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That's because a subsidy that helps people with limited resources afford internet access is set to expire this spring. If the program expires, participating families, including nearly 900,000 in North Carolina, will either lose internet access or have to pay more to stay connected. Most of that money will be awarded to internet providers to build internet infrastructure in areas that need it most. Several states incorporated the ACP subsidies into those draft plans in ways that would lower the cost for internet access to zero for some customers. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Persons: Joe Biden, ” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, “, Shirleen Alexander of Charlotte, ”, Alexander, Biden, Franklin Roosevelt, Brian Vo, ” Vo, Nate Denny, he's “, ” Denny, Denny, Gina Raimondo, ” Cooper, ___ Organizations: ANGELES, Program, ” North, ” North Carolina Governor, Democrat, Administration, New, ”, Connect, Biden, Federal Communications Commission, Sense Media, Boston Consulting, Broadband Equity, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: North Carolina, U.S, ”, ” North Carolina, America, Raleigh

Here are some tips on staying safe, communicating and setting limits on social media — for kids as well as their parents. “There is not necessarily a magical age,” said Christine Elgersma, a social media expert at the nonprofit Common Sense Media. Some tech executives, celebrities such as Jennifer Garner and parents from all walks of life have resorted to banning their kids from social media altogether. Watch a documentary like “The Social Dilemma” that explores algorithms, dark patterns and dopamine feedback cycles of social media. Social media platforms that cater to children have added an ever-growing array of parental controls as they face increasing scrutiny over child safety.

Persons: it’s, —, ’, ”, Christine Elgersma, Elgersma, Jennifer Garner, Jean Rogers, “ That’s, ” Rogers, Rogers, “, Meta, Instagram, Vivek Murthy Organizations: Republican, Democratic, IF, LAW, Companies, “, Facebook, U.S

☆ Congress hasn’t been able to make social media safer. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This has been true since the early 2010s, when tech companies began realizing the benefits of influencing policymakers on issues including net neutrality and privacy. This week, Microsoft announced its support for the Kids Online Safety Act, a leading social media bill. Even when lawmakers can agree on what the problem is, they often disagree on how to solve it, creating a smorgasbord of half a dozen or more social media bills floating around Congress. That would be a huge down payment on a future social media law, said Balkam. But even that proposal is still subject to many of the same dynamics that make social media regulation hard.

Persons: Washington CNN —, ”, Danny Weiss, Ben Thompson, Adam Kovacevich, “ That’s, hasn’t, Republican stonewalling, Weiss, Kovacevich, ” Kovacevich, I’m, ” Weiss, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Schumer, Nancy Pelosi’s, “, Johnson didn’t, Evan Greer Organizations: Washington CNN, Big Tech, Tech, Sense, Microsoft, Kids, LinkedIn, of, Republican, CNN Locations: Washington, United States

☆ Why was a revolting YouTube video of a purported decapitated head left online for hours?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —A disturbing video of a man holding what he claimed was his father’s decapitated head circulated for hours on YouTube. The incident is one of countless examples of gruesome and often horrifying content that circulates on social media with no filter. The horrifying decapitation video was published hours before major tech CEOs are headed to Capitol Hill for a hearing on child safety and social media. Our teams are closely tracking to remove any re-uploads of the video.”But online platforms are having difficulty keeping up. Advocates say that tech platforms can no longer be left to self-regulate.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Sundar Pichai, Justin Mohn’s, they’re, Elon Musk, YouTube haven’t, they’ve, ”, Josh Golin, James Steyer, Steyer Organizations: New, New York CNN, Facebook, Capitol, YouTube, Elon, Amazon, Microsoft, Big Tech Locations: New York

☆ OpenAI is working on AI education and safety initiative with Common Sense media
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

OpenAI said Monday that it's partnering with Common Sense Media on an initiative designed to help teens understand how to use artificial intelligence in a safe manner. Common Sense, a nonprofit focused on making technology safe and accessible to kids, has been working to develop an AI ratings and review system intended for parents, children and educators to better understand the technology's risks and benefits. In September, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the Craigslist founder's philanthropic arm, said it contributed $3 million to help fund a Common Sense artificial intelligence and education initiative. OpenAI and Common Sense didn't say how LLMs will be tweaked to help aid educators or teens. Altman said LLMs customized for educational purposes could help teens "who want to learn about science or learn about biology."

