The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.‍

Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:

• Snapchat Launches on Apple Watch
• Snapchat Partners with McDonalds to Promote Snapchat+
• Sign the Petition to Urge McDonalds to End Partnership with Snapchat
• Teenage girls’ TikTok skincare regimes offer little to no benefit, research shows
• New Study by AngelQ Uncovers: Technology is stealing precious moments from families
• WSJ: Apple's Role in the Teen Sextortion Epidemic (and interview with Sarah Gardner of Heat Initiative)
• New Screen Time Study Links to Mental Health Struggles (and highlights gaming as especially problematic)

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Parent Resource: Why you can't have Instagram

Download AngelQ in the App Store.

We often hear the most extreme stories - eating disorders, overdoses, suicides – linked to social media.  But in reality, many kids are struggling in silence, even while appearing to be okay. Gabriela Nguyen, a recent Harvard graduate and founder of Appstinence, is working to shed light on this issue.  

Raised in the Silicon Valley during the rise of social media, Gabriela was hooked from a young age. Her father, shaped by his experiences during the Vietnam War, warned her of the power of media to manipulate and control. His words stuck – especially when he asked, “I understand that you want to take hundreds of selfies for Snapchat, but do you want to want that?  She soon realized how social media was distorting her sense of self.

It took six years to fully quit, a testament to how addictive these platforms are, but now she’s given up social media and doesn’t even use a smartphone.  Every part of her life has improved - and she wants others to know they can step away too.

Tune in as Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death and Gabriela discuss how Appstinence, a Gen Z–led initiative, is helping people understand the subtle harms of social media and how to take steps towards a healthier digital life.

Sextortion scams targeting teen boys are on the rise — and they’re happening through platforms parents trust, like Instagram, Snapchat and even Apple’s iMessage. In this eye-opening conversation, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner of Heat Initiative expose the devastating impact of these scams and the chilling truth about Apple’s inaction.

Why hasn’t Apple built better protections? Why are predators thriving in their ecosystem? Why is Apple ignoring the CSAM stored in iCloud? And what can parents do right now to safeguard their children? This is a must-listen for anyone who believes Big Tech should be held accountable for child safety.

Wall Street Journal: 'Sextortion' Scams Involving Apple Messages Ended in Tragedy for These Boys

About Sarah Gardner

Sarah Gardner is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Heat Initiative. Prior to launching Heat’s campaign to hold Apple accountable, Sarah spent 10 years at Thorn, an organization that builds technology to combat online child sexual abuse, where she was integral to its growth from a small, start-up effort to a multi-million dollar nonprofit. As Vice President of External Affairs, she helped develop a plan to eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internet which spurred a $63M investment in the organization through the TED Audacious Prize. Sarah also worked at Free the Slaves, an organization empowering local organizations to end modern forms of slavery.

"I’m convinced they hate us," says Luke Richey, co-founder of Gravity Jack, referring to gaming giants like Roblox and Fortnite - companies he believes knowingly endanger children for profit. His wife and co-founder, Jennifer Richey, adds that 63% of human trafficking involving Gen A and Gen Z now originates through gaming platforms. In 2023 alone, Roblox reported over 13,000 child exploitation incidents - a figure they admit is likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Maybe it’s not hate, but indifference that leads kids to trafficking and suicide feels like total disregard for human life.

Luke, one of the pioneers of augmented reality for Pokémon Go, recalls how early AR games helped lower suicide rates as kids went outside and connected in real life. But instead of building on that positive impact, many gaming companies adopted Big Tech’s “engagement at all costs” model, prioritizing time spent and revenue over safety.

Now, we're left with games and chat platforms rife with violence, profanity, and harm.

It’s a grim reality that Gravity Jack is determined to change. As Jennifer and Luke build safer alternatives, they offer three key guidelines for parents:

1. No chat is safe without live, active moderation (something they’re actively developing). 
2. If a game is “freemium” with in-app purchases, it’s likely predatory.
3. Play the game yourself before letting your child in.

Resource: Family Gaming Database

In this episode, we dive into virtual reality, AI's role in gaming, and more. Don’t miss this vital conversation with Jennifer, Luke, and Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death.

Connect with Jen & Luke at Gravity Jack.

About Jen & Luke

Jennifer Richey is a tech entrepreneur, strategist, and co-founder of Gravity Jack, where she helps brands like Ford, Intel, and NASA create cutting-edge augmented and virtual reality experiences. With over a decade of leadership in emerging technologies, Jennifer is passionate about innovation, storytelling, and building solutions that connect people in new ways. She also holds multiple patents in the AR space.

Outside of work, Jennifer is a wife, mom, and proud grandma to three amazing grandchildren. She believes the best innovations come from a life filled with family, adventure, and a bit of fearless creativity.

Luke Richey is a veteran entrepreneur, technologist, and innovator.

