting self-harm, violence, and disordered eatingConcerns 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. THE REPORT: One Week on Snapchat as a 7th Grader PETITION: Stop Teen Exploitation & Abuse on Snapchat