This episode is your guide to giving your kid a phone. In this conversation, Hannah Oertel lays out the ideal pathway for our children's phone journey. If you've been stressed about when to give a phone or which phone to give, this is the episode for you!  You can make a difference in mental health outcomes for your child, with this one decision; When and how you give your kid a phone. Don't ignore the risks.  Hannah also shares a few of the lesser-known ways that smartphones are affecting our kids physically. I was shocked at what I learned! We discuss phone use in schools, social media use and other screen-related topics. About Hannah:   Hannah is a therapist and mother and launched the campaign, Delay Smartphones to help protect children from the dangers of smartphones.  The first generation of children who were given smartphones before high school are now adults. We now know for every year younger they were given smartphones by their parents, the worse their mental health is today. That same generation is begging us not to make the same mistake. Hannah is passionate about supporting parents to make informed decisions on when to give their children their first smartphones. Her aim is to see children free from smartphones until at least the age of 14 and using child appropriate alternative devices until a smartphone is necessary. Hannah lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with her husband and two daughters.

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech. This week’s Big Tech Gut Check highlights: Staffers alerted Meta that Facebook and Instagram subscription feature allowed for child exploitation Positive research on Meta found to be funded by a main investor...in Meta Deepfake nude scandals continue across schools in the U.S. Snapchat test account shows the platform actively connects minors to predatory adults Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.

It's time for a fresh discussion about sharing our kids online. AKA #Sharenting  Parents everywhere continue to share, despite the growing risks.  In this episode, I break down the current state of sharenting in today's digital era, including; the risks of CSAM and AI-generate deep fake nudes, the short-term and long-term effects on our children, an analysis of why we share and thoughts around how our sharing can effect other parents.  A takeaway for today:  *Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) refers to any content that depicts sexually explicit activities involving a child. This was previously referred to as "child pornography." As pornography implies consent, this term is no longer appropriate to use in reference to children. 

In this conversation, parent survivor Maurine Molak shares the story of her son David, who experienced relentless cyberbullying which led to his tragic suicide. The cyberbullying occurred mainly on Instagram and gaming chats, and went unreported by both David and hundreds of observers. Cyberbullying can have a devastating impact on kids and teens, leading to anxiety, depression and even suicide. Parents need to be educated on the signs and how to react when our own children are dealing with this issue. Maurine gives insight on all of the above. For parents who would like to learn more about the Kids Online Safety Act and online safety advocacy in general, you can visit https://www.parentssos.org. To learn more about Maurine's organization David's Legacy Foundation, visit: https://www.davidslegacy.org  

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech. This week’s Big Tech Gut Check highlights: Reports of students being sexually groomed on school-issued devices Most concerning websites for kids How tech companies are attempting to help suicidal teens The latest celebrity to get hit with deepfake porn (it's not Taylor Swift) Latest string of pedophiles targeting our children on Snapchat Florida's social media ban for kids under 16 years old Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.

This episode serves as a parent's guide to kids and tech.  Titania Jordan of Bark Technologies has dedicated her life to educating parents and making the digital world safer for kids. In this conversation, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Reisberg and Titania reveal the findings of Bark's Annual Report on Children and Technology. Parents will learn:  What are the most common issues facing kids online?  Which apps are most harmful?  What is the ideal journey to introducing tech to our kids? When should we give our kids social media?  How can parents stay up to date on online harms?  All of the above is revealed in this eye-opening conversation.  PROMO CODE: Use code SCROLLING2DEATH for 10% off the life of your Bark App subscription. Check out the Bark App. Check out the Bark Phone. Titania Jordan is the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parent Officer of Bark Technologies, an online safety company that helps keep kids safe online and in real life. You can access Bark's Annual Report on Children and Technology here. Here's a link to the Facebook Group: Parenting in a Tech World

If you have a teenager (or pre-teen), this episode is a MUST-LISTEN. The fentanyl epidemic is finding its way into our own front yard through our children's access to drug dealers on Snapchat and other social media platforms. In this episode, you'll hear the story of Sammy Chapman, who was 16 years old when he suffered from fentanyl poisoning from a free pill that a drug dealer dropped off at his house. The drug deal took place on Snapchat, which is quickly becoming known as an "open air drug market for kids." This conversation shines a light on the faulty nature of social media products and the harms that our kids are facing. Sammy's Dad, Sam, give us parents several takeaways that could literally save our child's life. Learn about Sammy's Law, which aims to make social media platforms safer by allowing third-party safety software integration: https://www.socialmediasafety.org/sammys-law/

There were some hopeful updates this week for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). In this conversation, attorney Laura Marquez-Garrett breaks down the latest updates and what parents should know about their kid's online safety. 

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things Big Tech. This week’s Big Tech Gut Check highlights: Snapchat's "More Snapchat" Super Bowl ad voted #1 Least Effective by Forbes  TikTok is making it more difficult for parents to how much harmful content our kids are seeing Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) gains additional support NYC sues TikTok, Meta, Snap and YouTube for addicting young users Meta will no longer promote political content on Instagram and Threads New research on how often teenagers are "hanging out" is concerning Check back every Friday for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.

Some would say that the addictive pull of our phones and the attention economy is the biggest issue society faces today. Certainly, our children are feeling the effects, with rising rates of depression and suicide.  Sara Robin is an award-winning filmmaker who has dove into exploring the impact that the attention economy is having on our lives.  There is so much to learn from Sara, as she has studied and interviewed countless parents, teens, teachers, doctors and other experts in this space.  Sara is now in development on a new documentary called Your Attention Please, which explores solutions to the problems caused by exploitative tech.  In this conversation between Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Reisberg and Sara Robin, we dive deep into issues facing parents today, including:  The harms that can arise from problematic social media use The presence of tech and smartphones in schools Tips for parents in raising their children with tech And much, much more You can find out more about the Your Attention Please documentary at: yourattentionplz.com