UK Considers Social Media Ban for Under-16s Amid Safety Concerns

Published

2 months ago

November 20, 2024

RTX

The UK government is exploring a potential ban on social media for under-16s, according to Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Kyle emphasized that safeguarding children online is a top priority, stating he would “do what it takes” to ensure their safety.

Kyle also announced plans for further research into the effects of technology, including social media and smartphones, on young people. He noted the lack of “firm, peer-reviewed evidence” on the matter and said such data would inform future decisions.

Online Safety Act Enforcement

The announcement coincides with Kyle’s “letter of strategic intent” to Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, which will soon gain new enforcement powers under the Online Safety Act (OSA). The OSA, set to take effect in 2024, requires tech companies to take greater responsibility for the content on their platforms, particularly to shield children from harmful material.

Kyle stressed the importance of assertive regulation, calling on Ofcom to fully utilize its authority under the Act. “I just want to make sure that Ofcom knows that government expects them to be used,” he said.

Under the OSA, social media and messaging platforms face steep fines—potentially in the billions—if they fail to comply. Some platforms have already introduced changes, such as Instagram’s new teen accounts and Roblox’s ban on young children messaging others.

Calls for Broader Action

The Molly Rose Foundation, a campaign group advocating for online safety, welcomed Kyle’s efforts but urged the government to strengthen the OSA. “The public and parents back an updated Act that embeds an overarching duty of care on tech firms,” the group posted on social media platform X, calling for swift action from the Prime Minister.

Legal experts have cautioned that banning social media for young people is only part of the solution. Iona Silverman, a lawyer at Freeths, described the measure as “a drop in an ocean-sized problem,” pointing out that teenagers may still find ways to access harmful content. She called for a broader cultural shift and more proactive legislation to address the issue.

Lessons from Australia

The UK’s deliberations come after Australia announced plans to ban social media for children under 16. When asked if the UK would adopt a similar policy, Kyle said, “Everything is on the table,” but stressed the need for evidence-based decisions.

Smartphone Use Under Scrutiny

The debate extends beyond social media to smartphone usage among young people. Parliament is reviewing a private member’s bill addressing digital safety for children, with input from the Healthcare Professionals for Safer Screens group. Founder and GP Rebecca Foljambe highlighted growing concerns among health professionals about smartphone overuse.

While the government has stopped short of banning smartphones in schools, it has issued guidelines to promote effective restrictions. Kyle previously stated that the “battle over phone use in schools had been won.”

Critics, however, continue to call for more decisive action to protect children in an increasingly digital world.

Technology

What We Can Learn From Communities That Carry Heavy Loads

Published

13 hours ago

January 27, 2025

RTX

In rural Vietnam, farm workers carry loads that often exceed their body weight, walking miles daily with impressive ease. Their secret lies in the use of springy bamboo poles, which allow them to adjust their gait so that the weight oscillates with their strides. According to a study, this technique reduces the effort required to lift the load by about 18%.

While the bamboo poles play a key role, years of physically demanding labor have also made these workers exceptionally strong. For most people, carrying such heavy loads is unimaginable, but the methods and strength of these farm workers offer lessons for building strength and resilience in daily life.

Strength has fascinated humans for thousands of years. Evidence of early weightlifting competitions can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and China, with records of resistance lifting as early as 557 BCE. In modern times, weightlifting has evolved into an Olympic sport, showcasing feats like Georgian weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze’s record-breaking 267kg clean and jerk at the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships.

While such extreme displays of strength may be beyond reach for most, strength training offers tangible benefits for everyone. Regular strength training improves health and mobility, particularly in older adults, and is associated with lower mortality rates from conditions like cancer and heart disease. Research also suggests that strength training can benefit mental health, boosting overall well-being.

Developing the capacity to carry heavier loads starts with building muscle, particularly in the core and auxiliary muscles that stabilize the body. “Our bodies are adapted to carrying our own body mass, but adding extra weight requires consistent strength training to grow your load-carrying muscles,” explains Jeffrey Ackerman, a teaching professor of mechanical engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

However, muscle size alone doesn’t guarantee strength. Training muscle activation—learning to maximize the efficiency of muscle use—is equally important. Experts caution against jumping straight into heavy lifting. Instead, they recommend focusing on proper technique and gradually increasing weights over time to build strength safely and effectively.

The lessons from Vietnam’s farm workers and other strength-building practices worldwide highlight the remarkable adaptability of the human body. With the right techniques and consistent effort, many of us can develop the strength to carry more—both physically and metaphorically.

