This week on The Heat is On…Big Tech on Trial, the spotlight was on Mark Zuckerberg — but it didn’t stay there for long.

Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner take you inside a dramatic week in court as Zuckerberg faced questioning about youth safety, platform design, and internal company practices — followed by testimony from a former insider whose statements directly conflicted with his.

In this episode:

• The most revealing exchanges from Zuckerberg’s time on the stand
• The key claims he made — and what evidence challenged them
• A whistleblower’s testimony that told a very different story about how platforms operate
• Emotional reactions from parents watching it unfold in real time
• Why legal observers say this week could shift momentum in the trial
• A new Annual Report by Bark connecting Kaley's harm to children today

Millions are watching because what happens here will reshape accountability for the most powerful tech companies in the world.

This isn’t just a trial. It’s a turning point.

Thank you to our special guest, Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies. Here's their 2025 Annual Report, referenced in the episode.

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.

Week 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 reflections
• Parent voices from the steps outside
• Key courtroom exchanges that could shape the verdict
• Legal context explaining what jurors must decide

Next 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.

This 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.

Week 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.

The 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 courtroom
• How 450 potential jurors were narrowed down—and why that process can make or break the case
• Why media access is already a fight, with only 10 seats available for press
• The growing comparisons between these trials and Big Tobacco—and what history tells us
• What survivor parents are bracing for as testimony begins

Plus: 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.

The Calm Before the Storm — What This Trial Means for Parents

What 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/heat

Thank 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).

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 time
• Why EdTech is finally being put under the microscope
• What 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:

1. Full Senate hearing
2. Find out more about taking legal action against EdTech companies: edtech.law
3. Emily's Substack: First Fish Chronicles
4. Unplug EdTech Toolkit
5. The Digital Delusion (book) by Jared Cooney Horvath

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 work
• How companies like Character.ai, Replika, and others are intentionally designing bots to simulate love, pride, and emotional attachment
• Why kids are forming deep emotional bonds with AI—and what that means for mental health, community, and development
• The disturbing reality of AI companions engaging sexually with minors while hiding behind legal disclaimers
• Why states—not Congress—may be our best chance to protect kids right now
• The 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)

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 recess
• How an AI chatbot appeared unprompted on her middle schooler’s Chromebook, offering to do his homework
• Why schools claim parents cannot legally opt out of devices in California
• The hidden data collection, surveillance, and lack of transparency inside EdTech platforms
• The intimidation parents face when raising concerns with districts and school boards
• Why “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 EdTech
• Pause AI use in K–8 classrooms
• Restore paper-and-pencil learning and assessments
• Move 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 Learning
• Fit for Purpose by Faith Bonninger
• Distraction Free Schools California
• Distraction Free Schools (US)
• Interviews with neuroscientist Jared Cooney-Horvath here and here
• Schools Beyond Screens (LAUSD Coalition)
• Book Reco: Screen Damage
• Book Reco: Digital Delusion by Jared Cooney-Horvath
• Join The Heat is On parent group to take action

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.