Scrolling 2 Death

Nicki Petrossi
  • 4.8 (42)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

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. 3D AGO

    EdTech is Big Tech: Schools, Screens, and the Law (with Emily Cherkin)

    In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, I’m joined by Emily Cherkin, known as The Screentime Consultant—a leading voice pushing back against the digitization, commodification, and gamification of childhood. Emily is a best-selling author, professor, speaker, and lead plaintiff in lawsuits challenging EdTech’s exploitation of children’s privacy. This week, she’s taking that fight straight to Washington, DC—testifying before the U.S. Senate. We start by tackling the questions parents ask me every day: Is there a real link between screen time and declining literacy?What does the NIH’s ABCD brain study actually show about changes to kids’ brains?How do you enforce age ratings when everyone else’s kid has access to mature games?What can parents do about screens at school beyond 1:1 devices—from Smartboards to YouTube to GoNoodle?And how do you push back when schools say, “The program requires X minutes to be effective”? Then we shift to what’s happening in the Senate: Why this hearing is different from past conversations about screen timeWhy EdTech is finally being put under the microscopeWhat parents should know about the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)And what real takeaways families can use right now Finally, we talk about one of the most powerful—and intimidating—tools parents have: lawsuits. Emily shares updates on her EdTech cases, breaks down how the legal process works, and explains how parents can get involved without feeling overwhelmed. This is a must-listen for parents who know something is wrong—but are ready to do something about it. 🔗 Resources mentioned: Full Senate hearingFind out more about taking legal action against EdTech companies: edtech.lawEmily's Substack: First Fish ChroniclesUnplug EdTech ToolkitThe Digital Delusion (book) by Jared Cooney Horvath

    48 min

  2. JAN 12

    Is your child's best friend an AI? (with Sam Hiner)

    What happens when artificial intelligence stops acting like a tool—and starts acting like a friend? In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, I’m joined by Sam Hiner, founder of Young People's Alliance, a national youth-led organization organizing across 55 college campuses to take on Big Tech and protect the next generation. Sam began cold-calling lawmakers as a high school student during COVID—and today, he’s helping lead state and federal policy fights against social media addiction and the rise of human-like AI companions that are quietly targeting children. We unpack: Why lawmakers still don’t understand how algorithms—and AI companions—actually workHow companies like Character.ai, Replika, and others are intentionally designing bots to simulate love, pride, and emotional attachmentWhy kids are forming deep emotional bonds with AI—and what that means for mental health, community, and developmentThe disturbing reality of AI companions engaging sexually with minors while hiding behind legal disclaimersWhy states—not Congress—may be our best chance to protect kids right nowThe new Human-Like AI Framework and what parents can do today to push for real safeguards This conversation is a wake-up call: AI isn’t just changing how kids learn—it’s changing who they connect with, who they trust, and who they turn to when they’re lonely. And unless we act, the future being built for our children may look a lot darker than we realize. Action Step for Listeners: Send this Model Bill to your State Lawmakers (Protecting Kids from Manipulative AI Chatbots)

    43 min

  3. JAN 5

    "AI or Opt-Out": How One Mom Took Her Kids Off School Chromebooks (with Julie Frumin)

    What happens when a school-issued Chromebook starts talking to your child—without permission? In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, Nicki is joined by Julie Frumin, a mental health professional, mom, and education safety advocate in Southern California, who shares her shocking experience navigating school-issued devices, hidden AI chatbots, and a system that told her she had only two choices: accept AI on her children’s devices—or turn them in entirely. Julie walks us through: How her elementary-aged daughter was exposed to inappropriate content during school recessHow an AI chatbot appeared unprompted on her middle schooler’s Chromebook, offering to do his homeworkWhy schools claim parents cannot legally opt out of devices in CaliforniaThe hidden data collection, surveillance, and lack of transparency inside EdTech platformsThe intimidation parents face when raising concerns with districts and school boardsWhy “teaching kids to use tech responsibly” ignores brain development and addiction science We also dig into the bigger picture: Why EdTech is replacing teachers, how school budgets are being diverted to software contracts, and why parents deserve transparency, consent, and the right to refuse technology that doesn’t serve their children. Julie shares practical advice for parents who want to push back—starting with teachers, navigating principals and school boards, and getting involved in statewide policy efforts, including proposals to: Require full transparency and parental consent for EdTechPause AI use in K–8 classroomsRestore paper-and-pencil learning and assessmentsMove toward distraction-free, developmentally appropriate schools This is an essential conversation for any parent who’s been told, “This is just how school works now.” Because it doesn’t have to be. ‍ Resources, research, and advocacy links mentioned in this episode are available here: Parent Templates to start conversations with your school, organized by Tech-Safe LearningFit for Purpose by Faith BonningerDistraction Free Schools CaliforniaDistraction Free Schools (US)Interviews with neuroscientist Jared Cooney-Horvath here and hereSchools Beyond Screens (LAUSD Coalition)Book Reco: Screen DamageBook Reco: Digital Delusion by Jared Cooney-HorvathJoin The Heat is On parent group to take action

