EdTech is Big Tech: Schools, Screens, and the Law (with Emily Cherkin)
· 48 min
Episode EdTech is Big Tech: Schools, Screens, and the Law (with Emily Cherkin)
In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, I’m joined by Emily Cherkin, known as The Screentime Consultant—a leading voice pushing back against the digitization, commodification, and gamification of childhood.
Emily is a best-selling author, professor, speaker, and lead plaintiff in lawsuits challenging EdTech’s exploitation of children’s privacy. This week, she’s taking that fight straight to Washington, DC—testifying before the U.S. Senate.
We start by tackling the questions parents ask me every day:
• Is there a real link between screen time and declining literacy? • What does the NIH’s ABCD brain study actually show about changes to kids’ brains? • How do you enforce age ratings when everyone else’s kid has access to mature games? • What can parents do about screens at school beyond 1:1 devices—from Smartboards to YouTube to GoNoodle? • And how do you push back when schools say, “The program requires X minutes to be effective”?
Then we shift to what’s happening in the Senate:
• Why this hearing is different from past conversations about screen time • Why EdTech is finally being put under the microscope • What parents should know about the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) • And what real takeaways families can use right now
Finally, we talk about one of the most powerful—and intimidating—tools parents have: lawsuits.
Emily shares updates on her EdTech cases, breaks down how the legal process works, and explains how parents can get involved without feeling overwhelmed.
This is a must-listen for parents who know something is wrong—but are ready to do something about it.
🔗 Resources mentioned:
• Full Senate hearing • Find out more about taking legal action against EdTech companies: edtech.law • Emily's Substack: First Fish Chronicles • Unplug EdTech Toolkit • The Digital Delusion (book) by Jared Cooney Horvath
Links in the notes 5
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