He began coding at 14, including early work with NASA, and went on to co-found multiple successful startups, including OpenEye (acquired by Alarm.com). As co-founder of Gravity Jack, he helped pioneer augmented reality and AI applications for Fortune 500 companies and major game brands like Pokémon GO and World of Tanks. With over two decades of experience and multiple exits, Luke now focuses on building new technologies that connect and empower the next generation.

In this powerful conversation, Nicki Petrossi and Rick Lane dive into the latest legislative moves to make the internet safer for kids. They break down the Take It Down Act, a critical step in fighting back against non-consensual explicit content and AI deepfakes. But the work isn't done.

Parents must continue the pressure to pass additional bills like The DEFIANCE Act, NO FAKES Act and the Kids Online Safety Act.

Nicki and Rick stress the vital role of parents, communities, and advocates in pushing these protections forward. They also tackle the growing threats posed by AI, highlighting how new tech can be exploited in harmful ways if left unchecked.

The conversation wraps with a clear and urgent message: Parents need to stay alert, get involved, and be a powerful force in shaping a safer digital world for their kids.

Contact your Representative in the House and your Senator.

*Tell them you support the NO FAKES Act and DEFIANCE Act.

*Tell them you do not support the moratorium on AI regulation that was included in the budget reconciliation bill.

Letter from 40 Attorneys General Opposing moratorium on AI regulation.

In this explosive episode, I connected with Kelly Stonelake, a former Meta insider who spent 15 years at the company witnessing firsthand how the tech giant prioritizes growth at the expense of user safety. From early roles shaping the Facebook product to leading teams behind major launches, Kelly shares what finally pushed her to speak out. Most recently, she was involved in the development of Horizon Worlds, Meta’s flagship VR game. Despite internal concerns over safety risks and product readiness, Kelly reveals how the company steamrolled ahead, driven by its relentless race to dominate the metaverse. This conversation is a sobering look at the human cost of tech ambition—and why insiders like Kelly are risking everything to tell the truth.

Content Warning: Includes discussion of internal company misconduct and safety failures affecting vulnerable users.

Substack: Overturned by Kelly Stonelake

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech.

Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:

• President Trump Issues Executive Order to Advance AI Education for American Youth

• TAKE IT DOWN Act Signed Into Law

• Snapchat Test Account Shows Sexual Content Pushed to Teen Within 5 Minutes

• TikTok Expands Meditation Feature

• DEA 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment

In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Nicki Reisberg sits down with Titania Jordan—chief parent officer at Bark—to talk about the emotional realities of navigating families changes and prioritizing mental health for both parents and children. Together, they unpack the pressures families face today, including rising rates of anxiety and depression among teens.

From personal stories to professional insights, Nicki and Titania explore the power of therapy, the importance of normalizing mental health conversations, and practical coping strategies that can truly make a difference. They also spotlight Bark’s new partnership with Talkspace, which is helping expand access to affordable, convenient mental health resources for families across the country.

Whether you're a parent going through a tough season or someone who cares deeply about the mental well-being of kids, this episode offers both comfort and concrete tools for support.

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.

Fifteen-year-old and co-founder of Lookupp, Atiksh Bhan, remembers when life was better. He and his friends would spend their afternoons biking, exploring the woods and playing games outside. But then, smartphones came along. =

Instead of adventures, they’d spend their time sitting around, scrolling through TikTok. "We’d be huddled around one phone, looking over someone’s shoulder. It just wasn't fun anymore," Atiksh says. And even though they were ‘connected’ through technology, he felt lonelier than ever.

Atiksh and his brother only had basic flip phones, but they started to notice a shift in their peers who had smartphones: increasing anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Adding phones to typical teen dilemmas, like breakups and friend drama, was like throwing gasoline on a fire.

Determined to make a change, they created LookUpp – an app that rewards you for staying off your phone when you’re with people you care about. The longer your screen is off, the more points you earn. And they’re teaming up with parents, communities, and local businesses to translate points into real-life rewards.

Tune in to hear directly from Atiksh, a teen navigating the digital age, as he and Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death talk about rebuilding connections, before it’s too late.

Tim Estes of AngelQ shares eye-opening new research on the growing screen time crisis—and introduces AngelQ as a powerful solution for families.

In this episode, we're diving into the everyday tech battles parents know all too well—screen time struggles, endless scrolling, and the constant worry about what kids are seeing online. We break down some surprising new research on how tech is reshaping family life and why so many parents are worried about screen addiction.

But it’s not all doom and gloom! We’re excited to introduce AngelQ, a fresh, AI-powered solution that helps kids explore the internet safely, learn smarter, and have fun—all while giving parents real peace of mind. We’ll chat about how personalized content filters, smarter screen time management, and ethical tech can make a huge difference. Plus, why staying involved and working with your kids is the real game-changer in today’s digital world.

Download AngelQ.

Angel is offering the first 1,000 users one year free of Angel. Limited time offer.