Technology

Google to Combat Fake Reviews with Major Process Changes in the UK

Published

3 days ago

January 24, 2025

RTX

Google has agreed to implement significant changes to its processes in an effort to combat fake reviews of UK businesses, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Thursday. The move comes as part of a commitment to improve transparency and ensure consumers can trust online reviews.

Under the new measures, Google will attach warnings to businesses found to have artificially inflated their star ratings. The worst offenders will have their review function disabled, preventing them from receiving any new reviews. Additionally, individuals who repeatedly post fake or misleading reviews will face bans from posting, regardless of their location.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, emphasized the importance of these changes in ensuring consumer trust. “The changes we’ve secured from Google ensure robust processes are in place, so people can have confidence in reviews and make the best possible choices,” she said in a statement.

The new rules specifically apply to business reviews on Google Search and Google Maps, but will not affect product reviews on the platform. Google’s spokesperson told the BBC, “Our longstanding investments to combat fraudulent content help us block millions of fake reviews yearly – often before they ever get published.” The company added that its collaboration with regulators like the CMA is part of ongoing efforts to combat fake content.

The CMA estimates that £23 billion of UK consumer spending each year is “potentially influenced” by online reviews, highlighting the significant impact that both real and fake reviews have on business success. The issue of fake reviews has grown more complex with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which can generate highly convincing false reviews.

Google has already begun implementing the new restrictions, and the CMA has stated that the company will report its progress over the next three years to ensure the changes are effective. After this period, Google may adjust its approach to handling fake reviews based on technological developments.

“This is a matter of fairness – for both business and consumers – and we encourage the entire sector to take note,” Cardell added.

The investigation into fake reviews has been ongoing since June 2021, when the CMA began looking into both Google and Amazon for failing to adequately address the issue. The CMA’s investigation into Amazon remains ongoing.

With these new steps, Google aims to restore consumer confidence in online reviews and demonstrate its commitment to tackling the growing problem of fraudulent content.

Technology

Seven-Planet Alignment to Be Visible on February 28, Offering a Celestial Spectacle and Scientific Insights

Published

1 week ago

January 19, 2025

RTX

Stargazers will be treated to a rare sight on February 28, when a seven-planet alignment graces the night sky. The alignment will feature Mercury joining six other planets—Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—in a spectacle visible from Earth. While these events are a visual treat, they also hold scientific significance for astronomers.

Currently, six planets are visible to the naked eye on clear nights in January and February, forming a planetary parade across the sky. On February 28, the alignment will be complete when Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, becomes visible. The planets, while not perfectly aligned, will appear in an arc due to the flat plane of their orbits in the Solar System.

Jenifer Millard, an astronomer at Fifth Star Labs in the UK, emphasized the unique experience of witnessing such events firsthand. “There is something special about looking at the planets with your own eyes,” she said. “When you’re looking at these objects, these are photons that have traveled millions or even billions of miles through space to reach you.”

For scientists, planetary alignments like this one offer opportunities to explore the dynamics of our Solar System. The planets orbit the Sun at varying speeds, with Mercury completing an orbit in just 88 days, while Neptune takes about 165 years. These different speeds occasionally cause the planets to align in such a way that multiple planets appear in the night sky at once. While most of these alignments are visually striking, their potential to influence life on Earth remains a subject of debate.

In 2019, physicist Frank Stefani suggested that alignments of certain planets could impact solar activity, possibly influencing the Sun’s 11-year cycle. Stefani proposed that the gravitational pull of planets like Venus, Earth, and Jupiter could cause subtle internal rotations within the Sun, potentially driving solar events. However, not all scientists agree with this theory, with some arguing that solar cycles are primarily driven by internal processes within the Sun itself.

Regardless of their impact on solar activity, planetary alignments are valuable for space exploration. Alignments have been used to slingshot spacecraft to outer planets, dramatically reducing travel time. The Voyager spacecraft, for example, capitalized on a 1977 alignment of outer planets to visit Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, cutting decades off the journey time.

Additionally, alignments are essential in the study of exoplanets. By observing the transit of planets across stars, astronomers can gather valuable data about planetary atmospheres, identifying gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide. These alignments, both in our Solar System and beyond, help deepen our understanding of the cosmos.

As February 28 approaches, this rare seven-planet alignment promises to captivate both amateur stargazers and seasoned scientists alike, offering a reminder of the intricate and awe-inspiring nature of our place in the universe.