Persons: Sam Altman, OpenAI, Jim Steyer, Altman, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Newmark Organizations: Economic, Media, Craigslist, CNBC, Microsoft Locations: Davos, Switzerland, San Francisco

☆ Today’s Teenagers: Anxious About Their Futures and Disillusioned by Politicians
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Claire Cain Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Although it has never been easy to be a teenager, the current generation of young Americans feels particularly apprehensive, new polling shows — anxious about their lives, disillusioned about the direction of the country and pessimistic about their futures. Just one-third of respondents ages 12 to 17 said things were going well for children and teenagers today, in a survey published Monday by Common Sense Media, a children’s advocacy group. Less than half said they thought they would be better off than their parents when they grew up — a downbeat view shared among teenagers in many rich countries, other data shows. Members of Gen Z, ages 12 to 27, are significantly less likely to rate their current and future lives highly than millennials were when they were the same age, it found. That is a large decline from both 2013 and 2003, when just over half said so.

Persons: It’s, Gen Organizations: Sense, Gallup, Walton Family Foundation

☆ Meta is begging the government for new rules on age verification. But is it really trying to stick it to TikTok?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Meta published a blog inviting legislation that would require parental approval to download apps. But preventing teens from getting apps would likely hurt TikTok more than it would Meta. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . For starters, making it harder for 13-to-16 year olds to download social apps would probably hurt TikTok far more than it would Meta. Although Meta's apps are somewhat rebounding, the chokehold TikTok has on younger kids compared to Meta is stark.

Persons: Meta, —, Mark Zuckerberg's, Antigone Davis, TikTok, Meta's, Mark Zuckerberg, it's, We've, Faith Eischen, we're, Danny Weiss, Weiss Organizations: Meta, Service, Facebook, Google, Apple, Media Locations: China, New York, California, Massachusetts

☆ Want to raise happy, successful kids? ‘Wait as long as possible’ to give them a phone, says Yale expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

There's only one correct answer if you want them to lead happier, more successful lives, says Yale University psychology professor Laurie Santos: "Wait as long as possible." This is likely to encourage poor mental health — in ways that affect kids differently than adults — and distractions in the classroom, Santos says. Social media use exposes many kids to cyberbullying, hate speech and discrimination, Make It reported in May. "These are brains that are forming and trying to pay attention in school [while their phones are going] ding, ding, ding." "They're not going to want to do as you say, they're going to want to do as you do," Santos says.

Persons: Laurie Santos, Santos, Michael Robb, They're Organizations: Yale University, CNBC, Media, Global

☆ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is giving schools supplemental material to combat 'misinformation and prejudice' about the Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Greg Abbott announced he will give schools material to combat prejudice against Jews. It's too early to tell if hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim people have risen, but hate crimes did increase in the US last year. Greg Abbott is encouraging schools to use curriculum resources from the state about the war between Israel and Hamas. In retaliation, Israel declared a state of war against Hamas and has carried out air strikes that have killed more than 3,000 Palestinians. It's too early to tell if hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim people have risen since the outbreak of war, but hate crimes did generally increase in the United States last year, the outlet reported.

Persons: Greg Abbott, It's, —, Abbott, Jonathan Greenblatt Organizations: Texas Gov, Jewish, Service, Hamas, Defamation League, Sense Media, Associated Press, of Locations: Israel, Texas, Palestine, Gaza, Illinois, United States, of North America

It's become a popular way to send notes to friends without having to type long messages, especially among Gen Z. Not only is using a digital camera nostalgic, they have sharper flash and crisper image quality than a smartphone. As a result, some members of Gen Z are turning to flip phones. In other words, flip phones are helping Gen Z unplug without going entirely off the grid. Dark modeZoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Gen Z uses dark mode instead of light mode.

