
The Australian government recently passed legislation that bans social media for anyone under 16 . Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the legislation for putting “the onus on social media platforms — not young people or their parents” — for protecting youth from online harms. Australia is the first country in the world to pass a nationwide ban of social media for teens, set to take effect in a year . But other measures have been enacted or considered here in Canada and elsewhere. In the United States, it will be illegal for children under 14 in Florida to have social media accounts starting Jan. 1, 2025. Beginning in 2024, Québec began banning cellphones in classrooms . This fall, with the start of the 2024–2025 academic year, Ontario also began banning cell phones in schools . This follows a lawsuit filed by four school boards in Ontario against social media companies for disrupting youth learning. Québec is reportedly considering a social media ban — following Australia’s lead — that would limit social media use for teens under 16. Provincial governments recognize that social media and cellphones can be problematic for youth, and they’re not waiting on the federal government to take action. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced that the proposed Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) , originally introduced in February 2024 , will be separated into two bills . The idea is to pass the part of the bill focused on child protection to address problems like sextortion , image-based sexual abuse, revenge porn and other forms of online sexual violence. Since the Online Harms Act is still being debated, MPs in Canada may look to other countries, like Australia, for guidance on protecting youth from these online harms. Some people in Canada approve of Australia’s social media ban and see it as a potential solution , including some teens . This idea has received a lot of traction in public discourse too, including with the book The Anxious Generation that argues social media should be banned until age 16 . Many of us may recall the stories of Rehtaeh Parsons , Amanda Todd and more recently a boy in British Columbia who died by suicide after being cyberbullied and sextorted. Some studies have shown that social media use is related to anxiety and depression among adolescents . Bans or regulations raise important questions about how we, as a society, should respond to social media use among youth and deal with online harms. We are a team of researchers who study technology-facilitated sexual violence among youth aged 13–18 in Canada. We have conducted 26 focus groups with 149 youth from across the country, and launched a nationally representative survey of around 1,000 youth to learn about their experiences with online harms, what they know about the law and which resources work — and which ones don’t. Our initial findings show that youth experience a range of harms as they use digital platforms and social media. We also found that algorithms are fueling harms. Youth have emphasized they want tailored supports and resources to help them have safe, healthy and enjoyable experiences with technology. A full ban of social media is not realistic, in part because social media companies have no idea how to implement it . Some ideas are to use facial recognition technology or check someone’s age using credit cards . Another idea is to upload government IDs to third-party platforms for age verification. However a ban is implemented, it will almost certainly gather more user data, which raises questions about youth data privacy and security . These measures may also drive youth towards other platforms that are less regulated, such as on the dark web. This could actually make it harder to protect youth from online harms. Bans also don’t actually solve the problem . For example, abstinence-based interventions don’t work when it comes to sex education . It is unlikely that an abstinence-based approach would work with social media . Furthermore, technology is increasingly integrated into our daily lives, and youth need to be taught about healthy and responsible online interactions. Youth are learning how to become digital citizens . Kicking the problem down the road until they’re 16 or older will postpone the consequences, not solve them. This could cause more harm than a ban intends to solve . A ban also frees social media companies, governments and parents from any accountability. Rather than meaningfully addressing the harmful content and their impacts, a ban removes any and all responsibility from the people and institutions whose job it is to protect youth. Technology companies need to develop their products with kids in mind , rather than prioritizing their profits and putting child safety and health second. Kids need guidance and support , and a ban does nothing to remove harmful content or resolve its negative impacts. Rather than bans, we suggest implementing holistic interventions that emphasize digital citizenship and youth rights and responsibilities so people of all ages learn how to have safe and healthy interactions with technology. This requires a consolidated effort across various sectors of society, including schools , community organizations and, importantly, both tech companies and government agencies. While there are resources available for educators, parents and youth about how to have safe and healthy online interactions , we need to act now. Rather than resorting to blanket bans, we should prioritize comprehensive societal changes that address the root causes of these harms. By doing so, we can promote youth safety and help our communities confront online harms. Christopher Dietzel receives funding from Le Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC). Kaitlynn Mendes receives funding from SSHRC and the Canada Research Chairs Program.As fans eagerly anticipate the release of "Xiao Qian," the theme song "Ethereal" has already become a beloved soundtrack that encapsulates the essence of the film's timeless love story. With its stirring lyrics and haunting melody, "Ethereal" sets the stage for an unforgettable cinematic experience that will resonate with audiences for years to come.
Japanese singer and actor Yamashita Tomohisa, commonly known as Yamapi, recently caused a stir on social media when he shared a photo of himself with Taiwanese pop superstar Jay Chou. The two talented artists were pictured together backstage at a concert, smiling brightly and looking like old friends. Fans of both Yamapi and Jay Chou were thrilled to see the two Asian music icons together, and speculation about a possible collaboration between them quickly spread like wildfire.
