Regulators in the UK have asked major social media companies to improve their age checks to prevent children under 13 from using their platforms. The companies involved include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Roblox, and X. These platforms are currently criticized for relying on self-reported ages, which can lead to underage access.
Key Facts
UK regulators Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office are involved in the request.
Social media companies contacted include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Roblox, and X.
Current age checks allow children under 13 to easily access social media by lying about their age.
Ofcom says these companies are not focusing enough on children's safety.
The UK wants firms to adopt stronger age checks, similar to those used for adult content online.
The Information Commissioner's Office emphasized that platforms have no legal basis to handle data of users under 13 without proper safeguards.
Many platforms like Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok have started or are testing new age verification tools.
YouTube and other companies argue they already have systems in place and call for a focus on higher-risk services.
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In an interview, Neil deGrasse Tyson discussed the motivations and challenges of space exploration, especially sending humans to Mars. He highlighted the role of robotics in current space missions and the involvement of private companies in spaceflight, pointing out the historical pattern of wealthy individuals driving early advancements.
Key Facts
Neil deGrasse Tyson spoke about the human drive to explore space.
He mentioned that robotic missions, like those on Mars, are crucial for gathering data.
Sending humans to Mars would require significant resources and strong motivations.
Historically, major exploration projects have often needed economic, political, or survival incentives.
Private spaceflight attracts criticism as being for celebrities and the wealthy.
In early aviation, wealthy individuals also led the way, which spurred industry growth.
Tyson prefers meaningful space travel to destinations like the moon or Mars.
Future lunar missions might focus on areas with potential water sources.
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A video of a woman experiencing discomfort on a flight due to the passenger behind her repeatedly pushing her seat went viral on TikTok. Many users commented with advice and opinions on how she should have handled the situation. This incident has sparked further online discussions about airplane etiquette.
Key Facts
The incident was shared on TikTok by user Amee (@ameejau).
The video of the incident has been viewed more than 4.4 million times.
Amee experienced her seat being pushed repeatedly by a passenger behind her.
TikTok users suggested involving a flight attendant to handle such situations.
The video led to discussions on airplane etiquette and whether reclining seats is appropriate.
Newsweek reached out to Amee for additional comments but could not verify more details.
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Senate Democrats are working on a new law to create rules for using AI in weapons and surveillance in the U.S. The legislation is a response to an ongoing disagreement between the Trump administration and a company called Anthropic over military access to AI technologies. The goal is to include these rules in a defense spending bill that Congress has to pass each year.
Key Facts
Democrats in the Senate are drafting rules for using AI in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance.
President Trump’s administration is in a dispute with AI company Anthropic over access to its technology.
Anthropic does not want its AI to be used for weapons that operate without human control or for domestic surveillance.
The company has been labeled a supply chain risk by the Trump administration due to this disagreement.
Senator Adam Schiff is leading the drafting of the AI legislation.
The proposed rules might be added to the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets policy and budgets for the Pentagon.
There is bipartisan criticism of the administration's handling of the situation with Anthropic.
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Several major tech companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, are supporting Anthropic in a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit challenges the administration's decision to label Anthropic as a "supply chain risk." The tech companies argue that this decision is retaliation for Anthropic's refusal to allow its technology to be used in mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
Key Facts
Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft support Anthropic's lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Anthropic is challenging the labeling of its company as a "supply chain risk" by the Defense Secretary.
The tech companies expressed concern that this government action could negatively affect the entire tech sector.
Microsoft said that AI tools should not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.
The Chamber of Progress, a tech advocacy group, filed support for Anthropic, stressing free speech concerns.
Anthropic claims its free speech rights are violated by government retaliation for its public statements.
Almost 40 employees from OpenAI and Google and former U.S. military officials also filed briefs supporting Anthropic.
A lawyer stated the Defense Department urged Anthropic's customers to stop partnering with the company.
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A cyberattack linked to Iran has disrupted the operations of Stryker, an international medical device company. The hacker group Handala, with reported connections to Tehran, claimed responsibility, stating it was in retaliation for a deadly strike in Iran. The attack caused significant network issues for Stryker, but the company believes the situation is under control.
Key Facts
Stryker, a large medical device company, suffered a major cyberattack affecting its global network.
An Iran-linked hacking group called Handala claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack was said to be in retaliation for a strike that killed over 170 people in Iran.
Handala stated that it seized 50 terabytes of company data.
The cyberattack disrupted Windows-based devices used by Stryker employees.
Stryker confirmed they faced a network disruption but found no evidence of ransomware or malware.
The incident occurred as Iran increased threats against Western economic targets.