Persons: Daniel de la, Gen Z's, It's, Gen Z, WhatsApp, Emojis, Z, Gen, Jake Piazza, Zoomers Organizations: Pew Research Center, CNBC, Photodisc, Getty, Media, Walmart, Amazon Locations: TikTok

☆ Teens spend nearly 2 hours a day on TikTok — and barely look at Facebook, a new study says. See how other apps stack up.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Haley Tenore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Kids 11 to 17 love certain apps, a new study says: They spend nearly two hours a day on TikTok. But Facebook has fallen out of favor with the younger set, with only a minute of screen time daily. The median time each day spent on TikTok by the teens who use the app? Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization that focuses on media literacy and safety for children. AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to Common Sense Media, kids may prefer TikTok over text-based apps like X, formerly Twitter, because users don't need to read or type.

Persons: —, TikTok, Mott, They'd Organizations: Facebook, Service, YouTube, Sense, University of Michigan, Mott Children's, Netflix, Media, Apple, Sense Media

☆ Teens get hundreds of phone alerts per day, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Teens get as many as 237 or more notifications each day on their smartphones, according to a new report. But some teens used their phones for more than six hours during that time. … This research bears itself out 100%,” said John Duffy, a Chicago-based psychologist who wasn’t involved in the report, via email. “When I lost my phone … I didn’t have a phone for a week, and that week was amazing. Adults could do more to help teens and children develop healthier habits for phone use, experts said.

Persons: ”, Jenny Radesky, Mott, shouldn’t, “, John Duffy, wasn’t, ” Duffy, James P, Steyer, ” Steyer, Neha Chaudhary Organizations: CNN —, University of Michigan, Mott Children’s Hospital, American Academy of Pediatrics ’, Excellence, Social Media, Mental Health, Advisory Council, Council, CNN, Media, Massachusetts General Hospital, Modern Health Locations: Chicago, Massachusetts

☆ Craigslist founder Craig Newmark is pouring millions of dollars into combating AI's dark side
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Since the 2015 debut of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the entrepreneur has donated many millions of dollars to various causes involving media and technology. Newmark, 70, spoke to CNBC as he was recovering from a minor heart procedure he went through in late August. At the same time, he's worried that tech companies, particularly in social media, "aren't even trying anymore to get rid of stuff they know is dishonest," he said. "Protecting kids when it comes to AI is a big issue," Newmark said, regarding his donation to Common Sense Media. Within journalism, Newmark's most high-profile endeavor is the City University of New York's Craig Newmark Graduate School in Journalism.

Persons: Craig Newmark, Everard Craig Newmark, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Newmark, he's, aren't, I've, Rather, Jim Jordan, I'm, City University of New York's Craig, Julia Angwin, she'd, Sue Gardner, algorithmically, Thilina, doesn't, " Newmark, that's Organizations: Craigslist, LinkedIn, Facebook, Sense Media, CNBC, Tech, Meta, Twitter, Sense, Knight Foundation, Ford Foundation, City University of New, City University of New York's Craig Newmark Graduate School, Journalism, CUNY, Nurphoto Locations: San Francisco, New York, Ohio

☆ An Iowa school district asked ChatGPT if a list of books contains sex scenes, and banned them if it said yes. We put the system to the test and found a bunch of problems.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An Iowa school district asked ChatGPT if a list of books "contain a description or depiction of a sex act." In an effort to decide what books to ban from school libraries, an Iowa school district asked ChatGPT whether a list of books contained a description or depiction of an explicit act. When ChatGPT replied that 19 books did indeed contain such scenes, the school district banned 19 books, various news outlets reported this week. We asked ChatGPT the same question three times, and it gave us three very different answers. Of the 19 books removed by the Mason City school district, 17 have been reviewed by age-rating nonprofit Common Sense Media.

