Tag Archives: concerned

How Concerned Should You Be About Screen Time?

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Hold on, take a moment. How often do you find yourself on your phone today? Is social media impacting your mental health negatively? We ask this frequently, but should we genuinely be concerned about screen time?

Numerous studies examine screen time, many revealing associations between screen use and an array of health issues, including depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, obesity, diabetes, and even suicidal thoughts. The implications seem dire.

However, I have a question. Are screens themselves the root cause of these issues, or is it that poor health leads to more screen time, or could an unidentified third factor be affecting both?

Most studies merely display correlations between screen time and various health outcomes and thus are unable to establish causation. Pinpointing the true impact of screen time is a much more intricate task.

To clarify these relationships, researchers perform meta-analyses employing advanced statistical methods to unify hundreds of robust studies, which helps reduce the perceived dangers.

I have a particular interest in one meta-analysis. Conducted in 2019, researchers Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski, then from the University of Oxford, evaluated a vast dataset of teenage surveys, allowing them to measure the effects of over 20,000 different factors on mental health.

Upon analyzing the data, they determined that only 0.4 percent of adolescent well-being is tied to screen use, revealing a level of negative impact similar to eating potatoes. In contrast, being bullied was linked to more than four times this negative effect, while sufficient sleep and a nutritious breakfast yielded significantly more positive outcomes.

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What the data appear to indicate is that, on average, at the population level, both the positive and negative effects of screens are minimal.
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So, is screen time acceptable? Again, let’s not rush to conclusions. Although this research looks at the relationship between screen time and mental health within a broader context, these findings still represent merely correlations. Human lives are complex, making it challenging to derive clear causal connections from messy data.

A helpful approach might involve reconsidering what screen time truly means. Activities like watching TV, browsing social media, gaming, reading e-books, and listening to science journalists discussing screen time all require looking at a screen, but can we assume they all exert the same influence on our health?

Many studies fail to adopt a nuanced perspective on this topic, simply tallying screen time. To complicate matters further, it’s widely known that this information is often self-reported, leading to inaccuracies. (Let’s be honest; we’ve all embellished the truth about our screen usage.)

Focusing solely on social media usage unveils further complexity. Engaging in political debates until the early hours on X while messaging friends via WhatsApp both qualify as social media activity, yet do they yield identical outcomes? The forthcoming meta-analysis will be published in a 2024 issue of SSM – mental health. Their findings indicate a slight positive correlation between happiness and using social media for communication or having a broad social media network, along with a minor negative correlation between social comparison and problematic social media practices, often referred to as social media “addiction.” None of these insights are particularly unexpected.

So where does this leave us? Given the potential risks involved, adopting a precautionary approach, especially regarding children, could be wise. Governments in the UK and Australia have implemented measures to significantly reduce screen time or to restrict specific technologies, such as social media.

Yet, there’s also the concern that imposing such limits could mean missing out on the valuable benefits screen time offers, such as access to information, social interactions, and entertainment. Data suggests that, on average, a range of factors indicates that the positive and negative effects of screens are relatively minor at the population level. However, that doesn’t mean some individuals don’t suffer more severe consequences, the so-called problematic users mentioned earlier, and we need to delve deeper to support them.

In light of all this, how concerned should you be about screen time? The answer is nuanced and continues to evolve with ongoing research. If you notice screens significantly affecting your life, altering your habits or seeking professional advice may prove beneficial. For most of us, however, the concern over screen use should not rank high on our lists of worries, nor should it dominate headlines.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Please Clarify: Why Are Runners and Riders Concerned About the Strava and Garmin Feud?

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Josh, there’s been quite the buzz online among runners and cyclists regarding Strava’s lawsuit against Garmin. As a runner, I must admit that I hit the pavement to escape reality, not to get involved in more online debates. What is going on?


Miles, Strava is the essential app for runners and cyclists to log their workouts. Its social features enable users to compete against each other’s times in a friendly rivalry and discover popular exercise spots.

If you’re eager to showcase your workouts to everyone, this is the Instagram for fitness.

While workouts can be tracked via smartphones or Strava’s integrated GPS, many prefer wearing fitness watches for their perceived accuracy. This is where Garmin comes into play. Strava lets Garmin fitness tracking watches interface with its app through Garmin Connect.

The collaboration between both companies has worked well for several years, but now Strava is suing Garmin in US court, claiming that Garmin has infringed on two of Strava’s patents: segments and heatmaps.


Segments and heatmaps… I’m feeling lost.

Segments allow users to monitor their times on specific sections of a route and compare against others, while heatmaps help users identify popular locations for running worldwide.

Strava alleges that Garmin has copied these features, thus violating a 10-year-old agreement they had where Garmin promised not to reverse engineer certain functionalities of the Strava app.

But why do runners seem so obsessed with their sport (see what I did there)? Why does my Reddit feed overflow with enthusiastic runners?

Perhaps you’ve heard someone annoying say, “If it wasn’t on Strava, it didn’t happen.” Runners fixate on their metrics and strive for the quickest segment times. It almost resembles a cult. Some people are even sharing coffee mugs, t-shirts, and their unique creations, with wedding photos on Strava.

