young people

Some of the most affluent areas of England have seen the sharpest rises in the proportion of young people claiming disability benefits for ADHD and autism, according to a Guardian report. The findings are prompting debate about diagnosis rates, access to assessments and the pressures driving benefit claims among young adults.

A Guardian documentary follows Max, a 14-year-old struggling with climate anxiety, as he writes letters to imprisoned climate activists in search of hope. Through the correspondence, he explores the human stories behind direct action and why so many climate protesters have served prison time, offering a personal look at the emotional toll of activism on young people.

A new study from Norwegian researchers reports that users aged 9 to 18 are increasingly turning to AI chatbots instead of Google for information and answers. The research warns that the consequences of this shift — for learning, fact-checking and how young people judge source reliability — remain largely unknown. Commenters are debating whether AI answers are worse for children than search results, or simply a new norm.

A new survey finds that 8 in 10 people aged 16 to 34 say smartphone use harms their everyday life, according to Dutch news outlet NL Times. The finding highlights growing concern among young adults themselves about the impact of constant phone use on sleep, focus and social life, and feeds into wider debate over digital wellbeing and possible limits on screen time.

India has proposed banning the sale of junk food in school canteens and within 50 meters of school premises, a measure aimed at curbing rising obesity and diabetes rates among children. The move signals a stricter government approach to children's diets and public health, and is drawing attention to how food sold near schools contributes to lifestyle diseases in young people.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has suffered an injury that, according to The Washington Post, could reshape the franchise's trajectory for years to come. Commentators are weighing how a prolonged absence for the young star might affect the team's season, its playoff hopes, and the long-term development plan built around him.

Venture investors Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen are funding a new academy positioned as an alternative to traditional college, according to the Wall Street Journal. The initiative taps into ongoing debate over the value and cost of higher education, with backers from Silicon Valley supporting new pathways for young people into tech careers.

A growing debate is underway about why Gen Z shows signs of political apathy and what role universities should play in encouraging civic engagement. Commentators point to disaffection with institutions and barriers to participation among young voters, arguing that colleges can counter this through civic education, campus programming and opportunities for students to practise democratic involvement. The question of how to re-engage young people in politics is drawing attention from educators and civic organisations alike.