Scrolling 2 Death

Someone recently commented on my Instagram, "Are you ever going to interview someone you don't agree with?" Well, this is that interview.

Mackenzie Price, founder of 2 Hour Learning believes that "school is broken" and aims to fix it with an A.I. based educational model. The structure is 2 hours of screen time in the morning led by an AI tutor, followed by life skills workshops led by human guides. It's claimed that students are learning 2x as fast in academics using this model. I was eager to dive into this program with Mackenzie and compare thoughts. 

A teenage girl falling prey to a human trafficker. A suicide attempt over a leaked nude. Young children acting out scenes from a pornography video. These are just a few of the incidents that led Jason Frost and his wife to start Human Wired, an organization dedicated to protecting children from online harm and exploitation. As former teachers, they witnessed the loss of innocence with the rise of social media– and it devastated them.   

What started as a tool for connection transformed into the most profitable data mining technology, and our children are the products that fuel the profits. The core of social media is predatory AI that seeks to keep kids hooked – at any cost. The algorithm predicts what content will resonate most and serves it up without regard for appropriateness. The content is often shocking and harmful, but ‘engagement’ is the only metric that matters to Big Tech.   

In this episode, Jason Frost, Co-founder and CEO of Wired Human, and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death discuss the inner workings of Big Tech and the AI systems they built, along with guidance for parents who want to safeguard their children from online harms.

In this episode, Utah State Senator Mike McKell joins Nicki Reisberg to tackle the pressing issue of online safety for teens. Together, they delve into the mental health crisis fueled by social media and the urgent need for legislative action to protect children from harmful content. Senator McKell shares insights into Utah’s groundbreaking efforts to implement age verification for online platforms and overcome fierce opposition from Big Tech lobbyists.

The conversation highlights the pivotal role parents play in driving change, from advocating for stronger laws to fostering open dialogue with their children about digital habits. They discuss practical tools for parents to understand the data behind the crisis and actionable steps to engage with their representatives. This episode is a call to action for bold solutions and collective effort in safeguarding the next generation in the digital age.

socialharms.utah.gov

Do you always need to be productive, even when you’re not at work? As our families and careers grow, responsibilities pile on while time slips away. It’s no wonder that we try to maximize efficiency throughout the day. The smartphone seemed like a great solution, offering convenient ways to tackle our mental to-do lists. Amazon order? Done. Email reply? Sent. We’ve taken multi-tasking to a new level—but at what cost?

Your claimed efficiency is diminishing your presence – especially with the people who matter most.

Smartphone devices have trained our brains to always be “on.” A constant barrage of notifications, emails, and texts, along with the urge to check off tasks during our “downtime,” have replaced moments of rest, creativity, and reflection. But how do you define “downtime” now? While your kids are playing on the playground? Shouldn’t we prioritize our presence with them—watching our kids play or even joining them—rather than trying to be productive every minute of the day?

Listen to a compelling conversation about the pros & cons of ditching the smartphone for a “healthier phone” to create a better balance in life. Clare Morell joins Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death to share her experience trying two popular, alternative phone brands.

For a discount on the ⁠Wisephone⁠, use code: CLARE

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. 

Learn about the Bark Phone: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2deathbp  
Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids. https://info.bark.us/scrolling2death_bark 
*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
Learn about the Bark Watch: https://barkparentalcontrols.pxf.io/c/5214646/2204011/17000 

Today, January 17, 2025, marks a monumental day as the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the controversial "TikTok divest-or-ban" law. This decision is being hailed as a major victory by advocates for online safety and national security, but it also leaves families, policymakers, and Big Tech wondering—what happens next?

In this episode, we dive deep into the implications of this historic ruling. Will President Trump follow through with enforcing the law? What could this mean for your family, your kids, and the broader social media landscape? Plus, we explore why TikTok’s user base is migrating en masse to another Chinese-owned app, RedNote, and whether it poses similar concerns.

To help us untangle the legal, political, and social ramifications, I’m joined by legislative expert Rick Lane, who has spent years on the frontlines of tech policy. Together, we tackle your burning questions, examine the potential ripple effects for Big Tech, and discuss how families can navigate this rapidly changing digital world.

