Scrolling 2 Death

Erin Loechner is a former social media influencer who walked away from a million fans to live a low-tech lifestyle—and is now teaching others how to do the same. I brought in Erin to share her experience and give advice to parents on their choices around tech.  We cover a ton of topics, including; youth mental health, "sharenting," how algorithms work, privacy and data collection, AI tools, video games, the importance of independent play and much more.  Additional Resources: The Opt Out Family Website The Opt Out Family Book Interview: Kids and Screens (with Andrea Brambila) Interview: "An A.I. chatbot killed my son." (with Megan Garcia) 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, Representative Brandon Guffey shares the tragic story of his son Gavin, who took his life after becoming a victim of sextortion on Instagram. The discussion explores Gavin's life, the impact of online harm, and the urgent need for legislative action to protect children from similar experiences. Rep. Guffey emphasizes the responsibility of big tech companies in safeguarding youth and advocates for more effective measures to combat online exploitation. As always, this episode is jam-packed with advice for parents on how to keep our kids safe online. This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone Check out the Bark Watch About Rep. Brandon Guffey Brandon Guffey is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives representing District 48. He began his political career as the York County Councilman and has a strong entrepreneurial background as the former owner of multiple service and retail businesses. His career started in advertising in the early 2000’s and has been vocal about the issues we currently face. Currently Mr. Guffey serves as Senior Executive Advisor for Cyber Dive in addition to serving as Director of Less Than 3 (501c3). Representative Guffey became a spokesperson for mental health and online crimes following the loss of his oldest son, Gavin, who took his own life after becoming a victim of sextortion in July 2022. Representative Guffey was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives in November of 2022, in honor of his son and to combat the growing online threat he sponsored and passed “Gavin’s Law" (H3583). Gavin’s Law stiffens the penalties for sextortion and mandates awareness through school notification, which passed in the S.C Senate the following May and was signed into law in August of 2023. Gavin is the inspiration of the Less Than 3 (<3) Foundation, which raises awareness for youth mental health & teen suicide. Representative Guffey travels the country speaking on the dangers of social media, teenage mental health, and advocates for legislation across the country. He was awarded “Legislator of the Year” in 2023 by the SC Counseling Association. Since 2023 he has been featured in Documentaries, annual conferences, and numerous talk shows: Chris Hanson guest of 2024 Crimecon Convention, Dr. Phil, ABC, Fox, Newsmax, CNN, and additional TV Shows such as Trafficked on Nat Geo.

The Bark Watch is finally here! In this conversation with Bark CMO Titania Jordan, we go through everything you need to know about the Bark Watch. I love that the Bark Watch is all about protection, not distraction. This means no social media, no games and no internet browsers. Get the Bark Watch here! The Bark Watch is currently available in the United States of America. To add your country to the waitlist for Bark products, visit this link.

In today's conversation, Sheri Lopez bravely tells her story being trafficked as a young girl. As Sheri says, "We have to talk about this." Sheri was groomed at the age of fifteen by her high school boyfriend’s father, trafficked for seven years, and rescued by a woman named Pearl at an apartment mailbox. She is the founder of the nonprofit – ‘Pearl at the Mailbox’ and is on a mission to educate about child grooming, how it happens, and how to spot and stop it before trafficking happens. Sheri boldly shares her journey to raise awareness, addresses how predators use social media apps to connect with children, and explains how to have a healthy online profile. Sheri is an advocate for children, a grooming prevention educator, a survivor mentor, a speaker, and an author. She also works to change laws to hold predators accountable in Arizona and at the federal level. Resources mentioned in the episode: Sheri's website: pearlatthemailbox.com Interview with Ted Cruz This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone Check out the Bark Watch

I am constantly asked by parents, "Is there a social media platform that is safe for my kids?" My answer has consistently been, "No." Until now. I am overjoyed to share this conversation with the Founder of WeAre8, Zoe Kalar.  Zoe has spent the past decade creating a social media platform that puts the power back in the hands of us, the human beings using the platform. Society has had enough. We're tired of being pawns in Big Tech's game to see how much they can profit off of our misery.  WeAre8 is the people's platform. It's social media that unites us instead of divides us; that inspires us instead of depresses us. It's the way of the future and I am so honored to be part of this movement. Mentioned in the episode: Scrolling 2 Death interview with Frank McCourt about the People's Bid for TikTok

I bought in Clare Morell of EPPC to discuss the complexities surrounding children's safety in the digital age, with a focus on balancing the role of schools, parental, and our legislators. Clare gives clear insight into why is the internet so unsafe for children in today's society, and what needs to be done to fix it. As always, we prioritize guidance for parents on safe decisions to be made in your homes, today. Resources mentioned in the episode: How to break up with your phone by Catherine Price Interview with Julie Scelfo  NewsWeek Article by Clare Smartphone Free Childhood Group  Clare's Substack Support the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) About Clare Clare Morell is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where she directs EPPC’s Technology and Human Flourishing Project. She is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, which will be published by Penguin Random House in June, 2025. Ms. Morell's policy work focuses on strengthening our laws to better protect children from online harms. Her work on state social media laws was featured in The New York Times. Prior to joining EPPC, Ms. Morell worked in both the White House Counsel’s Office and the Department of Justice, as well as in the private and non-profit sectors.