Handala also claimed to attack payments company Verifone, which reported no service disruptions.
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Virginia is known for having many data centers due to tax breaks on tech equipment and software. However, state senators have voted to end these tax breaks, which could affect the growth of new data centers.
Key Facts
Virginia has given tax breaks to tech companies for nearly 20 years.
These tax breaks have helped make Virginia a hub for data centers.
Data centers have caused noise and put strain on the power grid.
Artificial intelligence has led to increased demand for data center resources.
Virginia senators voted to end a $1.6 billion annual tax break for data centers.
The tax change would require data centers to pay a minimum 5.3% sales tax.
Some people believe ending the tax break could stop new data center construction in Virginia.
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The crime thriller series "Cross" Season 2 is available only on Prime Video. Episode 7, titled "Winnow," will be released on March 11, 2026. The series is based on the Alex Cross novels and stars Aldis Hodge as the lead character, Alex Cross.
Key Facts
"Cross" Season 2 is a series on Prime Video, meaning you need a subscription to watch it.
Episode 7 of "Cross" Season 2 will be released on March 11, 2026.
The series is based on novels by James Patterson and follows a detective named Alex Cross.
Aldis Hodge plays the main character, Alex Cross, in the series.
The show has a 93% approval rating on the review site Rotten Tomatoes.
The second season has eight episodes, with the first three released on February 11, 2026.
Streaming times for "Cross" differ by U.S. time zones, starting at midnight PT.
The main cast includes Isaiah Mustafa, Juanita Jennings, and Alona Tal, among others.
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The article discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing marketing, particularly in tasks like analyzing data and creating content. It explores the idea of whether AI can be truly creative or if it just reorganizes existing information. Experts debate AI's role in creativity compared to human innovation.
Key Facts
AI is increasingly used in marketing for analyzing audiences and creating content.
A discussion took place during a Newsweek webinar about AI's impact on marketing and creativity.
The debate considers whether AI can genuinely be creative or if it merely reorganizes what already exists.
David Sable argues that AI helps humans be creative but isn't creative on its own.
Historical art examples, like Monet and da Vinci's works, are used to illustrate true creativity and innovation.
AI excels at processing large amounts of data quickly, aiding in research and analysis tasks.
Experts acknowledge AI's transformative impact on certain marketing and advertising processes.
The discussion highlights a central question: What is the true nature of creativity in the age of AI?
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Microsoft announced at the Game Developers Conference that early versions of a new Xbox project, called Project Helix, will be sent to developers in 2027. The alpha versions aim to prepare for future gaming innovations, with expectations of a consumer launch likely in late 2028.
Key Facts
Microsoft presented their news at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
The project is called "Project Helix."
Jason Ronald, a Vice President at Xbox, gave details about the project.
Project Helix will use technology from AMD, a computer processor company.
The console will support advanced gaming features like ray tracing, which enhances lighting effects in games.
It won't be available for consumer purchase until likely late 2028.
Developers will receive early versions, called alpha versions, in 2027.
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Companies are quickly adopting artificial intelligence (AI), but oversight and compliance measures are struggling to keep up. As businesses prioritize speed in deploying AI, the systems meant to ensure careful decision-making are often bypassed, leading to potential risks.
Key Facts
Businesses see AI as essential, so they're adopting it quickly.
Governance systems are designed to slow down decision-making to avoid errors.
Companies sometimes bypass oversight to speed up AI deployment.
Bypassing governance can create "compliance debt," which is unmanaged risk accumulating over time.
AI is being used across many business areas, like HR and marketing.
Strong governance systems are needed to handle rapid AI adoption safely.
Some businesses are restructuring their compliance systems to better match fast-paced AI deployment needs.
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Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, lives in a small prefabricated home in Boca Chica, Texas, after selling his large properties. His mother, Maye Musk, shared details about his minimalist living conditions on social media, sparking public interest and discussion.
Key Facts
Maye Musk revealed that Elon Musk's house in Texas has minimal amenities, like one towel and no food in the fridge.
Elon Musk sold his mansions, valuing "freedom" over owning homes, and previously stated he aims to own no house.
His primary residence is a small, foldable home called a "Boxabl Casita," used as a studio apartment.
Musk rents the house in Boca Chica from his company, SpaceX.
The only house Musk reportedly owns is in the Bay Area and is intended for events.
In 2022, Musk reportedly bought a larger mansion in West Lake Hills, Texas.
Musk faced issues with neighbors for installing a fence and security cameras at this new property without permits.
