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Screen time stories

UK parents worry children turn to AI for companionship
Generative AI

UK parents worry children turn to AI for companionship

More than a third of UK parents say children are using AI for conversation or emotional support, raising fears over online safety.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last month
Gamma backs Rebel Telecom's child-safe mobile model
Social Media

Gamma backs Rebel Telecom's child-safe mobile model

Pressure is mounting for child-focused smartphone options as Rebel Telecom takes its pitch to Parliament amid tighter online safety proposals.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last month
ZYMIX uses Henley event to pitch social app to Gen Z
Social Media

ZYMIX uses Henley event to pitch social app to Gen Z

Its small survey suggests heavy social media use is leaving many Gen Z users feeling less connected offline, sharpening pressure on platforms.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
UK social media ban forces youth influencer rethink
YouTube

UK social media ban forces youth influencer rethink

Planned restrictions could strip £1.3 billion from UK digital ad spend in 2027 as brands lose easy access to under-16s online.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Last month
EE survey says connected toys dominate UK children's play
Gaming

EE survey says connected toys dominate UK children's play

Parents are increasingly uneasy as connected devices become a staple of play, with many hiding WiFi toys or limiting use to restore balance.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last month
BSI urges existing age standard for social media ban
Data Protection

BSI urges existing age standard for social media ban

Adopting an existing age assurance standard could let ministers enforce under-16 social media limits without forcing children to hand over extra data.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Wed, 24th Jun 2026

Global Stories

Screen time stories

Hands-on review: Google Fitbit Air
Wearables

Hands-on review: Google Fitbit Air

At NZD $239, the screenless tracker offers accurate health monitoring and multi-day battery life for users seeking fewer distractions.

By Tom Richmond • 5 min read • Last month
Glance launches interactive global TV viewing report
Partner Programmes

Glance launches interactive global TV viewing report

Global TV viewing slipped slightly last year as Glance put data from more than 100 territories into a new interactive dashboard.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Last month
Meta expands teen content safeguards across its apps
Data Protection

Meta expands teen content safeguards across its apps

Teens on Meta's apps will see less mature material by default as the firm tightens age-based controls after years of child-safety scrutiny.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 9th Jun 2026
Apple unveils child safety tools for parents & kids
Data Privacy

Apple unveils child safety tools for parents & kids

Parents will soon get tighter controls over apps, websites and contacts as Apple adds age-based safeguards to its devices.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Tue, 9th Jun 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Screen time stories

OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT for Teens with safety in Australia
Data Protection

OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT for Teens with safety in Australia

Teen users in Australia will now default to a safer ChatGPT with study tools, parental controls and tighter limits on sensitive content.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last week
TrendLife launches Kaleida AI companion for families
Software-as-a-Service

TrendLife launches Kaleida AI companion for families

Parents worried about privacy and scams may get separate AI profiles, while TrendLife tests a new family-focused subscription starting at AU$16.50 a month.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last week
Hands-on review: Apple Watch For Your Kids - Affordable phone substitute
Data Privacy

Hands-on review: Apple Watch For Your Kids - Affordable phone substitute

Children can stay connected without the need to purchase a more expensive smartphone, with a range of parental controls available on Apple Watch SE 3.

By David Shilovsky • 3 min read • Last month
New Zealand parents worry kids can't spot AI fakes
Gaming

New Zealand parents worry kids can't spot AI fakes

Many parents are unsure their children can tell AI-generated fakes from real content, with concerns also rising over grooming and sextortion.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Last month
Bon Charge launches month-long sale on wellness tech
eCommerce

Bon Charge launches month-long sale on wellness tech

Younger Australians are driving demand for wellness devices as the Sydney brand offers 30% off in a one-day flash sale and 25% for a month.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Last month
Meta opens Singapore exhibit on teen online safety
Facebook

Meta opens Singapore exhibit on teen online safety

Teen users in Singapore will face tighter Instagram, Facebook and Messenger content controls as Meta backs new online-safety talks with schools and families.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Mon, 29th Jun 2026
Randy Segal wins US patent for cognitive signal detector
Generative AI

Randy Segal wins US patent for cognitive signal detector

A consumer app could soon bring real-time alerts on audio and video patterns that may influence viewers, after a US patent was granted.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Wed, 24th Jun 2026