Tag Archives: alarm

Scientists Raise Alarm Over Significant Design Flaws in Women’s Running Shoes

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A recent investigation reveals that women’s running shoes may be limiting their athletic potential.

Published in BMJ Open Sports & Exercise Medicine, the research indicates a “significant gap in running shoe design” that overlooks women’s anatomical differences.

“Most so-called women’s running shoes are not genuinely designed for women,” asserts the study’s lead author, Dr. Chris Napier, an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, as noted in BBC Science Focus.

“We typically base our models on men’s feet, merely scaling them down and changing the color, a method often described as the ‘shrink and pink’ approach.”

However, Napier emphasized that this method does not “account for the real anatomical distinctions between male and female feet or the way women run.”

Consequently, women’s running shoes may not fit well, potentially hampering performance.

In this study, researchers gathered 21 women to discuss their preferences for running shoes and how their needs might evolve over their lifetimes.

The participants ranged in age from 20 to 70 and had between 6 and 58 years of running experience. Eleven individuals ran recreationally, averaging 30 km (19 miles) weekly, while 10 were competitive runners, averaging 45 km (28 miles) weekly.

Most women expressed a desire for shoes with a broader toe box, a narrower heel, and additional cushioning. Napier noted that this aligns with the general differences in foot shape between men and women.

“Women have distinct lower extremity anatomy, such as wider pelvises and shorter legs relative to body size. This influences running mechanics and the forces exerted on the legs,” says Napier.

Among the participants, mothers reported needing larger shoe sizes, wider fits, and more cushioning and support during and post-pregnancy.

Male and female runners have different shoe needs due to their diverse anatomy, preferences, and life stages – Credit: Alvaro Medina Jurado via Getty

This study is small and qualitative; participants were recruited via posters in stores in Vancouver, Canada, meaning findings may not be universally applicable.

Still, Napier hopes that the research will resonate with female runners.

“During our focus groups, many participants experienced an ‘aha’ moment when they realized their shoe issues were not isolated but a common experience among female runners,” he stated.

Napier also expressed hope that the study acts as a “wake-up call” for the footwear industry.

Footwear manufacturers have invested billions in developing running shoes that prevent injuries, enhance comfort, and improve performance.

Most running shoes are molded to a foot-shaped template based on male anatomy, which is then used across their products.

As a result, “a significant portion of the running community is essentially using shoes that are not intended for them,” Napier explained.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

20 Bird Species Can Comprehend Each Other’s Alarm Calls

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A splendid fairy (left) attempts to evade the cuckoo

David Ongley

More than 20 bird species globally utilize similar “whining” alarm calls to alert others about the presence of cuckoos. These calls seem to resonate across species, shedding light on their evolutionary significance.

Cuckoos are among the numerous 100 species recognized as brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other birds and relying on them to raise their young as if they were their own.

Will Feeney and his team at biological stations in Spain and Doñana identified 21 species that last shared a common ancestor around 53 million years ago. These species exhibit structurally similar “whimper” calls when they detect a breeding parasite.

Examples include the splendid fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) in Australia, the yellow-brown prinia (Prinia subflava) in Africa, Hume’s leaf warbler (Phylloscopus humei) in Asia, and the green warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides) in Europe.

“It seems these diverse bird species worldwide have converged on the same vocalization to alert against their respective brood parasites,” observes Feeney.

Researchers often observe that species producing this alarm call tend to inhabit areas rich in brood parasites, which exploit various host species. When a potential host detects the whining, they often resort to aggressive defense behaviors.

“Brood parasites present a unique threat. They pose significant risks to offspring while largely being non-threatening to adult birds,” says Feeney. “Our findings suggest that [the call] plays a crucial role in promptly alerting fellow birds and potentially securing their protection.”

“In the case of the splendid fairy-wren, they are cooperative breeders, which likely means that the mobbing call is intended to attract additional individuals for support,” explains Rose Thorogood from the University of Helsinki, Finland.

To deepen their investigation, Feeney and colleagues recorded calls from brood-parasite hosts across continents and played them to potential host birds in Australia and China. They discovered that hearing foreign alarm calls prompted just as quick a response as calls from their own species.

“This indicates that the function of this vocalization is geared towards fostering interspecies communication rather than merely internal signaling,” highlights Feeney.

