Scrolling 2 Death

What happens when two parents who have spent years saying “not yet” to devices finally decide their kids are ready?

In this conversation, Nicki Petrossi and Sarah Gardner share their very personal experiences giving their oldest children a first device — the Bark Watch — and why they chose a tool designed for communication without opening the door to social media, browsers, games, or endless scrolling.

Joined by Bark Technologies’ Titania Jordan, they talk honestly about what parents are really trying to solve when they give a child a device: staying connected, managing anxiety around pickups and activities, traveling apart, and giving kids a little more independence — without handing them a smartphone.

But the conversation goes much deeper. They explore whether constant access to parents can actually get in the way of building resilience, when a watch should become a phone, why delaying smartphones is becoming more normalized, and the uncomfortable reality that even adults struggle to resist addictive technology.

They also discuss Apple, addictive design, the need for regulation, and what a healthier relationship with technology could look like for both kids and parents.

Most importantly, the three moms share the advice they would give before handing a child their first device — including one message every child should hear: If something goes wrong online, come talk to me. I won't be mad.

Because the goal isn't to keep our kids away from technology forever. It's to give them the least amount of technology necessary to solve the problem at hand.‍

‍Get the Bark Phone! 
Monitor your child's iPhone with the Bark App.
Get the Bark Watch!

What can parents actually do when their child's school is using too much technology?

In the final episode of our Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition back-to-school series, I'm joined by Emily Cherkin, The Screentime Consultant, a former middle school teacher, parent, author, and longtime advocate for healthier technology use in schools.

Using questions submitted by parents, we tackle some of the biggest challenges families are facing: excessive screen time, school-issued laptops, i-Ready and other EdTech platforms, YouTube access, AI embedded in school devices, opting out, student privacy, and what to do when a school simply says no.

Emily offers practical advice for parents who want to push back without making teachers' jobs harder—and challenges us to rethink the way we approach school technology.

Instead of asking schools, "Can I opt out?", she suggests a different approach:

"I decline this technology until you can show me that it is effective, safe, legal, and better than teacher-led instruction—and that the evidence is independent, verifiable, and replicable."

We also talk about why hearing "no" from your school doesn't have to be the end of the conversation, how parents can organize with other families, when to take concerns to the school board, and why incremental change matters.

And Emily makes an important distinction: she isn't anti-technology. She's pro–technology education, not educational technology. Children need to learn how technology works, how to think critically about it, and how to use it responsibly—but that doesn't mean they need unrestricted access to technology throughout their childhood.

As Emily puts it, "The best preparation for a digital future is an analog childhood."

If you've been wondering how to protect your child's childhood and education in an increasingly digital school environment, this episode is for you.

Emily's Substack: First Fish Chronicles 
Emily's Unplug EdTech Toolkitl
Scimago Journal Ranking Tool
How to Vet Screentime Research: A 7-Step Checklist from Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath
Substack: What a Recent FTC Amicus Brief Means for EdTech
How to Vet Screentime Research: A 7-Step Checklist from Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath
The Reckoning-- essay about Alpha
Get your copy of The Digital Delusion by Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath here.
7 Ways to Advocate for a Tech-Safe School Year (A Parent Action Guide)
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You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning.

This is the final episode of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we've brought your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development.

This special series is made possible through a generous donation from Buckets Over Bullying, a nonprofit organization committed to eliminating cyberbullying among children and teens. For additional resources, parent guides, and tools to help you advocate for healthier technology in schools, visit techsafelearning.org.

Part 3 with Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath

Is classroom technology actually helping children learn—or have we accepted a massive educational experiment without the evidence to support it?

In Part 3 of our Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, I'm joined by neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath to examine what decades of brain science actually tell us about screens, AI, and learning.

Using questions submitted by parents, we tackle some of the biggest debates in education today: Are devices improving student outcomes? How much classroom screen time is too much? Does AI help students learn—or replace critical thinking? And what is all this technology doing to children's attention, memory, reading comprehension, and developing brains?

We also discuss Dr. Cooney-Horvath's groundbreaking review of i-Ready, one of the most widely used EdTech platforms in the United States, and why he believes parents and schools should demand stronger evidence before adopting products that shape millions of children's education.

If you've ever been told that "kids need technology because it's the future," this conversation will challenge assumptions, unpack the research, and give you the science you need to make informed decisions for your family.

This episode is part of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we're bringing your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development.

Resources mentioned in the episode:
Get your copy of The Digital Delusion by Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath here.
Jared's Substack: Why AI schools can't tell us why AI works
Scimago Journal Ranking Tool
Schools Beyond Screens - Parent Teacher Coalition
Ed Zitron Substack

You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning.

A special thank you to Buckets Over Bullying who provided a generous donation in support of this mini-series.

Part 2: Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes

Can your child access YouTube, AI chatbots, or the open internet on their school-issued device? And if so, who is responsible for keeping them safe?

In Part 2 of our Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, I'm joined by Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes and one of the nation's leading experts on digital safety for children.

Using questions submitted by parents, we tackle the biggest concerns families have about school technology, including student privacy, AI, YouTube access, Google Classroom, Minecraft for Education and what children can actually access during the school day.

Chris explains what schools are doing well, where the biggest risks still exist, and—most importantly—what parents can do to better protect their children. We also discuss whether parents can opt out of certain technologies, what rights families have when it comes to student data, and the practical questions every parent should ask before signing a school technology agreement.

If you've ever wondered whether your child's school device is as safe as you think it is, this episode will leave you better informed and better prepared for the school year ahead.

This episode is part of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we're bringing your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development.

Resources mentioned in the episode:
6 Tech Questions to Ask Your Principal
The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Routers
My interview with Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath about i-Ready
Bark for Schools - Free monitoring for school-issued devices!

You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning.

A special thank you to Buckets Over Bullying who provided a generous donation in support of this mini-series.

Part 1 with superintendent Dr. Greg Taranto

Schools were promised that more technology would improve education. But did it?

In this episode of Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition, Superintendent Dr. Greg Taranto shares why his district made the bold decision to eliminate screens in K–2 classrooms, reduce technology use across all grade levels, and move away from EdTech platforms like IXL in favor of teacher-led instruction.

Together, we tackle questions from parents:
Why his district decided to reverse course on classroom technology
Whether AI belongs in schools—and why he says no
How parents can advocate for less screen time without making teachers' jobs harder
Whether you can opt your child out of Chromebooks, AI tools, and digital learning platforms
Why schools rely so heavily on EdTech, and what parents should ask before accepting it
What rights parents have to review classroom technology and digital curriculum
The growing concerns around student privacy, online testing, and Responsible Use Agreements
How to work with teachers, principals, school boards, and legislators to create meaningful change

If you've ever felt dismissed by your school, wondered whether all this technology is really helping your child learn, or wanted practical advice on how to advocate for healthier classrooms, this conversation is for you.

This episode is part of our four-part Ask the Experts: School Tech Edition mini-series, where we're bringing your biggest back-to-school questions to leading experts in neuroscience, education, online safety, and child development.

Resources mentioned in the episode: 

Get your copy of The Digital Delusion by Dr. Jared Cooney-Horvath here.

You can find dozens of parent templates for school tech advocacy at Tech-Safe Learning.

A special thank you to Buckets Over Bullying who provided a generous donation in support of this mini-series.