The surge of Strava coincides with the running boom, and like other cultural shifts, it’s manifesting both in real life and online. Strava simplifies data sharing, making it a hotspot for fitness influencers.

Despite some unrest since early November regarding Garmin compelling users to watermark Strava workouts with Garmin device details, much of the backlash centers on Strava’s lawsuit that may impede users from sharing their runs.

Some users worry that this conflict might hinder their workout plans, with reports like tracking no longer available. Others express that while they enjoy the Strava app, it feels too closely associated with their Garmin devices for comfort. Tracking training.

One user pointed out that much of the data forming Strava’s heat maps is sourced from Garmin users, meaning a lack of this data could spell trouble for Strava.

So what does Strava seek from Garmin? Or are they just looking to end the partnership?

Matt Salazar, Strava’s Chief Product Officer, addressed the situation on Reddit recently. He indicated the lawsuit was filed after Garmin mandated Strava to comply with new watermarking protocols, which threatened the continuation of Garmin data usage by November 1st. This lawsuit attempts to address that issue.

In its court filings, Strava is demanding Garmin halt the sale of devices that allegedly infringe on their patents.

Salazar’s Reddit post bore the title “Setting the record straight on Garmin.” However, comments under his post revealed users stating they would stop using Strava if it were discontinued, accusing Strava of hypocrisy regarding its claims to safeguard user data.

Currently, Garmin has yet to comment on the allegations or requests for statements. The company plans to hold a conference call for investors later this month, ahead of the Strava deadline on November 1st, so we can expect more information then.

What steps should runners take? Which side should they support in this clash?

If you head out for a run and it doesn’t appear on Strava or Garmin, remember, it truly took place. Log off, lace up, and reconnect with nature.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Should We Be Concerned About AI Developing Lethal Biological Weapons? Not Now, But Eventually.

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AI can be utilized to synthesize the toxin lysine, which is also sourced from castor beans found in many gardens.

American Photo Archives/Alamy

Artificial intelligence holds the potential to revolutionize biology, enhancing the development of advanced drugs, vaccines, and even synthetic organisms that can, for instance, consume waste plastic. Nonetheless, there are concerns about its potential misuse in creating biological weapons that might evade traditional detection methods until it is too late. So, what level of concern is warranted?

“AI advancements are catalyzing breakthroughs in biology and medicine,” states Eric Horvitz, Chief Science Officer at Microsoft. “With these new capabilities comes the responsibility to remain vigilant.”

His research team explored whether AI could be utilized to design proteins that mimic the functions of known hazardous proteins while being distinct enough to avoid detection as dangerous. The specific proteins they attempted to redesign were not disclosed, although some research details were withheld, including toxins such as lysine, infamous for its role in a 1978 assassination, and botulinum, a potent neurotoxin known as Botox.

Creating numerous proteins akin to Botulinum requires a blueprint—the DNA that encodes it. Typically, if biologists need a specific DNA sequence, they order it from specialized companies.

Due to anxieties about bioterrorism, the option to order recipes for biological weapons exists through this method. Some DNA synthesis companies have voluntarily implemented screening processes to detect potentially hazardous orders. Proteins are essentially sequences of amino acids, and the screening examines whether the amino acid sequences correspond to a “sequence of concern,” meaning a biological threat.


However, AI theoretically enables the design of protein versions with altered amino acid sequences that still perform the same functions. Horvitz and his colleagues applied this approach to 72 potentially hazardous proteins and found that existing screening methods frequently overlooked these alternative variations.

This isn’t entirely unexpected. For a variety of reasons, the team did not physically create the redesigned proteins. Additionally, in a previous study conducted earlier this year, they tested a redesigned version of a non-toxic protein and determined that it did not function as intended, as detailed in their findings.

Moreover, while bioterrorist attacks have occurred, the frequency is low, and there’s limited reason to attribute this to a failed voluntary screening system. Numerous methods to circumvent regulations exist without resorting to AI redesign. For example, lysine can be harvested from castor oil plants found in many gardens. This study serves as a cautionary tale that great sophistication is not required to exploit gaps in security—much like in a scene from Mission Impossible, when a vault door remains wide open.

Lastly, apart from government-sponsored actions, historical records show that bioterrorists have rarely leveraged protein-based biological weapons effectively. For instance, the Aum Shinrikyo cult attempted to employ Botulinum for mass harm but ultimately relied on chemical agents. Letters laced with lysin sent to the White House failed to result in any fatalities. Based on casualty statistics, firearms and explosives pose significantly greater risks than biological toxins.

Does this imply we should cease our concerns over AI-generated biological weapons? Not at all. While Horvitz’s research focused strictly on proteins, viruses present a substantial threat. AI is already being leveraged to redesign entire viruses.

Recently, a team from Stanford University unveiled their attempt to redesign a virus that infects bacteria like E. coli. Consistent with findings from the protein redesign efforts, the results were underwhelming with respect to E. coli, but this is merely the beginning.

In discussions regarding AI-created viruses, James Diggans from DNA manufacturer Twist Bioscience, a member of Horvitz’s team, remarked that detecting viruses encoded with DNA is generally easier than finding proteins of concern. “Synthetic screening functions best with abundant data. Therefore, at the genomic level, it proves exceedingly beneficial.”

Nevertheless, not all DNA manufacturers are conducting such screening, and desktop DNA synthesis options are now accessible to the public. There are narratives of developers allegedly refusing to create harmful viruses or attempting to discern malicious intentions, yet individuals have discovered numerous ways to circumvent safeguards against creating bioweapons.

To clarify, history indicates that the threat posed by “wild” viruses is significantly higher than that of bioterrorism. Contrary to assertions from the current U.S. administration, evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 emerged as a result of a bat virus crossing over to other wildlife.

Moreover, the act of becoming a bioterrorist could inflict massive damage by merely releasing known viruses such as naturally occurring pathogens. There are substantial gaps in the Bioweapon Control efforts, thus reducing the need to rely on advanced AI techniques.

For all of these reasons, the risk of AI-engineered viruses being deployed is likely minimal at present. However, this risk increases as various technologies continue to improve. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the chaos a new virus can unleash, even when it is not particularly harmful. Thus, there are justified reasons for concern.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Plague Returns: Should You Be Concerned?

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Earlier this week, health officials in Arizona reported a death due to pneumonia, specifically that Plague – responsible for decimating nearly half of Europe’s population during the 14th century, historically known as the Black Death.

At the same time, the US is grappling with its largest measles outbreak in 20 years, with over 1,300 cases confirmed according to the CDC.

The resurgence of numerous infectious diseases, once thought to be under control, raises important questions: how common is the reappearance of disease?

We consulted Professor Paul Hunter, a medical expert from the Norwich School of Medicine at UEA. He discusses the reasons for this resurgence of diseases, the alarming truth behind their persistence, and what it would take for society to face another catastrophic outbreak akin to the Black Death.

How normal is it for infectious diseases believed to be eradicated to return?

The real question is whether they ever truly disappeared. Many infectious diseases that were once common are still circulating and may resurge with vigor. On a global scale, we typically observe one or two significant outbreaks or reappearances annually.

For many of the classic infectious diseases that seem to be re-emerging, they likely never vanished entirely; rather, their reoccurrences can be more localized. For instance, cholera might flare up in areas that haven’t experienced outbreaks for decades.

Is it feasible to eradicate a disease completely?

In theory, it might be possible to eradicate certain diseases. Initially, I believed polio could be eradicated, but it doesn’t seem likely now. Generally, we don’t anticipate the complete eradication of most infectious diseases. While global control and management of infections is achievable, complete eradication remains nearly impossible.

In the case of polio, the vaccine was highly effective, public health initiatives were strong, and it was relatively easy to diagnose outbreaks swiftly.

Today’s landscape presents unique challenges. Many infectious agents can spread before individuals exhibit any symptoms. As demonstrated during the Covid pandemic, it’s nearly impossible to eradicate a disease when transmission is often undetectable.

Compounding this is the difficulty in managing outbreaks in conflict zones. While a vaccine for Ebola exists, controlling outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a challenge.

What triggers the return of diseases?

The primary factor is viral evolution. This is evident with the flu virus, which adapts over time. Occasionally, significant evolutionary changes lead to faster-spreading variants known as “escaped mutations,” as observed with various Covid variants.

Another factor is how diseases can be transmitted to humans. Some illnesses, like the plague, persist in nature. The “Silvatic plague” infects rodents, and environmental changes can lead to increased human contact with these animals.

In the US, sporadic plague cases have been noted among hunters or individuals who come close to rodent populations.

A major plague outbreak occurred in Madagascar decades ago, largely driven by environmental degradation that put humans in closer contact with infected rodents.

Climate change is also reshaping the distribution of many infectious diseases, introducing them to areas where they were previously uncommon. For instance, small outbreaks of dengue fever are beginning to appear along the Mediterranean coast, a region typically not associated with this disease due to warming temperatures.

A significant contributor to the resurgence of diseases is the decline in vaccination rates. This is particularly evident with the current measles situation in the UK.

I contracted measles as a child, and most people from my generation did as well. However, younger individuals may never have seen a case, leading to reduced urgency surrounding vaccination. When vaccination rates drop, diseases like measles can re-emerge.

What factors contribute to the resurgence of diseases like the bubonic plague?

In essence, there is little difference between modern and historical bacterial infections. The plague remains as virulent as ever, but due to antibiotics, it can be treated in ways that were not available in the Middle Ages.

While the plague remains a serious threat, proper treatment means that few should die from it today, even if infected.

Societal collapse occurs when these diseases become uncontrollable. This phenomenon has been observed in Madagascar, where conflicts, environmental degradation, and economic downturns led to closer interactions between humans and animals, facilitating disease transmission.

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Which infectious disease poses the greatest risk of resurfacing?

Cholera poses a significant threat in certain regions, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza. While cholera is not currently present in either conflict zone, should it appear, it could spread rapidly and result in devastating fatalities.

Currently, there is a cholera vaccine shortage, partly due to the shift in focus toward Covid vaccine production and pandemic disruptions, as well as the recent uptick in cholera infections.

Typically, there would be ample reserves of cholera vaccines, but stockpiles are now depleted, with any upcoming supply already allocated to high-risk countries.

Perhaps the most dangerous threat is the potential for another major flu pandemic, similar to the Spanish flu of 1918. While Covid primarily affected older individuals, the Spanish flu led to agonizing deaths, with severe pulmonary complications. It could cause higher mortality rates than many other infectious diseases.

Another concern is international travel, as evidenced by Covid. What other risks can come from overseas?

Travel poses significant risks, especially from antibiotic-resistant organisms, which some might consider emerging infectious diseases. These viruses have existed for some time but have now developed resistance to multiple treatment options.

Much of this issue arises from practices such as sex tourism, leading to the spread of drug-resistant sexually transmitted infections.

Medical tourism also contributes to this risk, as individuals traveling for affordable cosmetic or dental procedures might inadvertently foster the spread of these resistant strains.

Listen to our complete interview about instant geniuses.

About our expert

Professor Paul Hunter specializes in the epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases at the Norwich School of Medicine, University of East Anglia (UEA). His research focuses on diseases influenced by environmental factors and has been published in journals such as PLOS 1, Lancet Public Health, and British Medical Journal (BMJ).

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Sauropod Dinosaur’s Last Meal Shows He Wasn’t Concerned With Chewing

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Artistic depiction of Diamantinasaurus matildae, a 94 million-year-old sauropod dinosaur

Travis Tischler

The study of fossilized intestinal contents belonging to sauropod dinosaurs marks the first significant finding that confirms the largest terrestrial animals were high-fiber herbivores with minimal chewing behavior.

The specimen, known as Judy of the Diamantinasaurus matildae, was discovered in May 2017 in Winton, Queensland, Australia.

Shortly after Judy’s death around 94 to 100 million years ago, scavengers disturbed her remains; however, most of her body remained intact, including a calcified patch of skin. Notably, her preserved intestinal contents revealed a diverse range of plant matter.

Previously, paleontologists inferred the vegetarian diet of sauropods mainly from their skull and jaw structures, but lacked direct evidence regarding their dietary habits.

“It’s impressive to see Judy, as she may not conform to the typical characteristics we expect of other sauropods,” stated Stephen Polopat, part of the excavation and analysis team from Curtin University in Perth, Australia.

Measuring approximately 11 meters long with a 4-meter neck and a 3.3-meter tail, Judy was likely still a juvenile when she died. Her skin and intestinal samples will be displayed at the Australian-era Dinosaur Museum in Winton starting June 9.

“This gives us a clearer understanding of Judy’s overall size and form, aspects that previous Australian sauropod fossils have not illustrated,” he pointed out.

Polopat noted that her belly was “full” of plant material, emphasizing that it appeared the plants were simply ingested without much processing. “It’s not a matter of bloating in the mouth; it’s a case of cut and swallow.”

He suggested that the substantial plant matter present in Judy’s digestive tract likely facilitated the release of significant methane by the massive creature.

“Uncovering tangible evidence of extinct species like giant dinosaurs is always thrilling,” remarked John Long, who was not affiliated with the study, from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. “If all we had was a panda bear skull, we might assume their diet is similar to other bears’ — not solely bamboo.”

“Speculation has been common regarding these titanic beings’ plant-based diets. Now we know they consumed a variety of vegetation from various levels, including both ground and tree branches,” Long concluded.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Are We Overly Concerned About Misinformation in the Age of Technology?

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on On October 30, 1938, an American radio station aired a drama adaptation of HG Wells’ apocalyptic novel “War of the Worlds.” Some listeners were unable to differentiate between reality and fiction. Reports surfaced of panicked audiences mistaking it for breaking news. Academic research later estimated that over a million people thought they were witnessing an actual Mars invasion.

This incident highlights how misinformation can easily take root. Despite claims of mass panic, the reality is questioned. A national radio audience survey revealed that only 2% reported tuning into the broadcast, recognizing it as a work of fiction. Many attributed the panic to “The Play” or narrator Orson Wells rather than actual news reports. The confusion stemmed from listeners misinterpreting the drama as a real-life invasion.

Nearly a century later, misinformation remains a prominent issue. Headlines often report millions being exposed to false information online. A 2018 Gallup survey found that two-thirds of Americans encounter misinformation on social media. However, similar to the War of the Worlds broadcast, misinformation may not be as widespread as believed. Visits to reliable news sources increased significantly compared to unreliable ones during events like the Covid spread in spring 2020.

Complete misinformation may be more uncommon than assumed. Navigating between facts and fiction requires avoiding two errors. Believing in falsehoods or distrusting all information can both lead to challenges. Instead, finding ways to manage the risks associated with trusting information is crucial to discerning truth in the midst of a vast sea of data.

Rather than blindly accepting or rejecting information, we should develop tools to identify flawed assumptions and misinterpretations. Misinformation is not just about inaccurate facts but also about misinterpretations drawn from technically accurate information. We must equip individuals to discern distorted narratives, cherry-picked data, and hidden assumptions when navigating through the digital landscape.

Addressing false beliefs online requires more than labeling content as “misinformation.” It involves empowering individuals to critically assess and interpret information accurately. Striking a balance between trusting too much and distrusting everything is essential for combating false beliefs effectively in the digital age.

Adam Kucharski is a professor at the London School of Heig.Iene and Tropical Medicine, and authors Proof: The Uncertain Science of Certification (profile).

Read more

distrust: What makes reasonable people believe in irrational things by Dan Alleye (Heligo, £10.99)

An era of overthinking magic Amanda Montell (Atria, £10.99)

The art of uncertainty David Spiegelhalter: How to Navigate Chance, Ignorance, Risk, and Luck (Pelican, £12.99)

Source: www.theguardian.com

Should we be concerned about the fragments from the universe hitting Earth daily?

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Effectively zero. It may be attacked by the satellite that you fall.

Although the number of satellites in the orbit has risen in exponential functions, modern satellites have the ability to control the re -entry trajectory, and they are built from low -density materials to burn out as they fall into the atmosphere.

However, fragments in the universe are still reaching the ground. We use the rocket stage from the long March rocket in China as a recent example.

However, in the past 50 years, NASA has recorded average. One of the fragments of the universe that reaches the ground per day Currently, death or serious injury is not known.

One piece per day sounds like a lot, but at least three airplanes are dropped (mainly non -profit aircraft) in order to focus on it. 。

Being attacked by a piece of satellite is unlikely to be hit by a part of the crashed airplane -credit: Petrovich9

When the plane crashes, it usually remains in one piece until the moment of the impact, and is often full of fuel. As a result, the falling aircraft is much more fatal than a typical cosmic fragment. This may be part of a small titanium and carbon fiber panel.

There is no difference here for the extra altitude that the fragments of the universe have fallen. Falling from 300 km (about 186 miles) is the same as 10 km (6.2 miles) to reach the terminal speed long before hitting the ground.

Aircraft tend to fly near a dense population area, but spaceship is much more evenly distributed around the world. If everyone in the world goes out and spread, they cover only about 0.0002 % on the surface of the earth.

Therefore, even if the fragments of the fallen universe are fatal, they miss 99.9998 % and translate them into one death every 1 or 300 years.

This article is the answer to the question (asked by Charlie Bond by e -mail) “What is the possibility of a falling satellite?”

To send a question, please email questions@sciencefocus.com or send a message. Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Page (don’t forget to include your name and location).

For surprising science, see the ultimate fun fact page.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Other Techies in Silicon Valley are Concerned About the US Election Beyond Elon Musk

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The slogan “the personal is political” was influential in the 1960s, highlighting power dynamics in marriage. Today, a slogan like “technology is political” is equally relevant, showing how a few global corporations hold political sway in liberal democracies. Elon Musk’s recent appearance alongside Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally underscored technology’s prominent role in American politics. Despite Musk’s reluctance to tweet, his company provides internet to Ukrainian troops and his rocket was selected to land the next American on the moon.

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In the past, tech giants like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple flourished in a lenient political climate. Democratic governments overlooked technology’s influence, and antitrust regulators were hampered by legal restrictions. The University of Chicago Law School promoted the idea that corporate dominance was permissible unless it harmed consumers. However, recent regulatory actions led by the DOJ and FTC show a shift towards addressing tech monopolies like Google facing antitrust allegations.

The tech industry’s political awakening is evident in the substantial financial support crypto companies provide to political campaigns. Rather than aiming to sway election results, this money is directed towards influencing the composition of Congress. This contrasts with the tech pioneers of the past who shunned politics, highlighting the current intertwining of technology and politics.

John Norton is a Professor of Public Understanding of Technology at the Open University.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Should Parents be Concerned About Roblox Safety? Exploring the Risks of Pushing the Button

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RJust before last week's newsletter was published, a short selling firm called Hindenburg Research issued the following report. Highly critical report on Roblox. In it, they accuse public companies of inflating their metrics (and thus their valuations), and even more worryingly for the parents of the millions of children who use Roblox. He also called it a “pedophile's hellscape.'’ The report claims that there were some gruesome discoveries within the game. Researchers found chat rooms of people purporting to exchange images and videos of children, and users claiming to be children or teens offering such material in exchange for Robux, an in-game currency. I discovered it. roblox I strongly refuse The claims made by Hindenburg in his report.

For those unfamiliar with the title, Roblox is more of a platform than a game (or, as corporate communicators like to think of it, a metaverse). It claims 80 million daily users (though Hindenburg says this figure is inflated). Log in, customize your avatar, and from there you can dive into thousands of different “experiences” created by other users. From role-playing cities to pizza delivery mini-games to cops-and-robbers games to cops-and-robbers games and, unfortunately, much less, Public Bathroom Simulator (which the creators say was 12 years old before they realized bad people existed) It is a delicious dish that looks like the one that he made at the time of his death. Roblox games are created by players, so the site must be constantly moderated. The company's moderation team handles a huge amount of content every day.

It's important to recognize that Hindenburg has a vested interest in making Roblox a stock tank. Hindenburg has a short position in the company (meaning it stands to profit if the stock price falls). Several other companies I've seen their stocks crater after releasing a report on them. However, it is also possible to independently verify some of the claims made in the report. A very quick search of the platform reveals that these in-game chat groups that appear to be soliciting and trading images do indeed exist and are active. And the accounts with questionable usernames that reference child abuse and Jeffrey Epstein are genuine. Some of the specific games and accounts mentioned in Hindenburg's report last week have been removed by the company.

Roblox defended itself in a statement posted online, saying, “Every day, tens of millions of users of all ages have safe and positive experiences on Roblox, and we adhere to our community standards.” said. But any safety incident is terrifying. We take content and conduct that does not adhere to our standards on our platform very seriously. ” The company further added: “We are continually evolving and enhancing our safety approach to catch and prevent malicious and harmful activity, including text chat filters that block inappropriate words and phrases; , which includes disallowing image sharing between users on Roblox” (as further reported in this article in the Guardian).

If your kids are playing on a platform like Roblox, triple-check their settings. Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters

Of course, this isn't the first sensational report about Roblox. In recent years, articles in CNN, the Observer, Wired, and many other publications have found that there is a large amount of inappropriate content on the platform, and that child predators are There are also some proven cases of using Roblox for crafting. Last July, More from Bloomberg In one such case, a man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for grooming a minor and having her cross state lines to perform sex acts as part of a broader investigation into the platform's apparent flaws in moderation and child safety. He was sentenced in 2018.

Many parents are worried about what to do. Roblox is part of the daily online lives of millions of children, even if the figure of around 80 million daily users is inflated, as Hindenberg claims. Anyone who has children of school age knows that it is very widely used. Is Roblox dangerous for kids? Should they stop playing it immediately?

Despite everything presented in this and other reports over the past few years, I believe it is entirely possible for children to play Roblox safely. Appropriate parental controls are in place to limit or eliminate the extent to which strangers can contact your child. When used correctly. If I had kids playing Roblox, I'd be checking all of these settings over and over again to make sure the “friends list” feature was set to include only real-life friends. We also recommend supervising young children to minimize the likelihood that they will encounter or actually seek out the many inappropriate games that seem to regularly elude Roblox's management efforts. I'm very reluctant to let you play this game without it.

Basic online safety education is critical for all children who use the Internet. Given the multiple convictions of child predators who used Roblox to access children, it is impossible to deny the presence of pedophiles on the platform, but it is difficult to objectively assess the extent of it. It's difficult. Some of what Hindenburg highlights in his report seems to me more likely to be the product of an adolescent fringe master than an actual child predator. Roblox is full of teenagers who have grown up with the game. When you see 900 variations of the username Jeffrey Epstein, you don't necessarily see 900 active child abusers, you see 900 stupid 14-year-olds trying to be funny. .

Full disclosure: I don't let my kids play Roblox, and I have no intention of starting them. I don't believe that a publicly traded company can be trusted to put the interests and safety of children ahead of profits. Moderation is expensive and difficult. No one in the big tech industry is any closer to building a system to prevent harmful material from appearing on these types of open platforms, or to prevent people from exploiting harmful material for their own purposes. No. Legitimate safety concerns aside, rather than trying to squeeze money out of kids to pay for endless in-game cosmetics and “experiences,” it's simply better to serve kids' imaginations and curiosity. There are hundreds of great games.

Only offline games can completely eliminate this risk of children being exposed to inappropriate content. After just a few hours of exploring Roblox, one thing is abundantly clear. It's not hard to find something very problematic.

what to play

The wolf in the game Neva grows into a magnificent creature crowned with horns that protects you.

Neva, a game about a warrior and a she-wolf, surprised me. I've played so many beautiful, artistic indie platformers that it’s hard to find one that really makes me feel something. But there I was ugly crying in front of the TV after a few nights with Neva. It takes place over four seasons. The wolf starts out as a cub that you have to protect, but later grows into a magnificent creature with horns that can protect you. Use an elegant combination of jumps, double jumps, dashes, and strikes to explore an incredibly beautiful but horribly corrupt natural world and make multiple attempts to conquer the demons that poison it. Worth a few hours of anyone's life.

Available: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
Approximate play time: 3-4 hours

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The cause of the Alamo…Nintendo's new clock. Photo: Nintendo

  • On Friday, a group of people who worked on highly acclaimed psychology and political science research RPG Disco Elysium announced the creation of a new studio to work on the game's spiritual successor. Then, confusingly, another new studio was announced same thingThis time it comes with a trailer. And on the same day, a third group announced another spiritual successor. as one viral tweet “Disco Elysium splitting into three unions claiming succession is more of a commentary on communism than the game wanted.”

  • A premium book/magazine hybrid about video games. above, Released today. Guardian games correspondent Keith Stuart and I feature in issue one. Naturally, his article is about Sega arcade boards and mine is about Nintendo details.

  • game freakThe developer of Pokemon suffered a hack of almost unprecedented scale.: Details about unreleased Pokemon game and movie projects, employee information, source code, and details about the series' development. decades I'm there now.

  • To cap off a truly bizarre week of video game news: nintendo We have announced an alarm clock that watches over you while you are sleeping. It's called “Alarmo,” and it wakes you up with the not-so-gentle sounds of Mario, Splatoon, or Zelda, synchronized with your groggy morning movements. the available now For those willing to jump through a few hoops (and pay £90).

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Could novelists concerned about the rise of AI be deemed classist and ableist? | Alwa Mahdawi

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Think about artificial intelligence (AI) for a second. AI may not have emotions yet, but if it did, you’d be devastated by all the bad things people say about it. All it’s going to do is take our jobs and potentially destroy the world, yet people can’t stop being mean to it.

Evidence 1: A recent dispute with the organization behind National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), an annual challenge to write a manuscript in one month. In a recent statement, NaNoWriMo wrote that it does not explicitly endorse or condemn methods of writing “including the use of AI.” Furthermore, “a blanket condemnation of artificial intelligence carries classist and ableist overtones…Questions about the use of AI are linked to questions about privilege.”

Um… what is it? AI is Working class Or did someone in management create ChatGPT and use the rhetoric of social justice to encourage them to defend the technology? Accused The act of stealing from artists and writers (training yourself with their work without compensation) is now The rich are richerThis strange statement Full of anger Four members of NaNoWriMo’s writers committee resigned in protest. When she resigned, bestselling author Maureen Johnson Encouraged other writers “Be careful: your work on their platform will almost certainly be used to train an AI.”

NaNoWriMo attempts damage control. A statement was issued Last week, the group said that the original wording was unclear (not ideal for a writing group) and that the group “does not believe that people who have concerns about AI are classist or ableist.” But many writers still seem wary of both the group and AI.

That should be enough. I am by no means anti-AI. It is clearly inappropriate to categorically condemn anything (apart from things like genocide). I believe that, properly guided, AI can enhance human creativity and improve society for everyone. On the other hand, I think the future of AI is in the hands of sociopathic technocrats who put profit first. We are currently in a “choose your own adventure” scenario with AI, and now it seems we are choosing the dystopian ending.

Arwa Mahdawi is a columnist for the Guardian.

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Source: www.theguardian.com

Is “problematic smartphone use” something to be concerned about?

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Some young people are on their cell phones until late at night.

Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Two recent studies have linked “problematic smartphone use” among teenagers to increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia. But is this really a problem, and how much, if anything, should we be worried about?

What is ‘problematic smartphone use’?

Researchers in both studies defined smartphone use as “problematic” if people lose a sense of control over their use, become addicted to their device at the expense of meaningful activities, and feel stressed when they are unable to use it. Use becomes problematic when it interferes with work, school, or relationships. John Elhai The researcher, from the University of Toledo in Ohio, was not involved in either study.

“Problematic smartphone use” is not recognized as a diagnosable condition by public health agencies such as the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the UK’s National Health Service.

Two studies found links to certain conditions, and the researchers said further research is needed to confirm whether smartphone use could be causing such health problems. Nicolas Kalk Researchers at King’s College London were involved in both studies.

What did the two studies find?

In one study, Kalk and his colleagues surveyed the smartphone use of more than 650 young people between the ages of 16 and 18. They used a “smartphone addiction scale,” which asks, for example, whether smartphone use blurs your vision or makes you feel irritable when you’re not holding your phone. The scale produces a score between 10 and 60, with a score above 30 considered problematic.

Nineteen percent of participants met the definition of problematic smartphone use, and these people were twice as likely to report moderate anxiety symptoms and almost three times as likely to report moderate depressive symptoms compared to their peers.

On average, problematic smartphone users spent 29 more minutes per day on Instagram and 22 more minutes on TikTok than non-problematic smartphone users. There was no association between problematic smartphone use and other apps such as Snapchat or WhatsApp.

The research team took into account factors that could have influenced the results, such as the amount of time participants spent on their smartphones each day. [also] The impact of [general] “Screen time is protective against the effects of problematic smartphone use, and screen time is not associated with anxiety or depression, but problematic smartphone use is,” Kalk said.

In a second study, a different team looked at smartphone use and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in 69 young people aged 13 to 16. The researchers found that 44% of participants met the definition of problematic smartphone use, based on the same addiction scale.

When the research team resurveyed the 62 participants one month later, they found that increased severity of problematic smartphone use over that period was associated with greater symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Should you be worried about “problematic smartphone use”?

The studies are small and don’t prove that problematic smartphone use actually leads to poorer mental health in teenagers, he said. Sunny Shun Liu At Stanford University.

Kalk and Ben Carter Researchers from King’s College London who took part in both studies acknowledge that young people who are already experiencing these symptoms may be using their smartphones in more problematic ways than those without mental illness. “There may be a bidirectional link, but we don’t yet know if there is a causal relationship,” they said. Jay Olson At the University of Toronto, Canada.

For example, people with depression may be more likely to rely on their mobile phones than those without depression because they find comfort in communicating with loved ones, and people with insomnia may be more likely to turn to their mobile phones to stave off boredom in the middle of the night.

In the second study, participants who showed signs of problematic smartphone use were five times more likely to say they wanted to cut down on their device use than those without such use. The fact that these teens want to cut down on their phone use makes the results “both worrying and positive,” Carter said.

If you are worried, how can you cut down on your smartphone usage?

The first study found that 95% of people surveyed tried to limit their smartphone use: They said the most effective strategies were to occasionally put their devices on “do not disturb” mode, turn off notifications, and keep them in another room at bedtime.

Kalk said that rather than restricting teens’ cell phone use, parents and schools should talk to them about what aspects of smartphone use are beneficial and what aspects are harmful. For example, some teens reported that they enjoyed using their smartphones to stay in touch with loved ones, but also reported that smartphones were sometimes distracting.

topic:

  • mental health/
  • smartphone

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists are concerned after killer whale caught on video destroying a great white shark

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The ruler of the seas may appear black and white, but it’s not as simple as it seems. For years, great white sharks have been considered apex predators, but shocking new footage shows them feeding on their own kind. This is an event unlike anything we’ve seen before.

A video captured by tourists and scientists on a boat off the coast of Mossel Bay, South Africa was vital for scientific observations published in a recent study in the African Marine Science Journal. The footage revealed an unprecedented behavior of killer whales, showcasing their extraordinary abilities, according to the paper’s corresponding author, Dr. Alison Towner.

Witnesses on the boat watched as a juvenile great white shark, measuring 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), was attacked by a killer whale known as Starboard. The whale swiftly caught the shark by its left fin, thrusted it several times, and disemboweled it, likely targeting the shark’s liver for its rich nutrients. The entire attack lasted only two minutes, and the killer whale then revealed the shark’s entrails to the onlooking boats.

Subsequent research uncovered a second great white shark carcass nearby, measuring 3.6 meters (11.6 feet) in length.

In a previous study conducted in 2022, researchers found that killer whales can hunt great white sharks in pairs. By combining intelligence and strength, these whales can effectively surround and attack their prey. However, this recent attack marks the first time a killer whale has been observed hunting a great white shark alone.

This discovery not only enhances our understanding of killer whale behavior and marine ecosystems but also raises concerns among ecosystem scientists. There’s worry that if killer whales continue to prey on great whites, it could disrupt the food chain, allowing other predators to rise and challenge the great white sharks as the apex predators.

“Upon arriving at Seal Island in Mossel Bay, the smell of shark liver oil and an oil slick indicated a recent kill,” said a passenger on the boat named Esther Jacobs from the marine conservation initiative Keep Fin Alive.

“Seeing the fin of a great white shark break the water’s surface initially sparked excitement, but as the killer whale rapidly approached, it turned into a grim reality. The moment of predation was both devastating and incredibly powerful.”

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Concerned about AI voice fraud? Don’t worry, I have a guaranteed solution- Zoe Williams

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a A friend of mine was recently fooled by a fraudulent email purporting to be from her middle school daughter and transferred £100 into her account to cover a mysterious situation, which she described as a very time-sensitive and inconvenient event. That’s it.

You can imagine how the scammers managed to pull it off. Remember the everyday low-level anxiety of parents expecting bad news when their children are further away than the kitchen table? What’s more, the bad news story, which begins with a 19-year-old’s email saying, “I broke my phone,” is completely believable. All the scammer has to do is lean back.

Still, the story isn’t complete, as it neglects to ask basic questions like, “But if your phone is broken, why transfer money to someone else’s bank account?” , and for years afterward we called him a fool. He didn’t even call her number to see if he could talk to her. A 100-pound lighter was probably the best place to land. If someone tries to release his life savings, he will concentrate.

But what happens when you hear your child begging for money just like you? Who has strong enough defenses to withstand voice cloning? Members of Stop Scams UK tried to explain this to me last year. Scammers can extract the child’s voice from her TikTok account. Then all they have to do is find the parent’s phone number. I thought I had gotten the wrong end of the stick and had to piece together the message from recorded words available on social media. Good luck getting some soccer tips and some believable havoc from K-Pop, I thought. When it comes to AI, he didn’t think for 10 seconds about whether it could infer speech patterns from samples. In fact, it’s possible.

I think it’s still pretty easy to get around. Kid Machine is seeking urgent assistance. You say, “Precious and perfect being, I love you with all my heart.” Kid Machine will surely reply, “I love you too.” Why can’t we do that? A real child would claim to have been sick in the mouth. You can’t build an algorithm for this.

Zoe Williams is a columnist for the Guardian



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Source: www.theguardian.com