Thorogood cautions: “The ancestral alarm calls shared by our forebears may not have solely targeted brood parasites. Instead, they likely feature specific acoustic properties that are effective in repelling these threats.”

The research team also conducted similar experiments with yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia) in North America, which serve as egg hosts for brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) yet do not produce the distinctive whining alarm call. When exposed to the splendid fairy-wren’s alarm, warblers responded promptly by returning to their nests, demonstrating distress through various calls in addition to mobbing.

Feeney suggests that numerous bird species respond to innate components in alarm calls, while local birds in areas where brood parasites are prevalent adapt their calls and responses to convey information about local dangers.

“These birds have adapted distress calls for new contexts related to offspring threats,” he explains. “This provides insights into why birds across the globe utilize similar sounds.”

Charles Darwin proposed in his 1871 work, The Descent of Man, that spoken language’s origins could be traced back to imitation and adaptation of instinctual sounds made by humans and other animals. These instances may not only involve cries of fear but can also reflect pain. “A bird adapting these instinctual calls for different purposes might represent a foundational step towards language,” concludes Feeney.

Rob Magrath of the Australian National University notes, “Calls often convey specific meanings, sometimes referring to external objects or incidents, rather than merely indicating internal states like fear or traits such as gender or species.”

“This referential quality suggests that such vocalizations bear resemblance to human language, frequently referencing the external world,” he adds. “Thus, animal communication and human language may exist on a continuum rather than being distinct attributes of humans.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Glacial Melt in Juneau, Alaska Triggers Flooding, Evacuations, and Resident Alarm

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Glacial explosions, which occur when natural ice and sediment dams collapse, sending floods downstream, have emerged as an issue in Europe, Central Asia, and South America.

According to a report in Global, glacial explosion floods have claimed over 12,000 lives worldwide. The majority of these fatalities were concentrated in two events: the Huaraz flood in Peru in 1941 and the 2013 Kedarnath flood in India.

A 2023 survey published in Nature Communications revealed that approximately 90 million people across 30 countries reside in areas with glacial lakes, with around 15 million potentially affected by glacial explosions, particularly in India, China, and Pakistan.

Research conducted in 2023 identified over 120 glacial lakes in Alaska, with 106 having drained since 1985, many situated in remote locations, according to recent findings.

To address this year’s risks, Juneau has installed extensive barriers along the river to prevent widespread flooding in vulnerable areas. The funding for these barriers was partially sourced from Juneau residents living in flood-prone zones.

“We are still evaluating the barriers, but we believe they have significantly reduced property damage compared to the 2024 incident,” stated Nahak McFadden, spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

How Do Glacial Explosions Occur?

Glaciers, often referred to as slow-moving rivers of ice, descend the mountains’ slopes. During colder seasons, these ice masses accumulate as snow compresses into ice. In the summer, meltwater either escapes or the glaciers destabilize, leading to ice loss.

Initially, water flowing from the glacier enters rivers and eventually reaches the ocean.

Sometimes, the flow of meltwater is obstructed by glacial ice plugs, causing water to pool and form tunnels beneath the glacier, destabilizing these ice plugs.

“If sufficient water builds behind an ice plug, it can float the ice and move beneath it. The warm water initiates a cycle of positive feedback, thermally eroding the ice,” a researcher noted.

“Once triggered, they can unleash catastrophic flooding that surpasses even the most significant floods caused by rainfall or thaw,” he added.

Glacial explosions typically occur in Alaska during August when the meltwater reaches its peak, though they can happen at any time.

After drainage, glaciers may slowly move downhill, causing ice to crumble and restart the buildup cycle. Capps indicated a pattern where one explosion occurs annually.

Alaska is home to numerous lakes surrounded by glaciers capable of causing explosive floods. However, most of these locations are remote, minimizing risks to communities and infrastructure.

“In such a critical area like Suicide Basin upstream of Juneau, challenges arise primarily due to the infrastructure located downstream,” he pointed out.

Explosions can also occur if water overflows natural dams, known as moraines, composed of rocks and debris.

“Most often, but not exclusively, failures occur in moraine-formed lakes, leading to sediment being washed away,” Capps explained.

What Role Does Climate Change Play?

Globally, glaciers are retreating. While some glaciers may grow during seasons of heavy snowfall and cooler temperatures, many diminish under the sun or during periods of low snowfall. Overall, there’s a longstanding decline in global glacial mass.

