Keir Starmer announced plans for the UK to ban social media access for users under 16, citing concerns over child unhappiness, bullying, and mental health impacts. The ban aims to go further than Australia's pioneering restrictions.
A new trend of "loneliness influencers" is emerging, broadcasting tales of their friendless lives online. The author finds their content, which often depicts cozy nights alone with self-care rituals, to be depressing and defeatist, arguing for more proactive social engagement instead.
Anti-tobacco groups criticize Philip Morris International's 'I AM Marlboro' campaign, alleging it targets youth despite the company's claims to phase out cigarettes, with experts noting the campaign's appeal to identity formation among young people across various countries.
Official figures show 150 domestic abuse victims died by suicide in England and Wales in the year to March 2025, a 53% rise from 98 in the previous period. The Domestic Homicide Project linked the increase to improved awareness and a change in police practice requiring officers to check for domestic abuse history at suicide scenes. Young people aged 16-19 represent 18.2% of victims, while 73% of suicides were women. Police warned violent online content may be contributing to teenage cases.
A notorious YouTuber, Salim Wastik, once Salim Khan, has been apprehended by Delhi Police after 26 years on the run. He was convicted for kidnapping and murdering a 13-year-old boy for ransom in 1995. After jumping bail in 2000, he reinvented himself, gaining fame for his controversial online content.
The U.S. Department of Justice has delayed the deadline for public institutions to meet new digital accessibility standards. Larger entities now have until April 2027, while smaller ones have until 2028, citing concerns over institutional capacity and resource constraints.
The UK government is introducing new bans on pornography depicting adults role-playing as children and certain step-incest content. These measures, part of the Crime and Policing Bill, also include a review of age and consent verification processes for online platforms.