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — If things had worked out differently, wide receiver Ladd McConkey might have been standing on the New England Patriots’ sideline Saturday at Gillette Stadium, watching Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert shred his defensive teammates during a 40-7 victory . Instead, McConkey set Chargers rookie records for receptions and receiving yards in a season Saturday. He caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 77 receptions and 1,054 receiving yards, breaking Keenan Allen’s marks of 71 catches and 1,046 yards in 2013. McConkey is one touchdown shy of Allen’s rookie record of eight. When the Chargers jettisoned Allen and Mike Williams in a pair of cost-saving moves during the offseason, new General Manager Joe Hortiz had the notion of selecting a standout wide receiver near the top of his to-do list going into the draft. Hortiz picked right tackle Joe Alt with his first-round pick . Hortiz then made what seemed at the time like a minor move. He swapped his second-round pick for the Patriots’ second-round selection, moving up from 37th to 34th to take McConkey , a standout from the University of Georgia. Hortiz added the 137th overall pick as a sweetener to complete the trade. So, it was that McConkey torched the team that ended up trading him. “No extra motivation or anything like that,” McConkey said, laughing when asked about facing the Patriots for the first time since the draft back in April. “I was excited to get drafted. I didn’t care that I got traded. I’m right where I’m supposed to be. It’s a cool moment. I’m glad they drafted me.” McConkey recalled he met with the Chargers only briefly during the Senior Bowl. He didn’t have any inkling that they would have any special interest in drafting him. Little did he know how easily he would mesh with his teammates, and especially Herbert, who has called him a “quarterback’s best friend.” “I always believed in myself, but I didn’t know,” McConkey said of his mindset going into his rookie season. “I didn’t know. Obviously, I wanted to get as many yards as I could and contribute as much as I could. In a sense, I really didn’t think about this, but it is pretty cool. I feel like it just developed.” EXTRA POINTS Derwin James Jr. sacked Patriots quarterback Drake Maye twice and recovered Maye’s fumble, one of several stellar defensive players Saturday. Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu also sacked Maye once apiece. The Chargers limited Maye to 12 for 22 passing for 117 yards and one touchdown. ... Cameron Dicker kicked field goals of 27, 38, 41 and 35 yards for the Chargers. He accounted for the only points in their 6-0 victory last season over the Patriots, a game played in a steady downpour that limited the Chargers’ offenses to only two successful possessions. ... Wide receiver Joshua Palmer suffered a heel injury and didn’t return to the game. He was walking with the aid of crutches after the game. Defensive back Elijah Molden departed the game on a cart after suffering a shin injury on a non-contact play. Molden wore a walking boot after the game.
‘Let’s not panic’: Canada picks up the pieces after Latvia loss at world juniorsEducation Bureau Responds to Winter School Uniforms Being Cut Into Pieces as Waste Fabric, Investigation OngoingU.S. stocks could start their year-end rally as early as this week, a top Wall Street analyst suggested Friday, as markets break out of their post-election malaise and power toward what could be a record year for the S&P 500. Goldman Sachs analyst Scott Rubner, the bank's global markets managing director who earlier this month pegged a year-end target for the S&P 500 of 6,300 points, says stocks are set for a solid holiday season bounce following a week in which the benchmark has gained around 1.3% to take its 2024 advance past 24%. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
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Editorial: Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts are reviving another seafood delicacyOn the same day they acquired All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade, the Chicago Cubs gave a two-year contract to free agent catcher Carson Kelly on Friday. The team didn't announce financial terms, but The Athletic and ESPN reported that the deal is worth a total of $11.5 million with a mutual option for 2027. Per The Athletic, Kelly could earn up to another $500,000 in both 2025 and 2026 depending on the number of starts he makes. Kelly, 30, likely will share the position with Miguel Amaya. Kelly changed teams midseason each of the past two years. In August 2023, the Arizona Diamondbacks released him, and he signed days later with Detroit. This year, the Tigers traded him to the Texas Rangers in July in exchange for two minor-leaguers. Over a combined 91 games in 2024, Kelly hit .238 with a .313 on-base percentage, a .374 slugging percentage, nine homers and 37 RBIs. For his career, which began with the St. Louis Cardinals (2016-18), Kelly has a .224/.307/.373 batting line with 54 homers and 207 RBIs in 556 games. --Field Level Media
Galaxy Ball Reviews: Scam or Legit? (2025)WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump appears to be siding with Elon Musk and his other backers in the tech industry as a dispute over immigration visas has divided his supporters. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post on Saturday, praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S. The topic has become a flashpoint within his conservative base. “I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them," Trump said. In fact, Trump has in the past criticized the H-1B visas, calling them “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. During his first term as president, he unveiled a “Hire American” policy that directed changes to the program to try to ensure the visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants. Despite his criticism of them and attempts to curb their use, he has also used the visas at his businesses in the past, something he acknowledged in his interview Saturday. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program," Trump told the newspaper. He did not appear to address questions about whether he would pursue any changes to the number or use of the visas once he takes office Jan. 20. Trump's hardline immigration policies, focused mostly on immigrants who are in the country illegally, were a cornerstone of his presidential campaign and a priority issue for his supporters. But in recent days, his coalition has split in a public debate largely taking place online about the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Hard-right members of Trump's movement have accused Musk and others in Trump's new flank of tech-world supporters of pushing policies at odds with Trump's “America First" vision. Software engineers and others in the tech industry have used H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers and say they are a critical tool for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated. Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press