A federal judge has extended his block on enforcement of an Ohio law that would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps while a legal challenge proceeds. U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley’s grant of a preliminary injunction Monday came in a lawsuit filed by NetChoice. That is a trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies. Their complaint argues that the law unconstitutionally impedes free speech and is overly broad and vague. The state contends the law is justified as a way to protect children from the harms of social media.
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GAZA (AP) — Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has left tens of thousands of Palestinian children without one or more of their parents, adding…
AP Wire
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain will ban children under 16 from using social media apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube from early next year. The announcement on Monday aims to protect young people from harmful content and excessive screen time. Starmer acknowledges that some teens might bypass the ban but emphasizes the importance of children's safety and happiness. YouTube and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, warned that a blanket social media restriction could push kids into unregulated online spaces. The ban aligns with global efforts to enhance online safety for children.
Sweden is set to ban mobile phones in schools from the next academic year as part of a broad reversal on the use of screens in classrooms. The Swedish center-right coalition government is prioritizing more reading time and less screen time, particularly among preschool students, by favoring books and other traditional learning tools. Sweden’s plans are part of a broader shift and an international digital reckoning against smartphones. Countries have outfitted campuses with laptops, tablets and learning apps for students. But classrooms have become saturated with screens and a growing number of parents, teachers and school districts are saying it is time to scale back.
The Nigerian army said Sunday it freed 360 people abducted by Boko Haram in southern Borno, in the northeastern part of the country. The operation, according to the army’s statement, was conducted in the Mandara mountains which form a part of the militant group’s stronghold. It resulted in the release of several people, including children, who had been abducted across different communities in Borno. Two infants died during their prolonged captivity, according to the statement.
Actor James Handy has been stabbed to death, and police have charged the son of his girlfriend in the killing. Michael Gledhill was charged after police say officers found the 81-year-old Handy stabbed in the chest and unconscious outside a home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. They say Gledhill was arrested after telling police he was the person they were looking for. Handy was a character actor in films and on TV for decades, including appearances in a variety of television crime procedurals.
Murder charge dropped for Arkansas man who won GOP nomination for sheriff after killing his daughter’s alleged abuser.
Malaysia has started enforcing rules to prevent children under 16 from having social media accounts. This decision is part of a global effort to enhance safety protections. Platforms like Facebook and TikTok must implement age-verification systems. Existing users identified as under 16 will have a month to manage their data before restrictions apply. Companies that fail to comply face hefty fines. The government aims to protect children from harmful content and cyberbullying. Critics worry about data privacy and potential surveillance. Families have mixed reactions, with some supporting the changes and others concerned about their impact.
President Donald Trump is giving his endorsement to a January study by the Department of Health and Human Services that calls for cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every American child. An executive order that Trump signed on Friday directs federal agencies to align their policies behind the study, which recommended an overhaul long called for by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The study found that the United States recommends more childhood vaccines than many peer nations. The study recommends vaccinating all children against 11 diseases. Several others would be moved to a category of vaccines recommended only for high-risk groups or if doctors recommend it.
A residential treatment center in Missouri advertises to adoptive parents that it can help heal struggling children. Calo Programs is part of the so-called troubled teen industry that has been quietly institutionalizing adopted children at extraordinarily high rates. How Calo makes money and what happens to kids there offers a window into a larger phenomenon. Some youth treatment centers depend on government funding despite limited oversight. Calo is facing more than a dozen lawsuits and parents describe a chaotic environment that left their children more traumatized than before. Calo denies wrongdoing and says its treatment has helped many children.