17 h. ago Here’s what young people actually think about the social media ban

A team of 14 leading researchers interviewed 86 young people, aged between 12 and 15, ahead of the ban

Politics

62 h. ago How Australia became the testing ground for a social media ban for young people

From nascent policy idea in one state to passing federal parliament in just days, it’s been a whirlwind journey for the world-first legislation that will take effect from 10 DecemberIn late 2023, the South Australian premier’s wife put down a book she had been reading. It was Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation.“[She] said to me you better bloody do something about this ... and then we got to work,” Peter Malinauskas later recalled in an ABC interview. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Everyone will miss the socialising – but it’s also a relief’: five young teens on Australia’s social media ban

As the under-16s social media ban looms, Guardian Australia speaks to five 13 to 15-year-olds about what they will miss, and what government should be doing insteadAustralia’s world-first social media ban for under-16s will begin in just a few days. Malaysia, Denmark and Norway are to follow suit and the European Union last week passed a resolution to adopt similar restrictions. As the world watches on, millions of Australian adolescents and their parents are wondering just what will actually change come 10 December.Concerns around the negative impact social media use can have on the wellbeing of young people have been around since the quaint days of Myspace – long before those to be affected by the ban were even born.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago What small 'clumps' on your Christmas tree could be and why you should remove them now

The warning has been shared on social media - and people are horrified.

Politics

5 d. ago Instagram down LIVE: Social media platform suffers major worldwide blackout

Instagram has gone down impacting millions of users across the globe, as people report being unable to log in to the social media app

Politics

6 d. ago Australia's under 16 social media ban sparks debate as users call for UK to do the same

As Australia's social media ban for under 16s looms, users have shared mixed reactions, but could the UK follow suit and ban young people from using popular social media apps too?

Politics

7 d. ago How to spot AI generated videos as deepfakes continues to fool millions online

Technology experts have urged people to stay mindful online when watching videos on social media pages, sharing several ways to identify an AI-generated video easily.

Politics

2 w. ago Black Friday warning after online fraudsters scam Scots out of £1m in past year

"Criminals are always seeking new opportunities, including through social media, to exploit people and steal personal information, bank details, or money."

Events

2 w. ago Black Friday warning as young shoppers targeted by fake deals on social media platforms

Black Friday is next week and while many are excited for the deals due to come, Nationwide have issued a stark warning to people who will be purchasing items on social media.

Events

2 w. ago The man who froze his wife and got a new girlfriend: a stranger, sadder tale than I expected | Imogen West

The story has sparked debates about cryogenics and fidelity. But it also tells us something deeper about our responses to loss One of the last remaining fun things about the internet is getting to pass judgment on the goings-on in households that you would never hear about otherwise. On Reddit, for instance, there is a whole thriving sub for just this purpose called Am I the Asshole?, where people describe conflicts from their lives and ask strangers to adjudicate on them.This week, a story on the BBC threw up a particularly juicy piece of other people’s business that has been sparking debates on Chinese social media. It starts in 2017, when Gui Junmin decided to cryogenically freeze his wife, Zhan Wenlian, after she died of lung cancer. She was the first Chinese person to undergo this procedure, which was paid for by a science research institute in Jinan, east China, that agreed with Gui to preserve his wife’s body for 30 years. Reports suggest Zhan herself consented to the process...

Politics

2 w. ago Man invites strangers to 'smoke a cigarette with me' at 2pm with mysterious note

One old fella has touched the hearts of those on social media after he was pictured giving out flyers to invite people to have a cheeky cigarette with him. And it's now gone insanely viral

Events

3 w. ago Keep it short and find what you enjoy: how to start reading for fun

In a world full of distractions, it can be difficult to form a habit that needs attention. Experts advise on getting out of the rutMost of us read all day – texts, emails, menus, utility bills, social media captions and news stories. But fewer people are reading for fun.According to a 2022 report from the National Endowment for the Arts, 48.5% of US adults said they had read at least one book that year, down from 52.7% five years earlier, and 54.6% 10 years earlier. In the UK, a 2024 report found that half of UK adults do not regularly read for pleasure. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Barron Trump's mystery words to Joe Biden after his father's fierce inauguration speech are finally revealed

Social media went wild when Barron approached Biden, with many people thinking he used the moment to whisper something sinister. Now Barron's words have been revealed.

Politics

3 w. ago I'm A Celeb star Angry Ginge on growing up in Salford and entering the jungle with Aitch

'I think he'll do well, because I think people will see the real Ginge, not just the social media stuff'

Politics

3 w. ago Free speech fightback against social media arrests mapped: 200,000 Brits sign petition against jailing people for 'offensive' social media posts

The parts of the UK fighting back against the practice of jailing people for social media posts have been mapped today.

Events

3 w. ago 1 'forgotten' cooking method ensures 'perfect' roast potatoes every single time

A food expert has shared his simple recipe for the perfect roast potatoes - and it's all down to one crucial step that most people forget, according to the social media star

Politics

3 w. ago Woman's 'genius' way to save money on drinks and it's perfect for iced coffee

The hack has gone viral on social media, with many people saying they 'can't live without it'

Politics

3 w. ago Noel Edmonds issues 'bold' life update leaving fans thrilled

The former Deal or No Deal presenter took to social media to let people know how he was getting on

Politics

3 w. ago Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden shares why you should keep garden leaves this autumn

Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden has shared a video on social media, urging people not to clear away all the leaves in their garden, as they are "not just garden clutter"

Politics

3 w. ago 3 reasons Deborah Meaden is telling people to keep autumn leaves in their garden

Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden has shared a video on social media, urging people not to clear away all the leaves in their garden, as they are "not just garden clutter"

Politics