Scrolling 2 Death

In this conversation, Nicki Reisberg interviews Michael Lawson Neff, a founding partner at Neff Injury Law, about the legal implications of online harms, particularly focusing on the case against Snapchat related to its deadly speed filter.

They discuss the challenges of holding tech companies accountable under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the impact of social media on youth, and the importance of parental guidance in navigating these issues.

Neff shares insights from his ongoing litigation and emphasizes the need for legislative changes to protect children from online dangers.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

Meet Michael Neff:

Michael Neff is the founder of Neff Injury Law, a national litigation firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in serious injury and wrongful death cases. With over 25 years of experience, Mike has established himself as a dedicated advocate for individuals facing off against large corporations and insurance companies. His firm's track record includes securing over $100 million in jury verdicts and settlements, with notable verdicts in 2013 and 2017 that ranked among the top 100 civil verdicts nationally for those years.

Trigger warning: The following content contains sensitive subject matter, including depictions of suicide and self-harm. Please view or listen with caution. 

This is a story that every parent must hear. The future is here, and that includes AI chatbot companions who emulate human relationships. These products are unregulated and unsafe, particularly for children. 

I spoke to Megan Garcia, an attorney from Florida. Megan is the mother of Sewell Setzer III, who died by suicide in February 2024 after being emotionally manipulated and abused by an AI chatbot. Megan is filing a lawsuit and sharing her story to warn families of the dangers of this technology and to demand accountability from Character.AI and the tech industry. 

Resources mentioned in the episode: 

Is Roblox safe for kids? The fact that Nickolodeon gave Roblox the 2024 Teen Choice Award for Favorite Video Game would incidate that Roblox is in fact, safe. But the reality is much darker. 

A new report by Hindenburg Research labeled Roblox a "pedophile hellscape for kids." In today's episode, Titania Jordan of Bark and Nicki of Scrolling 2 Death break down the report findings and make recommendations for parents.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. 

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:

Contact Speaker Johnson

Contact Majority Leader Scalise

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

Lenore Skenazy's life completely changed after allowing her child to navigate the New York City subway alone at just 9 years old.

She went on to publish a book called Free-Range Kids which grew into a movement. Now, Lenore is the president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit she co-founded with three others, including Jonathan Haidt of "The Anxious Generation."

Her mission is to make it easy, normal and legal to give kids back some old-fashioned independence.

In this conversation, Lenore discusses the societal shift toward fear-based parenting and the decline of free play. She gives practical strategies for parents to encourage their children to take risks and develop much-needed confidence. Skenazy emphasizes the need for parents to let go and trust their children, highlighting the benefits of independence for both kids and parents.

Could the cure to an anxious generation be as easy as letting go?

Resources mentioned in the episode:

The average age that kids get a smartphone is nearing 10 years old. Watches are being given closer to 5.

Parents primarily make these decisions for safety; to be able to track their children and get ahold of each other in case of an emergency.

But do these devices actually keep children safe? Or are we hindering their autonomy and sense of independence while also potentially exposing them to the dangers that come along with a device?

I brought in youth advocate Ava Smithing of Young People's Alliance to share her experience as a pre-teen and teen being tracked by her parents.

"I didn't start lying to my mother until she started tracking me like that," shares Ava.

There are so many takeaways for parents in this conversation where we vulnerably discuss finding a balance between protection and trust.

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:

List of end-to-end encrypted apps to block from your child's device: 

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

This podcast episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

I was super eager to catch up with long-time educator Matt Brady about screens at school. We dive deep into phone bans and also school-issued tech.

Meet Matt Brady:

Matt Brady is a Physics and Chemistry teacher in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Came in through lateral entry after spending 10 years writing about comic books and pop culture for various outlets. Prior to that, he was in graduate school for a PhD in Physiology & Pharmacology; prior to that, earned a Master’s in Marine Biology, and prior to that, earned a B.S. in Biology.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

For this interview, I brought in Dawn Hawkins, CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. NCOSE is the leading organization exposing the connections between all forms of sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking, prostitution, pornography, and child sexual abuse.

In addition to running NCOSE, Dawn is a mom of 5 and I loved learning about her approach to screens and her decision to homeschool after learning about the reliance on screens at her local public school system.

This conversation is all about action and the power of parents' voices. One of the most vital ways parents can use their voices in this moment is to support the Kids Online Safety Act. This bill will give our kids much-needed protection online.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

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:

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