I brought in The Screentime Consultant Emily Cherkin to tackle the complexities of raising kids in the digital age. We dive into the idea of being "tech intentional"—how to use technology thoughtfully, in a way that aligns with family values and supports kids’ development. The conversation covers a range of important topics: the addictive nature of digital platforms, why boredom can spark creativity, and the difference between things that are scary and those that are genuinely dangerous for children. We also explore how anonymity online can erode empathy, share practical advice for parents on modeling healthy tech habits, and offer insights on navigating screen time. We discuss the heavy reliance on EdTech in schools through our own experiences and the need for parents to stay informed and advocate for safe technology use in education. With plenty of actionable tips, this episode encourages parents to be proactive, ask tough questions, and work together with schools to prioritize the well-being of their kids in a tech-driven world. Resources mentioned in the episode: Ed tech bill of rights by Julie Liddell Unplug EdTech Toolkit Internet Safety Labs - App Microscope Connect with Emily on her website and Instagram. About Emily Cherkin: Emily Cherkin, MEd., aka The Screentime Consultant, is a world-renowned screentime expert with the accessible voice of someone who understands the struggles of becoming more tech-intentional—both as a teacher and parent. Emily's book, The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family, is an Amazon bestseller and available everywhere books are sold.

Ben Tracy is running across America to keep kids safe online. 120 marathons in 120 days, engaging at schools, community groups and with lawmakers along the way to raise awareness about issues of online safety for children. Ben and his team stopped in the middle of Kansas to give Scrolling 2 Death an update on their progress and give advice to parents. Follow the Tracy Trek on their website and Instagram. This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone Check out the Bark Watch Ben Tracy is a leading keynote speaker on digital citizenship, online safety, and responsible social media use. Drawing from personal experience, Ben shares his compelling story about the impact of teenage social media usage at schools and organizations nationwide. Ben is currently running across America to advocate for youth online safety. He is running a marathon each day for 120 consecutive days while speaking at schools and organizations along the way. His mission is simple: Keep Kids Safe. As the founder of Safe Social Network, Ben provides essential online safety resources for students, parents, and educators. He speaks to more than 100,000 people each year and volunteers his time to help families report online predators and internet crimes to law enforcement. Additionally, he awards scholarships annually to high school seniors who actively promote positive social media usage, mental health awareness, and anti-bullying. Ben graduated magna cum laude from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where he double-majored in Business and Political Science. While at SXU, he served as captain of the track team and was a member of the student senate. Ben lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

In this conversation, Nicki Reisberg and Dawn Wible discuss the critical issues surrounding digital wellness and safety for children. Dawn shares her journey as the founder of Talk More. Tech Less., highlighting the importance of advocacy, education, and legislation in addressing the challenges posed by technology and social media. Dawn takes parents through the risks associated with children's use of digital devices, the necessity of open conversations between parents and children, and the role of schools in ensuring a safe digital environment. The discussion emphasizes the need for parents to be proactive in advocating for their children's safety online and creating healthy tech habits at home. Resources mentioned in the episode: Phone Free Schools Movement Jonathan Haidt's New York Times Best Seller: The Anxious Generation Screen Time Action Network Watch The Social Dilemma The Smartphone Ed This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies. Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: *Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF Check out the Bark Phone Check out the Bark Watch About Dawn Wible: Dawn Wible is the founder of Talk More. Tech Less., a digital wellness and safety organization. For over a decade, she has trained communities, organizations, schools, and families on safer tech use. Dawn is an online safety advocate and certified digital wellness educator. She is the co-chair of the Online Harms Prevention work group at Fairplay’s Screen Time Action Network. Dawn works alongside social media reform organizations on legislation to help protect kids from targeted and inhumane addictive software design and advocates against the exploitation of children and their data privacy. Dawn and her husband Matt, the founder of an outdoor mentorship organization for young men, have been working with youth for 25 years.Together they are walking this road alongside all parents dealing with technology in the home, modeling openness and safer habits as they raise their own three boys. Please reach out to dawn@talkmoretechless.com if you would like to connect her to your schools or communities. And follow her work at Talk More Tech Less on Instagram.

Parents everywhere are worried about the rise of empathetic, human-like AI chat bots. I brought in Noah Coffman of Young People's Alliance to dive into the evolution of AI chatbots and unpack how these bots are engaging users emotionally. We discuss both the perks and pitfalls of AI, from its potential in mental health support to the ethical issues around privacy and dependency. We emphasize the importance of open conversations with kids about the risks of unregulated AI, and why fostering critical thinking is key as this tech continues to develop. A few AI chat bot apps that Noah mentioned in the episode; Replica, Character AI, Kindroid, Gnomey, Linky, Pi, Simsimi, Momate Additional episodes on the topic of AI chatbots: A New Era of Addictive Intelligence (with Laurie Segall) "An AI chatbot killed my son." (with Megan Garcia) Is A.I. safe for kids? (with Tim Estes) About Noah Coffman: Noah Coffman is a student at the University of Notre Dame studying philosophy and computer science. He is also the Research and Policy Director at the Young People's Alliance, a non-profit full of digital natives who are seeking to advocate for young people's issues on the state and federal level. For almost a year now, Noah has been developing and advocating for chatbot regulation on the federal level.