Persons: ChatGPT, That's, Exman, Mason, Mr Griffin, Kai Xiang Teo, Kai Xiang Teo ChatGPT, John, OpenAI Organizations: Mason City Community Schools District, Popular Science, Engadget, Mason, Mason City School District Locations: Iowa, Mason, Alaska, America, Mason City

☆ More than 20 million Americans enrolled in a federal program for subsidized internet access
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —More than 20 million US households are now receiving discounts on internet service as part of a federal program created to close the digital divide, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Recipients living on tribal lands can receive even more, up to $75 per month to help cover internet access costs. Then, this February, Vice President Kamala Harris announced the figure had grown to more than 16 million households saving a total of $500 million a month on internet service. The program has continued to gain more than half a million new households a month since then. The ACP isn’t the only way the US government has recently moved to expand internet access.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Kamala Harris, ”, Jessica Rosenworcel Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Communications Commission, Program, SNAP, Pell, FCC, ACP, Commerce Department, Broadband Equity Locations: United States

☆ Amid Sextortion’s Rise, Computer Scientists Tap A.I. to Identify Risky Apps
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Tripp Mickle | More About Tripp Mickle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“There are reviews out there that talk about the type of dangerous behavior that occurs, but those reviews are drowned out,” Mr. Levine said. “You can’t find them.”Predators are increasingly weaponizing apps and online services to collect explicit images. Because Apple’s and Google’s app stores don’t offer keyword searches, Mr. Levine said, it can be difficult for parents to find warnings of inappropriate sexual conduct. He doesn’t plan to profit off the site but is encouraging donations to the University of Massachusetts to offset its costs. Mr. Levine and a dozen computer scientists investigated the number of reviews that warned of child sexual abuse across more than 550 social networking apps distributed by Apple and Google.

Persons: ” Mr, Levine Organizations: ” Predators, University of Massachusetts, Apple, Google

☆ Leading AI companies commit to outside testing of AI systems and other safety commitments
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Microsoft, Google and other leading artificial intelligence companies committed Friday to put new AI systems through outside testing before they are publicly released and to clearly label AI-generated content, the White House announced. President Joe Biden will meet with top executives from all seven companies at the White House on Friday. The White House also sought input from non-industry AI safety and ethics experts. In the meantime, White House officials say the companies will “immediately” begin implementing the voluntary commitments and hope other companies sign on in the future. And they may choose – and we would welcome them choosing – joining these commitments,” a White House official said.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Bruce Reed, we’ve, Reed, “, James Steyer, –, ” Reed, Biden, Kamala Harris, readying Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, Google, White House, White, House, Media, Capitol Locations: cybersecurity

☆ Biden to meet with A.I. experts in San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden will meet with with artificial intelligence experts in San Francisco on Tuesday as the U.S. government continues to grapple with how best to regulate the technology, according to a White House official. Biden is expected to meet with eight experts involved in researching AI or advocating on its potential impacts. The issue has generated a lot of discussion in the Biden administration, with White House principals meeting to discuss AI two to three times a week, according to a White House official. In May, Vice President Kamala Harris hosted executives in the AI space, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Biden is also expected to fundraise for his 2024 reelection campaign during his visit out West, according to The Associated Press.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Tristan Harris, Jim Steyer, Joy Buolamwin, Sal Khan, Kamala Harris, Sam Altman, Sundar Pichai, Altman, fundraise, Emma Kinery Organizations: League of Conservation, White, Center for Humane Technology, Media, Khan Academy, Google, Associated Press Locations: Washington ,, San Francisco, Washington

☆ Social media is driving teen mental health crisis, surgeon general warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Erika Edwards | Hallie Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The report, released Tuesday, calls attention to growing concerns about the effects of social media use on children and adolescent's mental health. The advisory urges policymakers and the companies that make the social media platforms to share with parents the burden of managing children's and adolescents' social media use. About a third say they're scrolling, posting or otherwise engaged with social media "almost constantly." The surgeon general's report also blamed social media for perpetuating eating disorders, body dysmorphia and low self-esteem. Twenge said social media can affect mental health in a variety of ways.

