Researchers have uncovered the first physical evidence of human waste being used in ancient Roman medicine, while simultaneously, concerns are growing over the impact of technology on children's well-being, including exposure to weight loss drug advertisements and the potential dangers of AI-generated medical advice. The discovery regarding Roman medicine centers on a vessel unearthed in Pergamon, now in western Turkey, which contained residue identified as fecal matter, according to Fox News. Meanwhile, reports from the children's commissioner for England highlight the bombardment of young people with advertisements for weight loss products online, and a study from the University of Oxford warns of the risks associated with AI chatbots providing inaccurate medical advice.
The vessel containing the human waste was found to have served a medical purpose, according to Fox News. The research team identified "dark brownish flakes" in the residue, which were determined to be fecal matter. The discovery has generated "immense excitement" among archaeologists.
Simultaneously, the children's commissioner for England reported that children are routinely exposed to advertisements for weight loss injections and pills online, according to BBC Technology and BBC Business. The report found that young people were "bombarded" with ads for products claiming to change their bodies and appearance, despite this kind of advertising being banned. Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner, said the posts were "immensely damaging" to young people's self-esteem and called for a ban on social media advertising to children. A spokesperson for the media regulator Ofcom stated that it did not tolerate "tech firms prioritizing engagement over children's online safety."
In related news, a landmark trial began in California examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube, with lawyers accusing the companies of creating "addiction machines," according to BBC Technology. Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff, argued that his client suffered from mental health issues as a result of social media addiction. "These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose," Lanier said.
Furthermore, a study from the University of Oxford found that AI chatbots give inaccurate and inconsistent medical advice, according to BBC Technology. Researchers gave 1,300 people a scenario, such as having a headache, and found that the advice provided was a mix of good and bad responses, making it difficult for users to determine what advice to trust. Dr. Rebecca Payne, lead medical practitioner on the study, said it could be "dangerous" for people to ask chatbots about their symptoms.
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