5 d. ago My Sister and Other Lovers by Esther Freud review – Hideous Kinky, the teenage years

A subtle, intriguing sequel revisits two girls as they grow into adults and question the impact of their unconventional upbringingEsther Freud’s childhood on the Moroccan hippy trail inspired her 1992 debut Hideous Kinky. That novel was told through a young child’s limited perspective, so daily life was described vividly – almond trees and coloured kaftans – while bigger issues, such as why she didn’t see her father, remained vague and mysterious.Some 30 years later, Freud has returned to the same narrator, Lucy. But in this accomplished new novel, she explores how Lucy grows up and starts to question the impact of her unconventional upbringing. My Sister and Other Lovers opens with teenage Lucy, her mother and sister once again on the move. It’s the 1970s, her mother has a new son from another failed relationship, and they are on a ferry to Ireland, as they have no money and nowhere else to go. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Chelsea chaos leaves FIFA under pressure for World Cup as Arsene Wenger responds

Chelsea's Club World Cup match against Benfica was the latest to be impacted by adverse weather decisions, leaving questions for FIFA ahead of next summer's World Cup

Events

1 week ago Parents warned to limit their children's screen time, as research finds youngsters glued to smartphones and tablets have smaller brains and lower IQs

Scientists found children who watched television and used smartphones, tablets and computers had, on average, lower IQs and less intracranial volume (ICV) - a marker for brain size.

Events

1 week ago ‘I don’t think my brain should have gone through that’: five young people on their experience of smartphones as teens

What do people who got – and one who didn’t get – internet-connected phones in their adolescence actually think about the impact they had on them?Debate and anxiety about teen and preteen access to smartphones and social media is raging. One paper has likened smartphones to a “parasite” on our brains, while another study suggests moderate use of social media does not have a harmful effect on young people. In the US more than 100,000 parents have joined an online pledge to delay giving children smartphones until at least the eighth grade and in Australia a ban on under-16s using social media will come into effect in December. Despite all this, OECD figures released in May show 70% of 10-year-olds and 98% of 15-year-olds have internet-connected smartphones.So is giving teenagers smartphones that big a deal? Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago The 3 lingering questions Trump and Hegseth must answer about their Iran nuke strikes ‘success’

Days after Trump ordered a series of bombings on Iran, his administration still cannot — or will not — answer several key questions about the impact of military strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, Richard Hall writes

Politics

3 w. ago I didn't let my daughter have a smartphone until she was 14: here's how to do it without falling out

It’s not enough to limit screentime, says Suzanne Duckett. Adults need to be honest about their own phone addiction, too

Politics

3 w. ago Tell us: what questions do you have about the impacts of smartphones on children?

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone curious about the long-term effects, we’d like to hear your questionsA quarter of three- and four-year-olds in the UK now own a smartphone, but the impact of that is still being understood. From endless scrolling to constant notifications, smartphones expose children not just to their friends and classmates, but to a world of advertising, influencers, and algorithms. But how is all of this shaping how children see themselves, relate to others, and develop emotionally?In a video series on our It’s Complicated Youtube channel, we’re speaking to experts to explore how smartphones might be affecting children’s mental health, attention, self-esteem and relationships. Are social apps making kids more anxious? What happens when children are targeted by ads that shape their sense of identity from a young age? What do we know, and what don’t we yet understand, about growing up in a world where you’re always online? Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Government urged to ban ‘no ball games’ signs to beat childhood smartphone addiction

Urgent action needed to allow children to play outdoors and away from digital devices, says a report by Raising the Nation Play Commission inquiry

Politics

4 w. ago Government urged to disrupt ‘addictive grip’ of smartphones on children’s lives

Urgent action is needed to create more opportunities for children to play outdoors and away from digital devices, report suggests.

Politics

4 w. ago If we want kids to get off screens, adults have to do the same

As a group of schools tells parents to limit their smartphone usage, Helen Coffey argues that our behaviour is just as important when it comes to helping the next generation get off their devices and into the real world

Politics