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Meta’s smartglasses mean any child can be covertly filmed. In the age of AI, how do we tackle that risk?
July 21, 2026
The company argues that it’s for individuals to ensure they don’t ‘actively exploit’ this technology. That won’t keep children safe It took me a while to realise what the man sitting next to me on the train was doing. He was flicking through pictures of a little girl on his phone; zooming in on some,…
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EU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of ‘addictive design’
July 11, 2026
Regulators say Facebook and Instagram features such as autoplay and infinite scroll contribute to ‘compulsive use’ EU regulators have accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of failing to tackle the risks of its “addictive design” on the physical and mental health of users. In an official charge sheet against Meta released on Friday,…
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Screen time can damage under-twos’ development, landmark study suggests
June 27, 2026
Exclusive: Researchers call for urgent investigation of risks to babies of tablets, smartphones and other digital devices Screen time for babies and toddlers under the age of two has been linked with long-term negative effects on health and quality of life and should be avoided, according to a landmark study. It warns that using screens…
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Social media bans go global: big tech faces a reckoning after Australia’s crackdown
June 27, 2026
As a host of countries move to rein in social media use by children, could this be technology’s big tobacco moment? Continue reading…
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‘More relevant than making fires’: Explorer Scouts launch badges for AI and digital age
June 26, 2026
Content creation and online safety among new topics for 14- to 18-year-olds – but tweaks may be needed when social media ban comes in Scouts are introducing badges in content creation, digital communication and online safety after consulting nearly 3,000 teenagers who said they wanted skills to help them navigate a world increasingly shaped by…
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To the tablet and beyond: does Toy Story 5 go hard enough on technology?
June 22, 2026
The animated sequel sets up a tug-of-war between physical and digital play for children but is still eager not to be an anti-tech screed For more than 30 years, Pixar’s signature Toy Story series has been entertaining children while giving voice to their parents’ anxieties. This is especially pronounced in the film’s sequels, as the…
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UK ministers lobby Trump to avert backlash against social media ban
June 16, 2026
No 10 is worried about retaliation from White House over restrictions on under-16s’ internet use Ministers have embarked on a concerted lobbying operation to prevent a backlash from the Trump administration to the under-16s social media ban announced by Keir Starmer. Officials said they had spent weeks trying to reassure senior Trump officials and the…
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Child sexual abuse victims in England and Wales to get help to remove online images
June 9, 2026
Echo project will help erase images as part of package of support to end ‘prolonged suffering of survivors’ Victims of child sexual abuse in England and Wales will be given help to remove online images of their abuse as part of a wider package of support to end the “prolonged suffering of survivors”. The Echo…
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Starmer gives tech firms ultimatum to block explicit images on children’s phones
June 8, 2026
Companies such as Apple and Google have until September to install software or face legislation, says PM UK politics live – latest updates Apple and Google have been given until September to install software that blocks explicit images on children’s mobile phones or face legislation enforcing its requirement, Keir Starmer said on Monday. The prime…
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The London school that has screen-free days for pupils, teachers – and parents
June 8, 2026
Holy Family Catholic primary school says enthusiastic response from parents has been biggest surprise Schools banning pupils from having smartphones are commonplace. But what about a school where pupils ban teachers from using their smartphones, and then get their parents to join in? And not just phones: at Holy Family Catholic primary school in west…
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