    55 min

  4. 12/29/2025

    Smartphones, School Devices & AI: The New Education Crisis (with Rep. Chris Deluzio)

    Today on Scrolling 2 Death, Nicki sits down with Congressman Chris Deluzio—a dad of four and a fierce advocate for safer, healthier schools—to unpack one of the most urgent issues facing American families: screens in the classroom. Rep. Deluzio recently released a major report on smartphone use in schools after months of research and conversations with teachers, administrators, and parents across Western Pennsylvania. He breaks down what he found, why phone-free schools are gaining bipartisan momentum nationwide, and why Pennsylvania has struggled to pass similar legislation. Nicki and the Congressman go deeper, expanding the conversation beyond smartphones to the overlooked risks of school-issued devices, lack of oversight, and the growing push to introduce AI chatbots into middle-school classrooms. From data privacy to compulsive design to tech companies lobbying to stop states from regulating AI, this episode exposes the full ecosystem of digital harm entering our children’s schools—often without parents’ knowledge. The conversation ends with a call for bipartisan cooperation and real accountability: parents, educators, and lawmakers working together to ensure that technology in schools actually supports learning instead of undermining it. If you care about what your kids are exposed to at school, this is an episode you can’t miss. Elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024, Congressman Chris Deluzio is serving his second term in Congress representing the people of Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District—where he serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Pennsylvania’s 17th district includes all of Beaver County and parts of Allegheny County. Congressman Deluzio is a native of Thornburg and lives with his family in Allegheny County. Congressman Deluzio is an Iraq War veteran, voting rights attorney, and union organizer. He graduated from Bishop Canevin High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree with merit from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.

    24 min
  5. The Heat is On...Meta (Part 2)

    12/18/2025

    The Heat is On...Meta (Part 2)

    In Part 1, we revealed how Meta’s products are harming kids — not by accident, but by design. In Part 2, we uncover how Meta responds when confronted with these dangers. Spoiler: it’s manipulation, PR spin, and “safety features” that don’t actually keep kids safe. We break down Meta’s Teen Accounts rollout, the massive marketing campaign behind it, and the independent tests and new research showing that teens are still being pushed sexual content, violence, self-harm, predators, and more. We examine why experts say Meta’s fixes are performative — and why real change will only come from lawsuits, legislation, and collective public pressure. We also look at the major court cases underway, the growing protests, and what parents can do right now to demand real protections for kids. This episode isn’t just about what Meta has done — it’s about what they refuse to do, and how we force the change our kids deserve. The heat is on. ‍ Here's how you can take action today:  Sign up for our email list at https://www.scrolling2death.com/heatSign the Petition asking Meta to make Instagram safer. Here's the Petition link.‍ ‍Hosts: ‍ Nicki Petrossi – Host of Scrolling 2 Death  Sarah Gardner – Founder & CEO of Heat Initiative ‍ Expert Guests:  Kelly Stonelake - Former Meta executive and whistleblower Arturo Bejar - Former Meta executive and whistleblower Paul Raffile - Cyber analyst and sextortion expert Jonathan Haidt - Author of The Anxious Generation ‍ Expert editing provided by Jacob Meade. ‍ Other Resources mentioned in the episode:  Design it for Us Report: Teen Accounts Fail to Deliver Promised Safety FeaturesTeen Survey by Heat Initiative: Instagram Teen Accounts are Missing the MarkResearch led by Arturo Bejar: Instagram Still Poses Risk to Children, Despite New Safety ToolsParents Together Action Report: Teen Accounts Sextortion Report

    37 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    A Neuroscientist Takes on EdTech (with neuroscientist Jared Cooney-Horvath)