The World Glacier Monitoring Service tracks data from 60 “reference” glaciers, each with mass balance assessments spanning over 30 years.

“The declines are significant and consistent globally,” mentioned Pelt, who monitors glacial mass changes in Washington’s North Cascade range. “2023 marked the first year where all 60 glaciers recorded a loss in mass balance concurrently, a trend that continued into 2024.”

Research indicates that glaciers have been thinning since 1985, as they retain less water behind progressively shorter and thinner ice barriers. The occurrence of these explosive events has remained relatively stable over time.

As glaciers recede, some flood-prone areas may cease to function.

“I believe the danger will lessen for residents in Alaska,” Pelt stated. “The glaciers are thinning and retracting, reducing the likelihood of robust ice dams forming.”

However, researchers are wary that glacial dams at higher altitudes and in colder regions might become unstable as global temperatures rise, potentially leading to newly formed lakes and explosion-prone areas.

In Juneau, the barriers successfully held after implementation following last year’s disaster. The Startz family had a minor pond in their yard along with a thin layer of glacial silt on their grass.

Homeowners in flood-risk zones contribute over $600 annually for protective measures.

“If these barriers prove effective, then I’m more than willing to pay that extra fee,” remarked Stars on Tuesday. “We can’t repair a glacier.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Robert W. Macchesney passes away at 72 after sounding the alarm on corporate media dominance.

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Robert W. McShesney, an influential, left-leaning media critic who argued that corporate ownership was bad for American journalism and that the Silicon Valley billionaire who dominated online information was a threat to democracy, died on March 25th at his home in Madison, Wisconsin.

The cause was glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, said his wife, Inger, stole it.

Both Professor McChesney were grounded in academia. He had a PhD. I’m taught communication and at university. And Ink-On Paper Journalism: He was the founder of Rocket, the Seattle music magazine that reviewed Nirvana’s first single.

His main papers were expressed in more than a dozen books and numerous articles and interviews, but the corporate-owned news media was overly compliant with a certain political force, limiting the views that Americans were exposed to. He further argued that the internet (the promise of the wild west market of opinion) was squeezed by some huge owners of online platforms.

An early book, Rich Media, Poor Democracy (1999) warned that the integration of journalism undermines democratic norms. Perhaps his most famous work, “Digital Cutting: How Capitalism Does the Internet Against Democracy” (2013), he rejected the utopian view that the digital revolution would arrive at the public frontier of sources and stimulate democracy.

Instead, he shows how the internet is destroying the business model of newspapers, while local government civilly hearted coverage features the lowest common denominator fluff, celebrity gossip, cat videos, and personal naval gaze.

Professor McChesney condemned capitalism.

“Profit motivation, commercialism, public relations, marketing, advertising – all the critical features of modern corporate capitalism – are the basis for an assessment of how the Internet can develop and potentially develop,” he writes.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Leaders in the Performing Arts Sound Alarm on UK Government’s AI Plan, Warn of Copyright Issues

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A group of more than 30 British performing arts leaders, including executives from the National Theatre, Opera North, and Royal Albert Hall, have expressed concerns over the government’s proposal to allow artists to use their work without permission.

In a joint statement, they emphasized that performing arts organizations rely on a delicate balance of freelancers who depend on copyright to sustain their livelihoods. They urged the government to uphold the “moral and economic rights” of the creative community encompassing music, dance, drama, and opera.

Signatories to the statement include top leaders from institutions such as Saddlers Wells Dance Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Leeds Playhouse.

They expressed concern over the government’s plan to diminish creative copyright by granting exemptions to AI companies. The statement highlighted the reliance of highly skilled creative workers on copyright and the potential negative impact on their livelihoods.


While embracing technological advancements, they warned that the government’s plans could hinder their participation in AI development. They called for automatic rights for creative professionals and criticized proposals that require copyright holders to opt out.

Additionally, they demanded transparency from AI companies regarding the copyrighted material they use in their models and how it was obtained. The government’s proposed transparency requirements in copyright consultations were noted.

The statement emphasized the importance of music, drama, dance, and opera to human joy and highlighted the backlash against the government’s proposals from prominent figures in the creative industry.

The controversy revolves around AI models that power tools like ChatGpt chatbots, trained using vast amounts of data from the open web. A government spokesperson defended the new approach, aiming to balance the interests of AI developers and rights holders.

