The digital age has brought incredible conveniences for modern parents—but along with them come some unintended consequences. If screens are your go-to for tantrums or boredom, you may be interfering with your child’s ability to regulate emotions and develop essential coping skills.

With over two decades of experience in education, Shona Schwartz has emerged as a crucial voice addressing technology's impact on children's development. In this episode, she invites parents to start by looking inward. The first steps?

• Monitor your own screen habits
• Embrace the discomfort of parenting—tantrums, boredom, and messiness are part of the process.
  

Next, Shona emphasizes the importance of creating a personalized family blueprint—a values-based agreement that guides screen habits at home. She provides age-specific guidelines for children ages 0–6, 6–12, and teens, helping parents make informed choices tailored to their child’s developmental stage. 

Her three keys to making these plans work?  Communication. Connection. Consistency.

In this episode, Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death and Shona offer practical tips and insights for parents navigating the challenges of raising kids in a digital world. Whether you're just beginning to rethink your family’s screen habits or looking for new strategies, this conversation is a must-listen.

Purchase Shona's book here: Always On: A Guide to the (Dis)Connected Generation.

Visit Shona's Substack here: Always On Substack

By now, most people have heard of the “Anxious Generation” — but Laura Morton is expanding Jonathan Haidt’s narrative. As the creator of the award-winning documentary Anxious Nation, Laura believes it’s not just youth who are struggling — it’s all of us.

A little anxiety is natural – even helpful for performance – but we’re seeing a sharp rise in the chronic, debilitating kind. In 2019, as a single mom to her own anxious teen, Laura set out to uncover the root causes of America's mental health struggles – and its impact on families. 

One powerful takeaway from her research: anxiety is energy. And that energy can be redirected — into creativity, passion, and purpose. We can reclaim our power, and we can teach our kids to do the same.

In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, host Nicki sits down with Laura to unpack the anxiety epidemic from every angle — including technology’s growing role. Whether you're a parent trying to support your child or someone managing anxiety yourself, this conversation offers key insights, hard-earned wisdom, and tools for navigating today’s anxious nation.

Watch The Anxious Nation here.

“This is the first generation in a millennium to be worse off than their parents.”

Neuroscientist, educator, and author Jared Cooney Horvath issues a powerful warning: the rapid rise of technology in education is contributing to a sharp decline in intelligence across key metrics—including IQ, memory, critical thinking, creativity, and more. 

For generations, we've seen steady progress in IQ from one cohort to the next. That upward trajectory ends with Gen Z. The data traces the downturn back to the early/mid 2000s, when technology was first introduced in classrooms. 

Currently the Director of LME Global, Jared brings cutting-edge brain and behavioral science directly to educators and students. He’s not surprised by the decline, given how the brain is wired to learn. His stance is clear: we’re not meant to learn everything through screens. While screens have a role in teaching digital skills like typing or Excel, they are not a tool for deep learning.

When it comes to AI, Jared is equally blunt. Used after expertise is developed, AI can be powerful. But using it in place of learning is a dangerous shortcut—one that the government and EdTech platforms seem all too ready to promote.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death and Jared unpack the science of learning, the data that challenges the EdTech narrative, and a roadmap for parents and schools to reclaim control. It’s a must-listen for anyone concerned about the future of learning or the success of our children.

In this eye-opening episode of Scrolling 2 Death, host Nicki Petrossi sits down with Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies to unpack the high-stakes decision many parents face: what should your child’s first phone be? From the hidden risks of iPhones to the powerful parental controls offered by alternatives like the Bark phone, they dive into the pressures, misconceptions, and cultural norms driving families toward unsafe choices. Why do so many parents give in to the iPhone hype—and what’s really at stake when they do? This candid conversation exposes how Apple prioritizes privacy over child safety, how peer pressure fuels early tech adoption, and why it’s time for a new standard in kids’ digital wellbeing. If you're a parent wondering what phone is truly safest for your child, this episode is your guide.

March 2024 Episode: Safer for kids? iPhone or Bark Phone

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.

We’ve talked about the devastating impact of social media and how tech companies’ “profit over people” mindset has harmed countless families. This powerful new documentary, Can’t Look Away, delivers the wake-up call the world needs: the time for industry reform is now.

