Scrolling 2 Death

This is a relatable and candid conversation about the digital devices shaping our children's lives, as we tackle the challenges of parenting in the age of technology. In this episode, Nicki is joined by the incredible Nate Webb, an esteemed school speaker, professional counselor, devoted husband, and father. With his expertise spanning bullying prevention, screen time management, and digital safety, Nate brings invaluable insights to the table. Together, we navigate through the myriad concerns confronting modern parents, addressing pressing issues such as: Access to Porn: Exploring the dangers of unrestricted access and strategies for safeguarding children from explicit content. Predatory Threats: Shedding light on online predators and empowering parents with knowledge to protect their children from potential risks. Teen Depression: Examining the correlation between excessive screen time and adolescent mental health, and strategies for fostering emotional well-being. Screen Dependency: Discussing the addictive nature of screens and practical approaches to promoting healthy screen habits among children. Social Media Impact: Unpacking the influence of social media on young minds and navigating its complexities to ensure a positive digital experience for kids. Join us as we delve into these critical topics, offering practical advice, expert insights, and actionable strategies to empower parents in navigating the digital landscape and nurturing a safe and healthy environment for our children.

This is the story of Selena Rodriguez, who took her own life at 11 years old after suffering an extreme social media addiction. Selena's mom, Tammy, is a warrior who shares Selena's story to help other families avoid this tragedy. Disclaimer: This episode includes the story of an 11-year-old who died by suicide. If this will be too upsetting for you, please skip to the next episode.  If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. These services are free and confidential.

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech. The highlights for this week: Will TikTok be banned in the U.S.? Results of a 14-year-old female test account on Snapchat More predators target kids on Snapchat New warning about vapes sold on Snapchat Meta's stock plummets and lawsuit updates Discord to allow mini-games to be developed within chats New "social media terror" on Discord and Telegram 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 all about how cyberbullying is affecting our kids. Trisha Prabhu, an anti-bullying advocate and founder of the ReThink app, shares her journey and insights on cyberbullying and social media. She emphasizes the importance of early conversations with children about technology and the internet, as well as creating transparency and collaboration in setting rules and expectations.  In this conversation, we cover tons of topics including: Cyberbullying Social media Big Tech Safe-tech for kids Technology use in schools Learn about the ReThink app here: https://www.rethinkwords.com Conenct with Trisha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trishprabhu

In this episode, I gain clarity into how we got here...to a place where young children are accessing technology that can harm them.  Paul DelPonte of the National Crime Prevention Council breaks down the legislation (or lack thereof) that exists to protect kids online, potential new laws and current lawsuits against social media companies. We also go deep into the fentanyl epidemic and how these illegal drugs are finding their way to our children through Snapchat.  Paul has intimate knowledge into social media harms through his personal relationships with the families that have been affected. You can get to know these families at a new website called ParentsSOS: https://www.parentssos.org You may recognize the official mascot of NCPC, McGruff the Crime Dog. For over 40 years, McGruff has been helping people "take a bite out of crime" through his awareness campaigns. Over the years, McGruff has been focusing more and more on online crimes, which was the focus of our discussion today.  About Paul DelPonte:  Paul DelPonte is an accomplished nonprofit executive, award-winning communicator and consumer advocate. As Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Council, his work is focused on expanding NCPC’s impact and introducing McGruff the Crime Dog® to a new, digitally savvy generation of Americans. Over his decades-long career, DelPonte guided a range of nonprofit organizations, foundations and corporations to reach broader audiences through digital outreach and other communications. Other major accomplishments include leading a coalition to promote greater civic engagement, boosting public education on how forests help protect the environment, and coordinating campaigns on mental health parity, dietary supplements, child nutrition, and to increase NIH funding. In 2015, he had his own “McGruff® Moment,” when he came forward as a whistleblower to stop theft and fraud in a federal job training program for seniors and veterans.

The Big Tech Gut Check is a super quick, weekly update on all things social media and Big Tech. The highlights for this week: Instagram and Facebook went down and we all freaked out. Another celebrity hit by a deep fake nude photo scandal  Update on Florida's bill to ban social media for minors U.S. is trying to ban TikTok...again Snapchat adds another harmful feature More school districts ban smartphones Check back on Fridays for everything that parents need to know about the platforms our children are spending hours on every day.

It is all too common to simply hand your child your old iPhone. This episode breaks down why you should NOT do that very thing. Scrolling 2 Death Host Nicki Reisberg and CMO of Bark Technologies Titania Jordan talk through the functionality a parent would want their children to access with a phone, and compare what's available with the iPhone versus the Bark Phone.  This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.  You can get 10% off the entire life of your Bark App subscription! Just use code: SCROLLING2DEATH Check out the Bark Phone. Check out the Bark App.

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.