Persons: Vivek Murthy, Murthy, Jim Steyer, Jean Twenge, Gen X, Silents, Twenge, that's Organizations: Media, Pew Research Center, San Diego State University

☆ AI could hit children 'like a freight train' warns the boss of a children's non-profit advocacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AI technology going to be a "huge issue" in kids' lives, the boss of a children's non-profit advocacy told CNN. Jim Steyer told the network that AI will transform education for children. Parents need to get comfortable with AI platforms to manage their use in their kids' lives. "ChatGPT and AI is coming down the tracks like a freight train. It's going to be a huge issue in our kids' lives," Steyer told CNN on May 10.

☆ Check out the 16-slide deck Rebel Girls used to raise $8 million to expand its empowerment-focused storytelling to TV, film, and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rebel Girls is a certified B Corp focused on empowering girls through inspiring content. Rebel Girls is a media company that started in 2016 with a mission to empower girls through inspiring, women-focused content. "It used to be if there was a female protagonist, she'd use magic — and the female protagonist was considered just for girls," Rebel Girls CEO Jes Wolfe told Insider. Rebel Girls' content strategy is to show up everywhere girls are, online and offline. Scroll down to read the pitch deck Rebel Girls used to raise its Series A.

☆ Lawmakers update Kids Online Safety Act to address potential harms, but fail to appease some activists, industry groups
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Late last year, dozens of civil society groups warned Congress against passing the bill, warning it could further endanger young internet users in different ways. Blumenthal's office said it did not believe the duty of care would have applied to those sorts of groups, but opted to clarify it regardless. Moreover, parental guidance in minors' online lives is critical, but KOSA would mandate surveillance tools without regard to minors' home situations or safety. The bill also faced criticism from several groups that receive funding from the tech industry. "Protecting young people online is a broadly shared goal.

☆ Samsung exec says he wouldn't give a smartphone to his daughter until she was 11
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

More than two-fifths (42%) of children have their own phone by age 10. A top exec at South Korean tech giant Samsung said he did not give his daughter her own smartphone before she turned 11 years old. "From my personal perspective, my daughter got a smartphone when she was 11," James Kitto, vice president head of the MX Division for the U.K. and Ireland, told the BBC's "Today" radio show Friday. "I personally wouldn't have given her one early, but it is a parental decision as to when you should get your child a phone," he said. "The current evidence doesn't support a specific age at which a smartphone is or is not recommended," Morena told CNBC.

☆ How the Supreme Court could soon change free speech on the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +19 min

Musk's actions since closing the deal last year have illuminated how he sees the balance internet platforms must strike in protecting free expression versus user safety. The Supreme Court has yet to decide if or when to hear the cases, though many expect it will take them up at some point. The Age-Appropriate Design Code requires internet platforms that are likely to be accessed by kids to mitigate risks to those users. Google said such a change would also make the internet less safe and less hospitable to free expression. The Supreme Court of the United States building are seen in Washington D.C., United States on December 28, 2022.

☆ Instagram just released 'Quiet Mode' — its own version of 'Do not disturb'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Instagram unveiled new features for users to manage their time and preferences on Thursday. "Quiet Mode" is intended to help those who are driving or studying. On Thursday, Instagram revealed a new feature called "Quiet Mode" which is now available to users in the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. While the feature is available to users of any age, Instagram will prompt teenagers who spend too much time on the app to enable Quiet Mode at night. Features like "Quiet Mode" show that the increase hasn't gone unnoticed by platforms like Instagram— which is the most popular app among 18-24 year olds, according to TechCrunch's review of a study by Data.ai.

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