Spain Considers Social Media Ban for Under-16s Amid Growing Concerns Over Online Harms
Spain is considering a ban on social media for children under the age of 16, joining a growing international movement to protect young people from potential online harms. The announcement was made by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Tuesday at the World Government Summit in Dubai, according to Time.
Sánchez criticized tech companies for their failure to control disinformation and illegal content, including child sex abuse material and sexualized deepfake images, on their platforms. He described social media as "a failed state... where disinformation is worth more than truth, and half of users suffer hate speech," Time reported. He also stated that algorithms distort public conversation and data and images are defied and sold.
The proposed ban comes amid increasing concerns about the impact of social media on children and teens. Sánchez highlighted the need to address the current state of social media, which he characterized as a place where laws are ignored and crime is endured.
In other news, a study by the University of York revealed potential security flaws in the UK's 2024 general election. According to Phys.org, polling clerks made mistakes in 36% of cases when tested with real ID documents during the UK's first mandatory voter ID election. The research suggests that the introduction of mandatory photo ID may not have provided the security boost promised by the government.
Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump's new film has generated significant buzz, grossing over $7 million in its opening weekend. However, Time magazine argues that the film is not a documentary but rather "a one-hour and 44-minute branding exercise, or an extended piece of reputation management presented in the visual language of nonfiction cinema." The publication suggests that the box office success reflects the activation of a political brand rather than a triumph of documentary filmmaking.
In the United States, the Trump administration has been promoting the consumption of whole milk. Vox reported that updated federal dietary guidelines recommend full-fat dairy, like whole milk, and a new law allows public schools to serve whole milk. This push comes after decades of declining sales of whole milk, which have recently seen an upswing.
Finally, as World Cancer Day was marked on February 4th, the message of early detection saving lives was highlighted. According to the 2025 Aflac Wellness Matters Survey, 90% of Americans delay preventive screenings due to barriers like scheduling conflicts, logistics, or access, Time reported. The survey found that 94% of people delay screenings not because they don't want to, but because of these obstacles.
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