In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, host Nicki speaks with Can’t Look Away directors, Matthew O’Neill and Perri Peltz, about what drove them to make the film, what impacted them most, and what they learned. “We thought the dangers of social media were already well known,” they say. “But what we discovered was far worse than we imagined. That’s when we knew this story had to be told."

Matthew and Perri also share practical advice for parents on how to help keep kids safe online—insights gained from their deep dive into the world of youth social media use.

Based on Olivia Carville’s investigative reporting for Bloomberg, Can’t Look Away follows the Social Media Victims Law Center in its fight for justice on behalf of families devastated by social media’s dark side.

Watch the film here.

Dr. 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.

Over 1,500 parents spoke up — and the results are in. In this episode, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Petrossi breaks down brand-new national survey data that reveals what parents really think about technology, screen time, and AI in K–12 schools. From overwhelming concerns about excessive screen use and digital safety to a stunning 91% of parents saying they don’t want their kids using AI at school, the findings are impossible to ignore. Nicki covers it all: data privacy, inappropriate content on school-issued devices, and the growing disconnect between parent values and EdTech policy. If you’ve ever felt powerless watching your child glued to a Chromebook or iPad— this episode will inform, empower, and equip you to start changing the conversation at your school.

Full survey summary + email template for school outreach available here.

Why are kids using so much tech at school?

A hint: the year was 2020.

It started when COVID shut the world down and EdTech became an emergency measure. One-to-one devices kept learning going while schools were closed. It was necessary. But the pandemic ended- and the screens stayed.

At first, digital learning seemed full of promise. In a tech-driven world, it felt like the future. But now, the harms are becoming harder to ignore.

British actress and children’s advocate, Sophie Winkleman, noticed how agitated her kids became after hours of screen-based learning. She gave them permission to read books instead. Her instinct was right – and the research backs her up: too much screen time in schools is harming students’ focus, memory, and academic performance. 

Sweden has become the first country to reverse its digital-first education policy– replacing screens with printed textbooks and handwriting, especially for young learners. Sophie hopes more countries will follow.

In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, Sophie joins Nicki to explore the data behind screen harm and why parents need to start asking schools tough questions: Is EdTech really helping our kids learn? Or is it putting them in danger?

Jenna Poste, a former tech executive, was once at the forefront of innovation at Blackberry, helping to build products during the rise of the “always on” movement – a time that felt brimming with excitement and productivity. However, as engagement metrics and data collection became the true engines of tech growth, Big Tech extended its reach beyond businesses and into childhood. The consequences are now all too clear: addiction, isolation, anxiety, depression, and more.

With deep insight into how these platforms are designed, Jenna has made a deliberate choice to keep her young children offline and prioritize real-world connections. As a co-founder of the Nova Scotia chapter of Unplugged Canada, she’s advocating for healthier childhoods by delaying smartphone use and encouraging mindful technology habits–for kids and parents alike. “If I am on my phone in front of them, I tell them why…like, ‘I’m looking up a recipe for dinner or answering an important work call’.”

In this episode, Jenna and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death share their perspectives on raising kids in a hyper-connected world, why they chose a different path, and how families can reclaim balance in their lives.

About Jenna Poste

Jenna Poste is a tech executive, mom of two and co-founder of the Nova Scotia chapter of Unplugged Canada—a national parent-led movement working to raise awareness about the impacts of smartphones and social media on kids' mental health and development and advocating for parents to delay.

With nearly two decades of experience in the tech industry, Jenna has built products at BlackBerry, led safety initiatives in social media and developed tools focused on well-being. Today, she's using that experience to advocate for healthier childhoods - delaying smartphones, promoting real-world connection, and pushing for policy change across Canada.

The Big Tech Gut Check is a weekly update for parents on all things social media and Big Tech. 

Updates for this week: 

• Meta AI Wants to Access Your Camera Roll, Analyze Pics You Haven't Uploaded
• Leaked Documents Show Meta is Training Chatbots to Message You First, Remember Chats, Keep You Talking
• Former Facebook CEO says Site Should be Banned for Children
• MIT Study Shows Weakened Cognitive Capacity with AI Use
• ANGELQ: A Kid-Safe Web Browser
• PARENT SURVEY: AI and EdTech in School
• Utah Sues Snapchat for Harming Children
• Snapchat Sues Utah Over Age Verification Law
• THORN: State of Sextortion in 2025
• Rolling Stone: Inside Snapchat's Teen Opioid Crisis