The UK's Online Safety Act has drawn criticism for its broad regulatory powers that compel social media platforms to remove content, raising concerns about potential infringements on freedom of speech and over-censorship of legal expression. Critics warn that the law has led to frequent arrests for minor offenses, including retweets and cartoons. Supporters, including Nigel Farage, argue the Act is intended to safeguard children rather than censor speech. Meanwhile, youth vaping is emerging as a public health crisis globally. Studies indicate that young people who vape are three times more likely to start smoking and face increased risks of asthma, respiratory diseases, and mental health issues. Regions including Southern Nevada and Singapore have reported alarming rises in teen vaping, with some users as young as 10 years old. Health officials highlight that vaping may exacerbate stress and mental health symptoms due to nicotine withdrawal. In educational settings, several schools and states, such as Arizona and a private school in Seattle, have implemented cell phone bans, aiming to address distractions and mental health concerns among students. However, some commentators argue these bans may also serve to limit students' ability to document and expose controversial school practices. Public health reports note that increased screen time among teens correlates with higher rates of anxiety, depression, irritability, and hyperactivity, despite restrictions intended to mitigate these issues. The World Health Organization has also warned about the harms of electronic nicotine delivery systems, especially among youth and non-smokers.
Public Health, despite implementing restrictions that contributed to increased screen time, reports that teens significantly exceed recommended daily limits, leading to higher rates of anxiety, depression, irritability, and hyperactivity. READ MORE: https://t.co/wPqoWtFH2x https://t.co/l7FgXRc5M5
As much as I oppose kids using phones during school, I think the real reason many schools moved to eliminate phones is more sinister. Kids have been exposing rot & wokeness at school for years now by recording woke teachers. A full cell phone ban is a convenient way to stop that. https://t.co/qQj2LPZdTw
Lawmakers claim crackdowns on smartphones and social media are about ‘child safety’ – but, in reality, they expand surveillance and silence dissent. Read my latest for @zeteo_news https://t.co/EjcbKSgCwG