Podcast
Scrolling 2 Death
Hosted by Nicki Petrossi · EN
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.
49episodes
Episodes
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[WEEK 3 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Opening Statements. First Witnesses.
Feb 1400:57:25Summary readyWeek 3 marks a turning point inside the courtroom: opening statements begin, the first witnesses take the stand, and the stakes become unmistakably real. Hosts Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner (of Heat Initiative) bring you inside the proceedings as plaintiffs and defense lay out competing narratives about what happened to Kaley—and what responsibility tech giants bear.Plaintiff attorney Mark Lanier delivers what attendees call a “masterclass” opening, previewing internal records from YouTube and Meta suggesting early-age targeting and engineering for addiction. Defense attorney Paul Schmidt counters with a starkly different claim: that social platforms can benefit vulnerable teens and that responsibility lies elsewhere - on parents. YouTube counsel Louis Lee insists repeatedly: YouTube is not social media.The first expert witness, addiction psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke of Stanford University, author of Dopamine Nation, walks jurors through the neuroscience of compulsive use—arguing that platform design features can function like addictive stimuli, especially for adolescents. Cross-examinations grow tense as attorneys challenge her comparisons and conclusions.Midweek brings the highly anticipated testimony of Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, questioned about past statements on social media addiction, teen safety, and whether growth incentives conflict with child protection. Outside the courthouse, grieving parents—including featured guest John DeMay—camp overnight for seats, hold direct actions targeting Snapchat, and remind the world what this trial is really about: children.You’ll hear:Real-time courthouse reflectionsParent voices from the steps outsideKey courtroom exchanges that could shape the verdictLegal context explaining what jurors must decideNext week’s witnesses raise the stakes even higher, with expected testimony from Mark Zuckerberg and Neal Mohan.Because this isn’t just a trial. It’s a reckoning. And we’re translating every moment that matters for families everywhere.
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[BONUS EPISODE] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: A Conversation with Toney & Brandy Roberts
Feb 1100:24:34Summary readyThis bonus episode of The Heat is On… Big Tech on Trial slows down to hold space for the weight of this moment.Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner are joined by Brandy and Toney Roberts, parents of 14-year-old Englyn Roberts, whose life was cut short after being exposed to harmful content on Instagram and other social media platforms. What unfolds is not just a conversation about Meta’s technology—but about grief, truth, and what it means to refuse indifference.The Roberts family shares how Instagram’s algorithms repeatedly recommended suicide-related content to their daughter, how duplicate videos remained online long after being reported, and how easily this material continues to circulate today. Sarah breaks down the technical reality: the tools to prevent and remove this content exist—and always have.Interwoven with these devastating realities are moments of grounding, connection, and meaning: reflections on community among bereaved parents, a courthouse vigil outside the Los Angeles trial, and the belief that love—never indifference—is what drives this fight.This episode is raw. It is painful. And it is essential.As the courtroom doors finally open, this conversation captures what’s truly on trial: corporate choices, accountability, and the lives of children.Listener discretion advised.
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[WEEK 2 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Meta Stalls. Families Stand
Feb 700:34:52Summary readyWeek 2 inside the courtroom didn’t unfold the way anyone expected.Just as jury selection was set to continue, the judge announced a sudden pause—triggered by illness, followed by a denied request from Meta to delay the trial for 30 days. What does a delay really mean in a case like this? And who benefits when time is bought?In this episode of The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial, hosts Nicki Petrossi (of Scrolling 2 Death) and Sarah Gardner (of Heat Initiative) break down what happened behind the scenes, why jury selection may be the most important phase of the entire trial, and how defense strategies are already taking shape.You’ll hear legal context from veteran trial attorney Michael Quade, along with firsthand perspective from affected parents Toney and Brandy Roberts, who lost their 14-year-old daughter Englyn and are suing Meta, Snap, and TikTok for wrongful death and negligence.This week was grounded not by legal maneuvering—but by the parents.Survivor parents from around the world gathered in Los Angeles to witness the trial. Together, they held a vigil on the courthouse steps, honoring their children and demanding accountability. Nearly 20 media outlets showed up to hear their stories—not corporate talking points, but the human cost behind them.This case isn’t just about evidence or arguments. It’s about children.It’s about who controls the narrative.And it’s about which side of history we choose to stand on.We’re inside the courtroom—so parents everywhere don’t have to rely on headlines alone.Subscribe to The Heat is On miniseries here.
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[WEEK 1 RECAP] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial: Jury Selection
Jan 3100:27:10Summary readyThe courtroom doors are open—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.In this Week 1 recap of The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial, we take you inside the very beginning of what some are calling the tobacco trials of our generation: the first case in the social media addiction litigation, where some of the most powerful companies in the world—Meta and YouTube—are facing off against a child.This week was all about jury selection. But don’t let the term fool you—some trials are effectively decided here.From the courthouse, hosts Nicki Petrossi (of Scrolling 2 Death) and Sarah Gardner (of Heat Initiative) break down what actually happened during the week, why it matters, and what an “impartial juror” even looks like in a world saturated by social media.We’re joined by:Attorney Laura Marquez Garrett (SMVLC), with legal context on jury selection, the TikTok and Snap settlements, and what Big Tech fears most as this trial moves forward.Julianna Arnold, founding member of Parents RISE and mom to Coco, who passed awayat 17 from social media harms—and now a plaintiff in the consolidated case—sharing what it feels like to finally be this close to the truth.In this episode, you'll hear:What stood out emotionally and ethically inside the courtroomHow 450 potential jurors were narrowed down—and why that process can make or break the caseWhy media access is already a fight, with only 10 seats available for pressThe growing comparisons between these trials and Big Tobacco—and what history tells usWhat survivor parents are bracing for as testimony beginsPlus: what’s coming next, including opening statements, witness testimony, and the anticipated appearance of Mark Zuckerberg.We’re inside the courtroom so parents everywhere don’t have to guess what’s happening behind closed doors.Because this trial—and the ones that follow—will shape the future of child safety online.Next week: Final jury selection and Opening Statements.Stay with us. Share this episode. And keep paying attention.