Source: www.theguardian.com

I Learned to Embrace Alarm Clocks and Sleep

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I“I’ve always hated getting up in the winter. As a kid, I threw a Harkle Darkle at me while I watched my uniform warm up with the radiator. Recently, I had a few minutes of smartphone alarms. I set it up continuously. It’s too dark and I’m too groggy.


I’ve heard a sunrise alarm clock before the filter I was asked to review them, but I didn’t think they could solve my awakening anguish. Essentially, they are a combination of an alarm clock and a light therapy device that will glow as the brightness increases as your wake-up time approaches. Light interacts with our circadian rhythms, just like when the sun rises, so we wake up biologically prepared for the day.

How a sunrise alarm clock made my morning better

As a tech-interested author, I often review attractive and useful gadgets, from electric heaters to ERMs to cat smart drinking fountains. It’s fun, but in the long run, only a few products will change my lifestyle. Sunrise alarm clocks were quickly proven to fall into this exclusive category. Throughout the majority of winter, I woke up in the darkness so that my organs probably cannot receive signals from my brain and prepare for the day.

My Top Sunrise Alarm Clock Picks – Lumi Body Cooks Park 100 and Philips Smart Sleep Wake Light – have changed the equation clearly. I wake up, feel more energetic, less grogled and mentally sharp.

What’s important about sunrise alarm clocks

All sunrise alarm clocks I tested had strengths such as alarm sounds, soothing design and useful features, but only certain models have a brightness threshold that appears to wind a circadian clock. The value exceeded. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) lamps are often advertised with Lux ratings for brightness, but this important statistic tends to be absent in the sunrise alarm spec sheet. One great indicator is whether it is certified as a medical device, as is present in the Body Cooks Park 100.

How these devices play in a healthy sleep

Sleep is personal and there is no device suitable for all slingers. For me, the sunrise alarm clock benefited my sleep and wake cycle more than any other product. It probably excludes my memory foam mattress. Very good models like the Lumie Sunrise alarm can be purchased for under £40. So if you find dark mornings difficult, it’s definitely worth a try.

An important advantage of sunrise alarm clocks is that your phone no longer includes your morning waking up. Stopping the alarm on your smartphone means your day starts with your on-screen eyes. And the path from here to Doom scroll is the length of Thumbprint. With all sorts of alarm clocks, you can start without a smartphone in the morning.

If you’re still waking up on the other side of your bed, you can find additional recommendations for the best mattresses, sleep AIDS and electric blankets in the filter guide. The mornings are made by people who are not born.

This week’s pick

Editor’s Pick




Ella Foot will be testing a cold-water swimsuit at Lago di Nenbia in Trentino, Italy. Photo: Ella Foot

Guardian readers are no strangers to cold water dips. I also include myself. So we thought it was time for the filter to put some outdoor swimming kits at that pace.

Luckily, a new kind of thermal swimsuit (not wetsuits) is available in the market designed for colder temperatures. So, we’re still deep into the cold-water swimming season, but we asked experienced outdoor swimmers and writer Ella Hoot to test these swimsuits. She also rounded up her favorites wisely. hat, glovesthe flask and other items will warm up afterwards.

Hannah Booth
Editor, filter

Just in case you missed it…




The elements are ready… a guide to waterproof jacket. Photo: Thomas Eversley/Alamy

If you’re keen to get wet outdoors, strictly tested waterproof jackets for men and women will keep you dry even in the most fierce downpours. Paddy Maddison and Sian Lewis of Keen Hikers have gone hundreds of paces over the years and know what to look for in high-performance jackets. It could be a valuable investment in a country that rains more than 150 days a year.

Please participate




thank you! Tell us how you can make things last longer. Photo: Uchida Kyoko/alamy

Do you have something that isn’t doing the job at all? It could be an expensive suitcase with unstable wheels, a beloved armchair with hanging springs, or your favorite jumper is a tattered jumper. If so, we’d love to hear a new advice column from you. I also want to hear how you see yours, from shoes to coffee machines, to make yours last longer.

Reply to this newsletter or email thefilter@theguardian.com.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Evolution of Wildfire Monitoring Apps: From Alarm to Essential State of Mind in the Western US

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CRisti Thomas called 911 for the second time on a warm October day, but when she couldn’t get through, she began to panic. She watched anxiously as a plume of black smoke grew over a rural community in central California.

