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who are the top female streamers on twitch Sunday, December 29, 2024 As the world moves toward a more inclusive and diverse future, the travel industry is beginning to address the unique needs of neurodivergent travelers. These individuals, who process and experience the world differently, have often faced significant challenges while navigating traditional travel environments. In 2025, the demand for neuroinclusive navigation is reshaping the way we think about travel, thanks to groundbreaking technological advancements and increased advocacy for inclusivity. The numbers tell a compelling story: nearly half (49%) of neurodivergent individuals report negative travel experiences due to their neurodivergence, and 50% feel their travel options are limited. These statistics underscore the pressing need for change. For many neurodivergent travelers, traditional travel environments are filled with sensory overload, lack of accessibility, and a lack of understanding from service providers. “Travel should be an enriching experience for everyone, yet for neurodivergent individuals, it can often feel like a daunting challenge,” says Dr. Emily Carter, a cognitive neuroscientist specializing in accessibility. “By addressing these challenges with thoughtful design and technology, we can create a travel industry that truly caters to everyone’s needs.” The call for technology to play a more significant role in neuroinclusive travel has been heard loud and clear. Two-thirds (66%) of neurodivergent travelers express enthusiasm for AI tools that provide up-to-date travel information, alert them to delays, and suggest quieter, less busy spaces in airports and hotels. These tools not only enhance convenience but also significantly reduce anxiety associated with the unpredictability of travel. AI-powered applications are emerging as indispensable tools for neurodivergent travelers. Imagine an app that: These features can make travel planning less stressful and more tailored to unique needs. Virtual reality (VR) technology is another game-changer. VR allows travelers to explore their destinations and accommodations before they arrive, helping them mentally prepare for unfamiliar environments. This capability is particularly beneficial for individuals with heightened anxiety or sensory sensitivities. Sensory overload is a common challenge for neurodivergent travelers. Bright lights, loud noises, and crowded spaces can quickly become overwhelming. Addressing these issues, sensory rooms are becoming a sought-after feature in airports, hotels, and other travel hubs. An impressive 68% of neurodivergent individuals express a desire for such spaces, where they can decompress and recharge. Key Features of Sensory Rooms Include: Hotels are also stepping up by offering quieter rooms with “block out noise” options, a feature favored by 74% of neurodivergent travelers. These innovations not only enhance comfort but also demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity. A significant step forward in 2025 is the push for industry-wide initiatives that allow travelers to share their needs and preferences seamlessly. Imagine booking a flight or hotel and having your preferences—such as sensory sensitivities or a need for quiet spaces—automatically communicated to service providers. This seamless connection between travelers, platforms, and operators can transform the travel experience for neurodivergent individuals. The demand for change is undeniable: 69% of neurodivergent travelers advocate for a standardized program across the travel industry that prioritizes inclusivity. Such a program would include: “Creating an inclusive travel industry requires collective effort,” says Maria Lopez, CEO of Inclusive Journeys. “By listening to neurodivergent voices and implementing their suggestions, we can set a new standard for accessibility and inclusion.” As we look ahead to 2025, the travel industry stands at a pivotal moment. The integration of innovative technologies, sensory-friendly designs, and seamless preference-sharing systems marks the beginning of a new era of neuroinclusive navigation. By addressing the unique needs of neurodivergent travelers, we not only create a more inclusive industry but also enrich the travel experience for everyone. In the words of Dr. Carter, “Inclusion is not a privilege; it is a right. The future of travel lies in embracing diversity and ensuring that every journey is as unique as the traveler embarking on it.”Eagles' 'Big Dom' called to break up Nick Sirianni clash with Commanders' Zach Ertz

Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes' latest red card compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. City dropped more points Thursday in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton, with Haaland having a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 53rd minute. The four-time defending champions have only won one of its last 13 games in all competitions and manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged he needs to spend in the January transfer window to reverse City's slide. “The transfer window in the winter is not easy, but even the players know that we have to add some new players,” said Guardiola, who has had to cope without a host of key players, including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, through injury this season. While City is languishing in seventh place, United is even further adrift in 14th place after a 2-0 loss at lowly Wolverhampton. United played almost the whole of the second half with 10 men after Fernandes collected his second yellow card in the 47th minute. It was the United captain's third sending-off of the season, though one was rescinded. Second-place Chelsea also dropped points after conceding in the fifth minute of stoppage time to lose 2-1 at home to Fulham, giving Liverpool the chance to extend its lead to seven points by beating Leicester later. Nottingham Forest won 1-0 against Tottenham to go up to third, while there were also victories for Newcastle and West Ham. Sixth-place Bournemouth drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace. City secured only its fifth point in the league since the end of October but that will be scant consolation to Guardiola, whose beleaguered team squandered a winning position after going ahead through Bernardo Silva’s deflected shot in the 14th. Iliman Ndiaye equalized in the 36th. Haaland’s penalty failure means the Norway international has only scored once in his last seven games. He headed in from the rebound after his spot kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Haaland, who last week admitted his form had not been good enough during a run that has seen City’s season unravel, held his head in his hands after his failure to score from the spot. He still has 18 goals in 25 appearances this season, but has not scored in a win for his club since the 1-0 victory against Southampton on Oct. 26. “We shoot a lot in the 18-yard box, but unfortunately we could not get the results that we wanted,” Guardiola said. City’s damaging run has seen it slip down the standings in the league and crash out of the English League Cup. It is also in danger of missing out on the playoffs for the round of 16 in the Champions League — sitting just one point above the cut-off point with two games to play. Wolves' first goal against United came direct from a corner, with Brazil striker Matheus Cunha seeing his kick curl over the head of goalkeeper Andre Onana and into the far corner in the 58th minute. Such goals are rare, though United also conceded from a corner in its 4-3 loss to Tottenham in the English League Cup this month. Son Heung-min scored on that occasion. Wolves added a second through Hwang Hee-chan in the ninth minute of stoppage time and have won two straight games since Vitor Pereira was hired to replace Gary O'Neil. Cunha has 10 goals of the season. Chelsea dropped points for the second time in as many games, with Enzo Maresca's team drawing 0-0 at Everton last week. The Blues gave up a lead earned by Cole Palmer in the 16th as Harry Wilson equalized in the 82nd and Rodrigo Muniz grabbed the late winner for Fulham, which won at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 45 years. Arsenal can now jump from fourth to second with a win against Ipswich on Friday. Forest's remarkable season shows little sign of slowing down after Anthony Elanga's winner against Tottenham at the City Ground. Forest is a point behind Chelsea in third. Villa was already a goal down to Newcastle after Anthony Gordon's strike in the second minute when Jhon Duran was sent off in the 32nd. Alexander Isak and Joelinton added goals for the hosts West Ham had to cope with first-half injuries to defender Max Kilman and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski , but still won 1-0 at Southampton after Jarrod Bowen's goal in the 59th. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerNone

Football round-up: Christmas calamity demonstrates alarming trend for Auckland and WellingtonDANNY Jones' wife Georgia has broken down in tears and admitted she is "struggling" with her husband being in I'm A Celebrity. Georgia, 37, recorded a video for fans and cried as she revealed that her emotions have "come to a head" while Danny is in the jungle. The former Miss Great Britain is attempting to juggle parenting their six-year-old son Cooper with work and a house move - and it has all got too much. Georgia began the video already in tears and told her Instagram followers: "I'm a bit of an emotional one today. I think it's just been bubbling. "Obviously, house move on its own is stressful and then working at the same time, solo parenting and having a husband in a jungle. "So today's it's just kind of come to a head. READ MORE ON DANNY JONES "The last thing I want to do is not be my authentic self, which is what my Instagram is. "I show real life, I show who I am, I show ups and downs and highs and lows so that you guys feel, you know, less alone with anything you might be struggling with. "So I'm just having a bit of a wobble and I'm just a bit tired and just making sure I'm looking after everyone and keeping everybody happy." Georgia, who married McFly star Danny in August 2014, went on to urge her army of fans to pick up the phone and vote for her hubby. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 The model and podcaster also told them that she is desperate to see him do some Bushtucker Trials. "Vote for Danny to do trials, vote for him to win, because we are so proud of him and he needs to stay in for as long as possible," she continued, while still wiping her eyes. "We will be going out there and supporting him. His mum's currently out there, so that's great, she made it. "But I will continue to show up on here as my authentic self." Sniffing, Georgia added: "Thank you for all the support for Danny so far. It doesn't go unnoticed." Georgia, who has a parenting podcast with Kelsey Parker, has been inundated with messages of support since sharing her "authentic self" video. One follower told her: “'And having a husband in the jungle' sounds like the most normal thing to say, but it’s not, it’s a lot to be doing all of that while your husband is eating bugs in a jungle!!! You’re amazing for sharing." Another added: "Sending lots of love Georgia! I've been struggling with how I feel & anxiety at the minute, in fact I had a cry like you, and then saw Danny cry on the show about his anxiety & it set me off again! But it is amazing to follow relatable people like you!" And a third commented: "Life can be overwhelming. Hang in there. Here's a hug. We all just love Danny here. Here's to Christmas together in your new home." i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz , Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street , was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women . She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher . Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan . It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth." Danny is among this year's cohort of I'm A Celebrity campmates and arrived in Australia two-and-a-half weeks ago . This week, in another emotional video, Georgia revealed she has even moved house alone , due to Danny's absence. She admitted she had been left "broken" by the situation. "We have moved house whilst Danny is in the jungle, and I have done it on my own and I am a broken woman, to say the least," Georgia said on Instagram. Thankfully, Georgia has been able to call upon the assistance of family and friends, as well as Danny's PA, Carly. "I have had the help of the most incredible woman, Carly," she added. READ MORE SUN STORIES "If anyone is looking for a PA – she's not mine, she's Danny's, I do not have one – she's your woman. "My friends, my mum, my dad have just been flipping incredible. I have got a village, full-blown village."

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Pune: BJP functionaries are calling for action against members of the Mohite Patil family in Solapur for allegedly threatening party workers after they switched their support from the BJP to the NCP (SP). BJP senior leader Devendra Fadnavis has warned Lok Sabha MP Dhairyasheel Mohite Patil of action for harassing party workers which the MP has refuted. Dhairyasheel Mohite Patil switched from the BJP to the NCP (SP) a month before the Lok Sabha poll, and was given a ticket to contest from Madha constituency. He defeated his cousin Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil of the BJP. Later, during the recently held assembly poll, the MP was given the responsibility to work for the party's candidates. The NCP (SP) won four seats in the district. After the election process, BJP members complained of harassment of party workers by Mohite Patil. Ranjitsinh, is an MLC and a BJP member. However, BJP candidates alleged that the MLC did not campaign for the party and helped candidates of the opposition win. Former MLA Ram Satpute, who lost to NCP (SP)'s Maruti Jankar from Malshiras seat, has demanded that Ranjitsinh be expelled. "During the campaign, Mohite Patil's goons attacked our supporters and tried to prevent them from campaigning in various constituencies. Despite being a BJP member, Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil did not work for the party. Therefore, I have demanded that he be expelled," Satpute said. The Mohite Patil family is influential in state politics. Ranjitsinh father, Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, was a senior NCP member who was deputy chief minister in Sushilkumar Shinde's govt. However, before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, some of his family, including Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil, switched from the then-undivided NCP to the BJP. Now, after five years, the Mohite Patil family has again extended support to Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP), which has led to friction between the family and BJP functionaries in Solapur. During an interview with a web portal a few months ago, Fadnavis, the home minister, said that he would not tolerate harassment of his party workers and that Dhairyasheel would have to face consequences. The MP told TOI, "Baseless allegations are being made by Ram Satpute, who has lost his mind after facing two defeats (Lok Sabha and assembly poll) in five months. Fadnavis's interview was before the assembly poll which Satpute is circulating again on social media. We have not threatened or harassed anybody, and we contested the poll democratically. Satpute wants to pin the blame on somebody, and therefore, he is blaming my family."

The slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.Emmy-Winning Soap Opera Actor Dies at 84CHICAGO (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks placed running back Kenneth Walker III on injured reserve prior to their game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday because of an ankle injury. Walker hurt his ankle in last week's loss to Minnesota and left that game after sitting out the previous two because of a calf problem. He also missed two weeks in September with an oblique issue. Walker has run for 573 yards and seven touchdowns on 153 carries. A second-round draft pick by Seattle in 2022, he has 2,528 yards rushing and 24 TDs in his career. Walker could, in theory, return if the Seahawks win two playoff games, though their postseason hopes were slim entering the game against Chicago. Seattle (8-7) trailed the NFC West-leading Los Angeles Rams (9-6) by one game with two to play. The Seahawks' best path to the postseason was to win the final two regular-season games and have Los Angeles lose to Arizona on Saturday. Seattle visits the Rams to close the regular season. With Walker out, Seattle signed rookie running back George Holani off the practice squad. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated Press

StemVacs-V is under clinical development by Res Nova Bio and currently in Phase II for Metastatic Breast Cancer. According to GlobalData, Phase II drugs for Metastatic Breast Cancer have a 32% phase transition success rate (PTSR) indication benchmark for progressing into Phase III. GlobalData tracks drug-specific phase transition and likelihood of approval scores, in addition to indication benchmarks based off 18 years of historical drug development data. Attributes of the drug, company and its clinical trials play a fundamental role in drug-specific PTSR and likelihood of approval. StemVacs-V overview The vaccine candidate is under development for the treatment of glioma, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer. It is administered through subcutaneous and intravenous route. It is generated by using dendritic cell progenitors isolated from patients. The vaccine candidate was under development for the treatment of breast cancer, prostate cancer. Res Nova Bio overview Res Nova Bio is dedicated to the development of cancer inhibiting anti-angiogenesis immunotherapies. For a complete picture of StemVacs-V’s drug-specific PTSR and LoA scores, This content was updated on 12 April 2024 From Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors. , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. GlobalData’s Likelihood of Approval analytics tool dynamically assesses and predicts how likely a drug will move to the next stage in clinical development (PTSR), as well as how likely the drug will be approved (LoA). This is based on a combination of machine learning and a proprietary algorithm to process data points from various databases found on GlobalData’s .It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history — one that experts say could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success: keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. Australia's new law, approved by its Parliament last week, is an attempt to swim against many tides of modern life — formidable forces like technology, marketing, globalization and, of course, the iron will of a teenager. And like efforts of the past to protect kids from things that parents believe they're not ready for, the nation's move is both ambitious and not exactly simple, particularly in a world where young people are often shaped, defined and judged by the online company they keep. The ban won't go into effect for another year. But how will Australia be able to enforce it? That's not clear, nor will it be easy. TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram have become so ingrained in young people's lives that going cold turkey will be difficult. Other questions loom. Does the ban limit kids' free expression and — especially for those in vulnerable groups — isolate them and curtail their opportunity to connect with members of their community? And how will social sites verify people's ages, anyway? Can't kids just get around such technicalities, as they so often do? This is, after all, the 21st century — an era when social media is the primary communications tool for most of those born in the past 25 years who, in a fragmented world, seek the common cultures of trends, music and memes. What happens when big swaths of that fall away? Is Australia's initiative a good, long-time-coming development that will protect the vulnerable, or could it become a well-meaning experiment with unintended consequences? The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to A$50 million ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts. “It’s clear that social media companies have to be held accountable, which is what Australia is trying to do,” said Jim Steyer, president and CEO of the nonprofit Common Sense Media. Other countries watching Australia Leaders and parents in countries around the world are watching Australia’s policy closely as many seek to protect young kids from the internet's dangerous corners — and, not incidentally, from each other. Most nations have taken different routes, from parental consent requirements to minimum age limits. Many child safety experts, parents and even teens who have waited to get on social media consider Australia's move a positive step. They say there’s ample reason to ensure that children wait. “What’s most important for kids, just like adults, is real human connection. Less time alone on the screen means more time to connect, not less," said Julie Scelfo, the founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, or MAMA, a grassroots group of parents aimed at combatting the harms of social media to children. “I’m confident we can support our kids in interacting in any number of ways aside from sharing the latest meme.” The harms to children from social media have been well documented in the two decades since Facebook’s launch ushered in a new era in how the world communicates. Kids who spend more time on social media, especially when they are tweens or young teenagers, are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, according to multiple studies — though it is not yet clear if there is a causal relationship. What's more, many are exposed to content that is not appropriate for their age, including pornography and violence, as well as social pressures about body image and makeup. They also face bullying, sexual harassment and unwanted advances from their peers as well as adult strangers. Because their brains are not fully developed, teenagers, especially younger ones the law is focused on, are also more affected by social comparisons than adults, so even happy posts from friends can send them into a negative spiral. Many major initiatives, particularly those aimed at social engineering, can produce side effects — often unintended. Could that happen here? What, if anything, do kids stand to lose by separating kids and the networks in which they participate? Paul Taske, associate director of litigation at the tech lobbying group NetChoice, says he considers the ban “one of the most extreme violations of free speech on the world stage today" even as he expressed relief that the First Amendment prevents such law in the United States "These restrictions would create a massive cultural shift,” Taske said. “Not only is the Australian government preventing young people from engaging with issues they’re passionate about, but they’re also doing so even if their parents are OK with them using digital services," he said. "Parents know their children and their needs the best, and they should be making these decisions for their families — not big government. That kind of forcible control over families inevitably will have downstream cultural impacts.” David Inserra, a fellow for Free Expression and Technology, Cato Institute, called the bill “about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike” in a recent blog post. While Australia's law doesn't require “hard verification” such as an uploaded ID, he said, it calls for effective “age-assurance” that includes an array of ways companies can estimate someone's age. He said no verification system can ensure accuracy while also protecting privacy and not impacting adults in the process. Privacy advocates have also raised concerns about the law's effect on online anonymity, a cornerstone of online communications — and something that can protect teens on social platforms. “Whether it be religious minorities and dissidents, LGBTQ youth, those in abusive situations, whistleblowers, or countless other speakers in tricky situations, anonymous speech is a critical tool to safely challenge authority and express controversial opinions,” Inserra said. “But if every user of online platforms must first identify themselves, then their anonymity is at risk.” Parents in Britain and across Europe earlier this year organized on platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram to promise not to buy smartphones for children younger than 12 or 13. This approach costs almost no money and requires no government enforcement. In the United States, some parents are keeping kids off social media either informally or as part of an organized campaign such as Wait Until 8th, a group that helps parents delay kids' access to social media and phones. This fall, Norway announced plans to ban kids under 15 from using social media, while France is testing a smartphone ban for kids under 15 in a limited number of schools — a policy that could be rolled out nationwide if successful. U.S. lawmakers have held multiple congressional hearings — most recently in January — on child online safety. Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding. In July, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable. But the Kids Online Safety Act has since stalled in the House. While several states have passed laws requiring age verification, those are stuck in court. Utah became the first state to pass laws regulating children’s social media use in 2023. In September, a judge issued the preliminary injunction against the law, which would have required social media companies to verify the ages of users, apply privacy settings and limit some features. NetChoice has also obtained injunctions temporarily halting similar laws in several other states. And last May, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said there is insufficient evidence to show social media is safe for kids. He urged policymakers to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate things like car seats, baby formula, medication and other products children use. Said Scelfo: “Why should social media products be any different? Kids may try to get around the restrictions — just like they do for alcohol, tobacco or drugs — but nobody is saying that because they try, we should give them unfettered access to them. Parents cannot possibly bear the entire responsibility of keeping children safe online, because the problems are baked into the design of the products. And so we need policies that hold Big Tech accountable for ensuring their products are safe.” Associated Press Writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this story.

6,000 inmates escape from a high-security prison as post-election violence roils Mozambique