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[PRE-TRIAL] The Heat is On...Big Tech on Trial | What This Trial Means for Parents
Jan 2600:46:42Summary readyThe Calm Before the Storm — What This Trial Means for ParentsWhat happens when families finally take Big Tech to court—and win the right to be heard?In the premiere episode of The Heat Is On… Big Tech on Trial, hosts Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner take parents inside what some are calling the trial of the century: consolidated lawsuits brought by thousands of families, school districts, and 29 states against Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube for allegedly addicting and harming children.Sitting in the courtroom so you don’t have to, we will break down what this trial is really about—addiction, internal knowledge, and accountability—and why it matters for how you parent right now. You’ll hear from attorneys working the case, who explain how these cases came together and what’s at stake, and from parents whose children have been harmed (or lost) to harms instigated by social media.This episode sets the stage for what’s coming next: the first bellwether trial (KGM), the judge, the jury, the defense tactics, and what parents should be watching for as CEOs prepare to take the stand.This isn’t about screen time.It’s about accountability.And it’s about protecting our children.New episodes drop weekly as the trial unfolds. Sign up for trial updates at https://www.scrolling2death.com/heatThank you to our special guests on this episode, Laura Marquez-Garrett of the Social Media Victims Law Center, Previn Warren of Motley Rice and Lori Schott, mom of Annalee (forever 18).
SummaryEdTech is Big Tech: Schools, Screens, and the Law (with Emily Cherkin)
Jan 1900:47:38Summary readyIn 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 nowFinally, 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
SummaryIs your child's best friend an AI? (with Sam Hiner)
Jan 1200:42:49Summary readyWhat 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 safeguardsThis 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)
SummaryHow Youth Voices are Reclaiming the Digital Future (with Ava Smithing)
Nov 24Summary readyAva Smithing, Advocacy Director at the Young People’s Alliance, returns to Scrolling 2 Death to share an exciting new project. If you missed her previous episodes, Ava is a leading youth voice for nonpartisan policy solutions for safer technology development. Growing up in the early days of social media, she experienced firsthand how harmful algorithms can shape young users’ lives - even contributing to her own struggle with an eating disorder. Now, she’s turned that experience into a mission to raise awareness and drive change.In this episode, Ava dives into two key concerns:The dangers of engagement algorithms and the harmful content they amplify.The erosion of privacy, as tech companies quietly collect and share user data across apps and sites to influence what we see and buy online.To elevate youth perspectives, Ava has launched a new podcast, Left to Their Own Devices, which explores the real stories of young people navigating life online. But the show doesn’t just highlight the harms; it imagines what a healthier, more ethical digital world could look like.Tune in as Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death and Ava discuss why young people shouldn’t just be consulted about technology’s future - they should be guiding us all
SummaryTeen Safety or PR Stunt? Meta's False Promise to Parents (with Arturo Bejar)
Oct 9Summary readyToday on Scrolling 2 Death, Meta whistleblower and dad Arturo Bejar joins me to expose the truth about Instagram’s so-called “Teen Accounts.” From his years inside Facebook and Instagram leading safety efforts, to his 2021 warning to leadership that went ignored, Arturo reveals what Meta doesn’t want parents to know. We’re also joined by Sarah Gardner of The Heat Initiative, who brings new insights from teens themselves.Teen Accounts: Broken Promises (the full report published September 25, 2025)Heat Teen Safety ReportTIME Magazine: Instagram Promised to Become Safer for Teens, Researchers Say It's Not WorkingArturo Bejar's Written Senate Testimony (November 7, 2023)BBC Report: Instagram Eating Disorder Content "Out of Control"
SummaryOnline predators: what every parent needs to know (with Dr. Mary Pulido)
Jul 28, 2025Summary readyDr. Mary Pulido, Executive Director of World Childhood Foundation USA, joins Scrolling 2 Death to talk about the evolving fight against child sexual abuse in the digital age.There was a time when parents only worried about their children’s safety while they were out. But now, even at home, danger can reach them through screens. Social media, gaming platforms and chatrooms have become hunting grounds for predators. Even more disturbing, a recent survey revealed that online algorithms are actually creating predators by serving them illicit content before they even seek it out.Tech companies have the power to remove this harmful content, but they continue to avoid accountability. As new threats like AI and deep fakes emerge, it’s more important than ever for parents to take action through education, vigilance, and open communication.Tune in to hear Mary and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death dive deeper. This episode is a must-listen for anyone raising kids in the digital world.
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