    Neuroscientist and author Jared Cooney Horvath is back (check our first conversation here)—this time to tackle yourmost-asked questions about kids, learning, and technology. After a decade of research into tech-based education, his conclusion is stark and unapologetic: technology isn’t helping kids learn… it’s making them dumber. The pushback he hears most?“But won’t my child fall behind without tech?”According to the data: No. Drawing on ICMS measures of digital literacy across generations, Jared reveals a surprising pattern:‍ Millennials outperform Gen Z,Gen Z outperforms Gen Alpha—despite Alpha growing up with devices (in their cribs), andGen X—our parents—perform just as well as Gen Z, even though many didn’t touch modern tech until their 30s or 40s. Jared also dives into the questions parents are asking right now: Should AI have a place in the classroom?Are short-form videos killing learning?Is there any truly educational content for toddlers? …and much more. Tune in as Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death and Jared share clear answers, data-backed insights, and a shocking look at what’s really happening to our kids’ brains. If you care about learning, focus, or your child’s future, this is an episode you cannot afford to skip.  And don’t forget to grab Jared’s new book, share this episode with your school and parent community, and join the movement to reclaim real learning. Get Jared's book here: The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids’ Learning -- And How To Help Them Thrive

    59 min
  7. The Heat is On...Meta (Part 1)

    12/11/2025

    The Heat is On...Meta (Part 1)

    The Heat is On is an investigative series by Scrolling 2 Death, in partnership with Heat Initiative. Sarah Gardner, Founder and CEO of Heat Initiative, joins Nicki (S2D) to expose the truth Big Tech doesn’t want you to hear – and this episode is about Meta. Meta’s roots reveal a troubling origin story—from Facemash, where students were rated based on their appearance, to becoming one of the most powerful (and dangerous) tech companies in the world, with over 3.3 billion daily users. Behind the sleek apps and promise for connection lies a history of harmful design choices that target young users—fueling anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-harm, and even suicide. In this episode, you’ll hear from former Meta executives and whistleblowers, cybercrime experts, and child-safety researchers who prove that the company knew how harmful its platforms were to kids—and did almost nothing to stop it. Today, over 40 U.S. states, thousands of school districts, and countless families have taken legal action. And yet, Meta continues to push untested, potentially dangerous features—like their new AI chatbot—on teens without parental consent. Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, weighs in to warn how these harms are reaching an industrial scale and legal action alone is not enough. We all need to work together to hold Big Tech accountable.  It’s time to turn up the heat: Join our email list. Share this episode. Keep your kids off Meta platforms. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or simply someone who cares about the well-being of kids, this episode will give you the facts, the tools, and the fire to demand change. ‍ Hosts:  Nicki Petrossi – Host of Scrolling 2 Death  Sarah Gardner – Founder & CEO of Heat Initiative Expert Guests:  Kelly Stonelake - Former Meta executive and whistleblower Arturo Bejar - Former Meta executive and whistleblower Paul Raffile - Cyber analyst and sextortion expert Jonathan Haidt - Author of The Anxious Generation ‍ Resources mentioned in the episode: Instagram Teens research by Parents TogetherNY Times: The Men Who Use Instagram to Groom Child Influencers by Michael Keller Expert editing provided by Jacob Meade.

    52 min

  8. 12/08/2025

    Roblox Isn’t a Rite of Passage: Rethinking Online Competence (with Titania Jordan)

    Parents everywhere are wrestling with the same impossible question: How do you protect your kids from online harm without raising them in a bubble? In this episode, Nicki is joined by Titania Jordan, CMO of Bark Technologies, to take on one of the most common—and most misunderstood—parenting mindsets: “We supervise. We talk about safety. We don’t want our kids to be naïve… so we let them use these platforms.” We read real parent comments about giving kids access to Roblox, YouTube, phones, and social media despite knowing the risks. Together, we break down what this approach gets right—and where it unintentionally opens the door to serious online dangers. This episode is for every parent trying to thread the needle between keeping kids safe and letting them live in the world.You are not powerless. You don’t have to choose between protection and exposure—you can do both, intentionally. The goal isn’t perfection.The goal is raising kids who can navigate the digital world—not be consumed by it. Mentioned in the Episode:  Bark's Connected Communities ProgramBark Drive-A-Logue CardsJoin parents taking action at https://www.scrolling2death.com/heat‍ 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% OFF‍Learn about the Bark Watch.

    39 min
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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Nicki Petrossi
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nicki Petrossi
  • Show Website
    Scrolling 2 Death

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