Just then, I heard a familiar ping.

Watch Duty, an app that warns users of the risk of wildfires and provides critical information in the event of a fire, was already recording the fires. She relaxed. The cavalry was coming.

“I can’t describe the sigh of relief,” she said, recalling the moments after sirens wailed through her neighborhood and helicopters roared overhead. “We saw it happen, so we had questions, and the oversight mandate answered them all.”

Thomas is one of the millions of Watch Duty evangelists who have helped the app spread rapidly. This organization has only been in existence for three years. Currently boasts up to 7.2 million active users At peak times, it receives up to 512 million page views. For a nonprofit organization run mostly by volunteers, those numbers are impressive even by startup standards. But they are not surprising.

Lookout duties have changed the lives of people in fire-prone areas. When the skies darken and ash fills the air, users no longer have to scramble for information, they can now rely on the app to get fast, accurate information for free.

Provides access to critical information about where the danger is, including fire perimeters, evacuation areas, and evacuation location maps. Users can find wildfire camera feeds, track aircraft locations, and see wind data all in one place. The app can also help identify when there is little need for alarm, when risks have subsided, and which agencies are active on the ground.

“This app isn’t just about alerts, it’s about your state of mind,” said Watch Duty CEO John Mills. The Silicon Valley alumnus founded the organization after moving from San Francisco to a large, fire-prone ranch in Sonoma County. After starting in just four California counties, Watch Duty covered the entire state in its first year and quickly expanded from the American West to Hawaii.

As the community grows to reach people in 14 states by 2024, Mills says new features and improved accuracy have made it more popular and filled an unmet need.

It’s not just residents who have become reliant on apps in recent years. A variety of responders, from firefighters to city officials to journalists, are also logging on to ensure key stakeholders are on the same page.

“People thank me for on-duty duty, but I’m like, ‘You’re welcome, I’m sorry you need it,'” Mills said. But it’s clear that the need is real. In each new area we served, word of mouth drove adoption.

“We didn’t spend any money on marketing,” Mills said. “To let the world know that we just let the genie out of the bottle and things are not going back to the way they were.”

CalFire supervisors watch over the Rhine Fire in San Bernardino County, California, in September 2024. Photo: Jon Putman/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock

Source: www.theguardian.com

AI Industry Faces Risks, Employees from OpenAI and Google DeepMind Sound Alarm

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A group of current and former employees from prominent artificial intelligence companies has published an open letter. The committee warned of inadequate safety oversight within the industry and called for better protection for whistleblowers.

The letter, advocating for a “right to warn about artificial intelligence,” is a rare public statement about the risks of AI from employees in a usually secretive industry. It was signed by 11 current and former employees of OpenAI and two current and former Google DeepMind employees, one of whom previously worked at Anthropic.

“AI companies have valuable non-public information about their systems’ capabilities, limitations, safeguards, and risk of harm. However, they have minimal obligations to share this information with governments and none with the public. We cannot rely on companies to share this information voluntarily,” the letter stated.

OpenAI defended its practices, stating that they have hotlines and mechanisms for issue reporting, and they do not release new technology without proper safeguards. Google did not respond immediately to a comment request.

Concerns about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence have been around for years, but the recent AI boom has heightened these concerns, leading regulators to struggle to keep up with technological advancements. While AI companies claim to be developing their technology safely, researchers and employees warn about a lack of oversight to prevent AI tools from exacerbating existing societal harms or creating new ones.

The letter also mentions a bill seeking to enhance protections for AI company employees who raise safety concerns. The bill calls for transparency and accountability principles, including not forcing employees to sign agreements that prevent them from discussing risk-related AI issues publicly.

In a recent report, it was revealed that companies like OpenAI have tactics to discourage employees from freely discussing their work, with consequences for those who speak out. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized for these practices and promised changes to exit procedures.

The open letter echoes concerns raised by former top OpenAI employees about the company’s lack of transparency in its operations. It comes after recent resignations of key OpenAI employees over disagreements about the company’s safety culture.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Psychologists advise against causing alarm and pessimism for better mental health

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Imagine waiting for your school exam results or having a dental appointment on the horizon. Many believe that preparing for uncertain outcomes by expecting the worst is a good strategy.

This way, you won’t be as shocked if the test results are disappointing or the dentist visit is unpleasant. Hence the phrase “hope for the best and plan for the worst.” But is this approach truly beneficial?