If you’re a parent, policymaker, or simply concerned about the future of social media, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Rick Lane is a tech policy expert, child safety advocate, and the founder and CEO of IGGY Ventures LLC. IGGY advises and invests in companies, projects, and public policy initiatives that can positively impact society. ⁠Connect with Rick on LinkedIn⁠

[RESEARCH] The CCP's Digital Charm Offensive: How TikTok's Search Algorithm and Pro-China Influence Networks Indoctrinate GenZ Users in the United States

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

In this conversation, Detective Patrick Craven discusses the alarming rise of fentanyl-related deaths among youth. We highlight the role of social media in facilitating drug transactions, the risks associated with experimentation, and the deceptive nature of counterfeit pills. 

Patrick emphasizes the importance of parental awareness and education regarding the dangers of drug use in today's digital age. We provide essential guidance for parents on how to communicate the dangers of these substances to their children, the importance of being informed and proactive, and the life-saving potential of Naloxone.

About Detective Patrick Craven

Detective Patrick Craven is employed by the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Currently, he serves as the lead detective for the Placer Opioid Response Team (PORT), a specialized unit dedicated to addressing opioid-related issues. Before his role in PORT, Detective Craven spent four years as an undercover narcotics officer for the Placer County Special Investigation Unit (PSIU). In 2020, he began investigating fentanyl poisonings and has since been the lead detective on twenty-five cases involving fentanyl deaths. Detective Craven was the lead detective on California's first fentanyl poisoning homicide conviction as well as the state’s second fentanyl poisoning homicide conviction by trial. In total, Detective Craven has successfully obtained three fentanyl poisoning homicide convictions and one manslaughter conviction. Detective Craven possesses unparalleled expertise in investigating fentanyl poisoning homicides and is leading the way in this specialized field.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

We once rejoiced at the technology advancements for our children—cell phones offered a sense of security (mostly for us), tablets provided endless learning resources, and social media promised enhanced connections with peers, all at little or no cost.

But the actual cost has been steep: a surge in harmful content, bad actors, and a growing mental health crisis. Behind it all, tech giants built addictive, amoral algorithms to trap kids in a cycle of engagement  - all in the name of data collection (aka profit).

Now, schools are paying the price. Social media-related disruptions are driving up costs and straining resources. In this episode, attorney Joel Wright and Nicki from Scrolling 2 Death discuss how Wright is helping over 250 school districts hold social media companies accountable for the damage they've caused in our children's classrooms. 

Do you want to see your district represented in this case? Contact Joel Wright to learn more: [email protected]

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

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Social Media & Big Tech highlights for this week:

Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. 

I brought in Titania Jordan to compare our 2025 Tech Resolutions. This time, we took the focus off of the kids and talked about our own relationships with technology. How can we improve tech-life balance and set a positive example for our kids?

Resources mentioned in the episode:

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies:

In this conversation, 21-year-old Harrison Haynes opens our eyes to a new way of living with tech; something he coins "digital essentialism." 

Parents worry so much about keeping our kids safe online...is it time we take a look at our own relationships with technology?

Connect with Harrison on LinkedIn.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Harrison Haynes, a student at James Madison University, is currently finishing his bachelor degree in Social Work with a concentration on Mental Health Counseling and a minor in global religion and cultures. 

Harrison is aiming to continue his education, completing a Master's Program, and pursuing his ambition to become a Therapist through Clinical Social Work. 

Beyond academics, Harrison is actively involved in the Wired Human Youth Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting discussions on online harms and mental health with a focus on empowering young voices to lead the conversation in political advocacy.

Harrison also serves as a Survivor Consultant for the End-OSEAC Survivors Council, where he helps develop trauma-informed and survivor-led legislation to combat online exploitation and digital harms. 

His work and lived experiences have created an appreciation for formative practices, especially what he calls “digital intentionalism.” After a year and a half of navigating life with a "dumb phone," he developed this concept for everyday people to help create space for what truly matters in a book he is authoring called: “The Moments Between Moments”.

In his free time, Harrison leads a vibrant and diverse “life group” dedicated to helping students and friends find peace in an intentional, spiritual life. 

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies: