teenagers

A new essay published by MIT Press Reader argues that laws banning teenagers from social media are misdirected, and that the focus on age restrictions distracts from deeper problems with how social media platforms are designed and operated. The piece questions whether outright bans protect young people, or simply treat symptoms while leaving the underlying incentives of attention-driven platforms untouched.

A former schoolfriend of Shamima Begum, the British woman who left London as a teenager to join Islamic State in Syria, has been arrested in connection with suspected terrorism offences. The arrest, reported by The Observer, renews attention on the Bethnal Green Academy circle that travelled to Syria in 2015 and on how authorities handle returning associates years later.

A new CDC report indicates that sadness among teenagers is falling, at a time when claims that social media is driving a youth mental health crisis have reached a peak. Commentators argue the findings undercut the narrative linking teen distress to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and the news is being shared widely in debates over proposed restrictions on social media for minors.

A survey reported by Mashable indicates that teenagers favor iPhones over Android devices and Instagram over Snapchat when it comes to their phones and social media habits. The findings reinforce Apple's strong grip on the youth market, where owning an iPhone is often seen as a status symbol, while Instagram remains the dominant platform for teen social sharing.

Switzerland is launching National Research Programme 85, dedicated to the mental health of adolescents. The programme will fund research into the causes, prevention and treatment of mental health problems among young people. Organisations and researchers in the field are drawing attention to the new funding opportunity, which comes amid growing concern over rising psychological distress in teenagers.

Lamine Yamal delivered a standout performance as Spain came from behind to beat England 3-2 in their opening Nations League match. The 17-year-old winger was central to Spain's comeback, drawing praise from fans and pundits alike, while England were left to rue letting a lead slip in a dramatic contest.

Singapore sprinter Shanti Pereira is aiming to reach the women's 200m final at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya 2026, where she is expected to face China's teenage sprinting sensation Chen Yujie. The matchup is being billed as a potential historic final for Southeast Asian sprinting, with Pereira among the region's most prominent athletes ahead of the Games.

TikTok has reached an agreement with Alabama, days before a scheduled trial, under which it must implement changes for teenagers in the state. These include a two-hour daily time limit, pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use, and stricter age verification checks. The deal is drawing attention as part of wider US scrutiny of social media's effects on young users, with some questioning why parents cannot set the limits themselves.

Police in Halawa, Hawaii, have taken a suspect into custody in connection with the shooting of a teenager. The arrest marks a development in the investigation into the incident, which wounded a teen in the Halawa area. Further details about the suspect's identity, charges, and the victim's condition have not been released as the case proceeds.

Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with three separate murders, according to Houston news outlet Click2Houston. Details about the victims, the locations of the killings, or the suspects' identities have not been released. The arrests link each teen to a distinct homicide case rather than a single incident.

News outlets in Australia, including the Geelong Advertiser and the Advertiser in Adelaide, are running a story headlined 'Teach them where to run: The grim reality facing teens in their first jobs'. The piece addresses the difficulties and dangers teenagers can encounter in early employment, urging parents to prepare their children for workplace situations.

NewsNation reports that AI chatbots are facing a new safety test as growing numbers of teenagers turn to them for companionship. The rise of bots designed for conversation and emotional connection is raising questions about safeguards, age limits, and the risks of young users forming attachments to artificial companions.

The United States men's national team are taking on Peru, and attention is on the lineup. Coach Mauricio Pochettino is blending youth and experience, with teenager Julian Hall expected to get a chance and Gio Reyna stepping into a prominent role. Fans in the US, UK, India, Canada, Singapore and the Netherlands are following the match and debating the squad choices.

Alabama teenagers are set to receive their own version of TikTok as part of a sweeping $100 million deal, according to Fox Business. Details about who is funding the initiative, what the app will offer, and how it will differ from the popular short-video platform have not been disclosed, but the announcement is drawing attention as states weigh responses to TikTok's prominence among young users.