According to psychological research, the answer is no.

One downside of preparing for the worst is that it can lead to feeling sad and anxious before an event. By convincing yourself that something bad will happen, you are setting yourself up for negative emotions.

Thinking positively and expecting things to go well can actually make you feel better before your exam results or dental appointment. But what about when things don’t go as planned?

Unfortunately, research shows that people feel just as bad about disappointing outcomes whether they anticipated them or not. This applies immediately and even after the results are known.

Similar research has found that having negative expectations about a task like public speaking can make you feel worse, not better, right after performing it. The idea of emotional defensiveness doesn’t seem to work well.

These findings are relevant to the debate around trigger warnings, which aim to prepare individuals for emotionally challenging content. However, studies indicate that trigger warnings are not effective in emotional protection.

Concerns about over-optimism and complacency are valid, but optimism can boost motivation. Optimistic individuals tend to put more effort into their studies and typically achieve better grades as a result.

The key is to combine optimism with effort. Simply hoping for the best without taking action is not a sound strategy. Are you thinking positively and putting in the work needed to succeed?

If you have any questions, please email us at: questions@sciencefocus.com or send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Remember to include your name and location.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Thousands Rally for Smartphone-Free Childhood: British Parents Sound the Alarm

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More than 4,000 parents have joined a group pledging to ban their young children from smartphones, amid growing concerns about online safety and the impact of social media on mental health.

The WhatsApp group ‘Smartphone Free Childhood’ responds to concerns about children’s smartphone use and the ‘norm’ of giving children smart devices when they attend secondary school, created by former school friends Clare Furnyhoff and Daisy Green. Founded by Well.

“I have children aged 7 and 9. Daisy has children of a similar age and we both feel really scared and anxious and now it’s 11 years old and it’s normal. I didn’t want him to have a smartphone at his age.”

Fernyhoff and Greenwell hope the campaign will encourage parents to delay giving their children smartphones until at least the age of 14 and ban them from accessing social media until the age of 16.

But what they had hoped would be a small group of friends “empowering each other” turned into a nationwide group after the group reached its 1,000-person capacity within 24 hours of Greenwell uploading the message. It turned into a campaign. Instagram post To promote it.

“We were completely surprised by this,” Fernyhough said. “I’ve gone completely crazy.”


Daisy Greenwell. Photo: Alastair Bartlett/Tilt Shift Creative

The pair encouraged people to form local groups to deal with the demand. “Before our eyes, within 30 minutes, 30 local groups were born across the country, and it continues to grow,” Fernyhoff said.

The group has been transformed into a community to allow more people to participate and currently has approximately 4,500 members.

Smartphones are exposing children to a “world they’re not ready for”, with access to pornography and content about self-harm and suicide, which can have a negative impact on children’s mental health, Furneyhough said. said. “I thought maybe they don’t need it. You don’t need a smartphone at that age. A brick phone can do everything you need.”

Ofcom research shows that 91% of children in the UK own a smartphone by the age of 11, and 44% by the age of 9.

“We thought we had extreme ideas, and that’s why we wanted to be in solidarity with each other, but what we realized was that we were actually pulling the lid on something. I mean, it’s like an open question. I came here by mistake, and people really need to talk about this, and a lot of people feel the same way we do. I feel like I can’t talk,” Fernyhoff said.

Brianna Gee’s mother, Esther Gee, earlier this week called for a complete ban on social media for under-16s, calling for a complete ban on social media access for under-16s, unless tech companies take steps to restrict access to harmful content. , said there would be more people with mental health problems.

Brianna was murdered on February 11, 2023, and her mother believes she was vulnerable after spending so much time online.

The goal is to change this norm, Fernyhow said, so that by the time children graduate from elementary school, the whole class will come together and say, “Let’s all delay this until at least 14 years old.” This means that all children in primary school go on to secondary school where they have a certain number of peers doing the same thing, reducing peer pressure.

“We don’t just want kids to go to middle school,” Fernyhoff said. “It’s a nightmare. No one would do that to their child.” But if 20%, 30%, even 50% of his children enroll because their parents made that decision. , they will be in a much better position.

“They can have the childhood they were meant to have, focus on learning, and enjoy the real world without having to spend their lives scrolling. We all know that’s not good for them. I know.”

Source: www.theguardian.com