Today you'll learn all about the speed challenge, which has been making its way around social media for at least 12 years. This involves social media-fueled algorithms which are encouraging children to reach speeds of 130 mph and above.

This conversation features Meg Stuhmer, whose daughter was a victim of the speed challenge in 2021. She bravely tells her story so that others can get ahead of this dangerous trend.

There is currently a lack of regulation requiring social media to keep our children safe. Meg and others encourage you to support the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), contact your representatives and ask them to vote it through the House and the Senate. Parents can join together to make this happen, before we lose another child.

This episode is sponsored by Bark Technologies.

Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids.

*Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF

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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:

• Rolling Stone Implicates Snapchat in Teen Opioid Epidemic (Rolling Stone piece and my interview with Paul Solotaroff)
• U.S. Surgeon General Urges Congress to Require Warning Label for Social Media (article here)
• Los Angeles School District Approves Strict Phone Ban (article here)
• Governor Gavin Newsom Calls for State-wide Phone Ban in Schools (article here)
• FTC Investigates TikTok of Violating Childrens' Privacy (article here and my interview with Frank McCourt)

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.

• Learn about the Bark App for iPhones and Androids: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2death_bark **Use code SCROLLING2DEATH FOR 10% OFF
• Check out the Bark Phone: https://info.bark.us/scrolling2deathbp

In this conversation, Susan Linn discusses the harmful effects of marketing to children and the overuse of technology in their lives. She emphasizes the importance of unstructured play and creativity; stressing that kids can amuse and soothe themselves without needing a device.

We also dive into the current state of EdTech in schools, highlighting the lack of research supporting its effectiveness.

Don't miss the story of Dr. Linn's career and as a ventriloquist at the end of the episode!

I highly recommend Dr. Susan Linn's book 'Who's Raising the Kids' available here.

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