Scrolling 2 Death

Nicki Petrossi

Scrolling 2 Death is a podcast for parents who are worried about social media. Through interviews with parents and experts, we explore smartphone use, screen time, school-issued devices, social media use and so much more.

  1. The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Beyond the Headlines (with Kaley’s lead attorney Mark Lanier)

    6 วันที่แล้ว

    The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Beyond the Headlines (with Kaley’s lead attorney Mark Lanier)

    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. Here's a link to the actual verdict forms that the jury completed. Video Editing expertly provided by Jacob Meade.

    56 นาที
  2. 11 พ.ค.

    The Canvas Breach: 275 Million People at Risk (with attorney Andy Liddell)

    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. Here's a full list of the 8,000+ schools which were affected. Andy breaks down: What Canvas is and why it’s used in so many schoolsHow enormous amounts of student data are collected and sharedWhat allegedly happened in the breachWhy hackers targeted this informationWhat exposed school data could mean for families long-termWhy schools are becoming “soft targets” for cyberattacksWhat parents should do right now if their child’s school uses Canvas The conversation also goes beyond this single breach and explores a larger question: Have schools quietly normalized mass surveillance of children through EdTech? Andy explains why privacy isn’t just about secrecy — it’s about childhood itself. “Privacy is the soil in which we grow.” This episode is essential listening for parents, teachers, school administrators, and anyone concerned about the growing role of Big Tech in education. Contact Andy's team at edtech.law to find out more about this lawsuit and others. Here's a direct link to their lawsuit against Instructure.

    25 นาที
  3. 4 พ.ค.

    This Isn't a Parenting Problem (with Glen Pounder of Scouting America)

    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. Drawing from his 30-year career combating crimes against children—and his recent article “The Comfort of Blame – and the Limits of Even the Best Parenting”—Glen shares what he’s seen firsthand: families who did everything right… and still had children targeted, groomed, and exploited online. This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice and into the uncomfortable truth: Why parent blame is so appealing—and so dangerousHow exploitation actually happens, even in attentive householdsThe hidden cost of shame, silence, and misplaced responsibilityAnd why this is not a parenting failure—it’s a systems failure In the wake of major legal battles involving Meta and YouTube, this episode asks a harder question: Who really benefits when we keep blaming parents instead of holding platforms accountable? Because while families are being told to “do more,” tech companies continue to design environments that make harm easier—and harder to detect. If we want to actually protect kids, we have to move beyond blame… and start demanding better systems. #MyFriendToo Resource for Youth

    32 นาที
  4. 27 เม.ย.

    Does i-Ready Work? A Neuroscientist Weighs In (with Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath)

    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. Jared's Substack: i-Ready: 13 Million Students, Zero Meaningful Evidence Parent-Teacher i-Ready Resource

    30 นาที
  5. 6 เม.ย.

    I've sued i-Ready | Answering your questions (with attorney Andy Liddell)

    So…I’ve sued another EdTech company. Here's a direct link to information on the lawsuit. This time, it’s Curriculum Associates — the multi-billion-dollar maker of i-Ready, used by more than 14 million children in grades K–8, including my own. In this episode, I break down why we’ve filed a lawsuit alleging that Curriculum Associates’ core business model depends on harvesting massive amounts of student data, monetizing it, and allegedly sharing children’s personal information with dozens of third parties for commercial purposes. We further allege the company builds deeply invasive psychological and behavioral profiles on students — profiles that can follow them and potentially harm them. I never consented to this. And neither did millions of parents. Sending our children to public school is a legal right. We should not have to expose them to commercial data trafficking just to get an education. With the average school district using thousands of EdTech tools each year — and each child accessing dozens — the question isn’t whether this is happening. The question is whether parents ever gave meaningful, informed consent. Joining me is Andy Liddell, attorney with the EdTech Law Center, to answer the questions flooding in from parents and teachers: What exactly are we alleging?What data is actually being collected?Is academic growth tracking the same as data mining?Can parents opt out?Is this a class action?What can teachers do?And what do we say to critics who claim this is just fear-mongering? If you’re a parent, teacher, or school leader, this conversation is one you cannot afford to miss. If you’re interested in learning more or potentially joining an EdTech-related lawsuit, visit: edtech.law. Because this isn’t just about i-Ready. It’s about whether our children’s data belongs to them — or to corporations.

    18 นาที
  6. [THE VERDICT] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial

    27 มี.ค.

    [THE VERDICT] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial

    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 meansWhether an appeal is likelyWhy early bellwether cases often shape — but don’t decide — the larger warWhat 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. The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial is an investigative mini-series by Scrolling 2 Death, in partnership with Heat Initiative. Video Editing expertly provided by Jacob Meade. Are you willing to take action against Big Tech? Join us in D.C.! Fill out this form. THE VERDICT META Was Meta negligent in the design or operation of Instagram? YESWas Meta’s negligence a substantial factor in causing harm to KGM? YESDid Meta know or should it reasonably have known that the design or operation of Instagram was dangerous or was likely to be dangerous when used by a minor in a reasonably foreseeable manner? YES‍Did Meta know or should it reasonably have known that users would not realize the danger? YESDid Meta fail to adequately warn of the danger? YESWould a reasonable platform designer or operator under the same or similar circumstances have warned of the danger or instructed on the safe use of the platform? YESWas Meta's failure to adequately warn or instruct a substantial factor in causing harm to KGM? YES YOUTUBE Was YouTube negligent in the design or operation of YouTube? YESWas YouTube's negligence a substantial factor in causing harm to KGM? YESDid YouTube know or should it reasonably have known that the design or operation of YouTube was dangerous or was likely to be dangerous when used by a minor in a reasonably foreseeable manner? YES‍Did YouTube know or should it reasonably have known that users would not realize the danger? YESDid YouTube fail to adequately warn of the danger? YESWould a reasonable platform designer or operator under the same or similar circumstances have warned of the danger or instructed on the safe use of the platform? YESWas YouTube's failure to adequately warn or instruct a substantial factor in causing harm to KGM? YES‍ THE DAMAGES A. What are KGM's damages?  $3,000,000 B. What percentage of responsibility for K.G.M.’s harm do you assign to each of the following?  70% Meta 30% YouTube C. Do you find that K.G.M. proved by clear and convincing evidence that Meta acted with malice, oppression, or fraud in conduct upon which you base your finding of liability? YES D. Do you find that K.G.M. proved by clear and convincing evidence that YouTube acted with malice, oppression, or fraud in conduct upon which you base your finding of liability? YES PUNITIVE DAMAGES: $3,000,000 ($2.1M to Meta, $900K to YouTube)

    40 นาที

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Scrolling 2 Death is a podcast for parents who are worried about social media. Through interviews with parents and experts, we explore smartphone use, screen time, school-issued devices, social media use and so much more.

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