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on a trip to Costa Rica when they decided to go for a swim in a river. Little did they know, heavy rains upstream were causing the water levels to rise rapidly. In the video, you can see the teens realizing the danger they are in as the water swiftly surrounds them. They quickly try to scramble to higher ground as the current becomes stronger and more unpredictable. Thanks to some quick thinking and teamwork, the teens were able to make it to safety just in time. This serves as a reminder of the importance of being aware of your surroundings and the potential dangers when exploring new areas. The video is a heartstopping reminder of the...... Read Full article on HadNews

There is currently a bipartisan push from state and federal governments to introduce laws in Australia banning young people under 16 from accessing social media platforms. Politicians are citing fears that minors are exposed to harmful or inappropriate content online. The proposed reform has been accompanied by federal government plans to pilot “age assurance” technologies. Proposed tools for age verification range from uploading ID documents to the use of biometric face-scanning technologies. Most of these methods are fraught with problems, including privacy risks. Research from overseas has already raised concerns about the potenti...... Read Full article on HadNews

Instagram is taking significant steps to stop the receiving and sending of nude images to teens by announcing plans to automatically detect and blur explicit photos through its DM (direct messaging) service. The function is expected to be tested in the coming weeks to be rolled out across the globe in the next few months, reports the Wall Street Journal. It’s the latest move from parent company Meta to fight harmful content on its platforms directed at minors. In January the social media giant behind Facebook and Instagram, implemented DM restrictions to curtail adults being able to message under 18s. The latest plan aims to discourage ...... Read Full article on HadNews

Two teens were arrested in Melbourne last month after horrific video footage of them pushing an unsuspecting elderly fisherman off a pier went viral. The “prank” appeared to have been undertaken and filmed for the purpose of social media content. The man had to be rescued by good samaritans and the teens have been charged. Soon after this, a schoolboy made headlines after being filmed on a footbridge pouring a whole bottle of milk on women enjoying a boat ride on Melbourne’s Yarra River. It is easy to explain this behaviour away as poor parenting, problem children or with the old rationale that “kids will be kids”. But we can bett...... Read Full article on HadNews

How does time spent online, and especially social media, affect the brains and behaviours of children and youth? Social media platforms are seemingly designed to capture the attention of users and produce habitual checking of apps and notifications. In recent years, our lives have become increasingly dominated by social media, either as a source of information, entertainment, or just a way to connect with others. In Canada alone, more than 30 million social media accounts are currently registered, with teenagers one of the highest user groups. During the COVID-19 pandemic, young people were drastically affected by the sudden shift ...... Read Full article on HadNews