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Scientists from Yamaguchi University in Japan discovered why cats can land on their feet. They found that cats have a very flexible part of their spine, which helps them twist in the air and land safely. This research may help improve treatments for cat spinal injuries and inspire the creation of more agile robots.
Key Facts
Researchers found that a cat's thoracic spine is more flexible than its lumbar spine.
This flexibility helps cats twist mid-air during a fall, a move known as the air-righting reflex.
They examined cat spines to measure flexibility and used high-speed cameras to study cats' movements.
Cats' thoracic spines can twist up to almost 50 degrees without much effort.
The lumbar spine is stiffer and acts as a stabilizer during the fall.
The study could help develop better models of animal movement and treatments for spinal injuries.
The findings might also contribute to designing more agile robots based on the cats' movement.
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YouTube has introduced non-skippable ads for users watching on TVs, sparking concern among viewers. These ads are part of a new strategy to appeal to advertisers and will mainly affect viewers unless they have a YouTube Premium subscription. This change follows a trend where more people are streaming YouTube on television sets rather than other devices.
Key Facts
YouTube now offers non-skippable ads for TV viewers.
Google owns YouTube and created this ad format to ensure full ad exposure.
Only YouTube Premium subscribers can bypass these ads.
There's an increasing trend of people watching YouTube on TVs.
YouTube TV and YouTube Premium are separate paid services.
User complaints on social media highlight frustration with frequent ads.
Non-Premium users will see more frequent and longer ads.
Google has not commented on the public response.
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An AI-generated character named Tilly Norwood, created by the company Particle6, launched a music video that received negative reactions online. The video features a pro-AI theme, prompting backlash from actors and viewers who feel it's not genuine or fear it may replace human creativity.
Key Facts
Tilly Norwood is an AI character created by Eline Van der Velden, CEO of Particle6.
The music video featuring Tilly has over 32,000 views on YouTube.
Critics argue the character lacks the emotion and life experience of human actors.
The Screen Actors Guild criticized the video, saying it was made without permissions from professional performers.
Many online comments about the video are negative, with some describing it as "AI propaganda."
A survey by NBC News found that AI has a poor reputation in the U.S., with only 26% of voters having a positive view of it.
Despite the backlash, tech companies continue to invest in AI technology.
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A cyberattack linked to an Iranian group called Handala disrupted Stryker's operations globally. Stryker, a major U.S. medical device company, reported significant system outages affecting employees worldwide, including in Cork, Ireland. The company is working with Microsoft and cybersecurity officials to resolve the issue.
Key Facts
A cyberattack allegedly linked to Iran disrupted Stryker's global operations.
The attack affected computer systems, making them unavailable to thousands of employees.
The alleged hacker group is called "Handala," noted for Iran links.
Stryker's systems outage impacted employees in multiple countries, including Ireland.
Stryker is working with Microsoft to fix the disruptions.
The Irish National Cyber Security Centre is assisting in the response.
Stryker is one of the largest medical device companies, with tens of thousands of employees and $25 billion in revenue annually.
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"Collector's Cove" is a new video game where players explore seas, farm, fish, and collect resources. Players take on the role of a character aiming to become a well-respected collector. The game offers a seamless and engaging experience with a focus on exploration and resource gathering.
Key Facts
"Collector's Cove" is a game where players explore, farm, fish, and collect resources at sea.
Players use a large sea animal to travel and collect items.
The goal is to rise through the ranks and become a Named Collector.
The game was created by a small team of four people at VoodooDuck.
Players can customize their boat and animal companion's appearance.
The game does not feature many characters but includes a story to follow.
The gameplay mechanics are noted for being smooth and efficient.
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Entrepreneurs Mark Cuban and Emma Grede are advocating for the use of AI, saying it should be a part of everyday life and learning. They believe AI won't replace human creativity or leadership, but can help people work faster and more creatively. They emphasize the importance of AI literacy in education to ensure people are prepared for the future.
Key Facts
Mark Cuban and Emma Grede encourage embracing AI and continuous learning about it.
Cuban compared AI concerns to past fears about personal computers.
They believe AI will not replace human roles but can speed up innovation.
Cuban suggests building AI literacy by experimenting and using AI regularly.
Grede stresses the importance of using AI in learning and education.
Both are ambassadors for Samsung’s educational program promoting STEM learning.
AI literacy is seen as important for empowering students with problem-solving skills.
Cuban and Grede state AI cannot replace the nuanced guidance of human mentorship.
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Some people are taking medications like Ozempic, which are meant for treating obesity and Type 2 diabetes, and reporting improvements in ADHD symptoms. These drugs, known as GLP-1 drugs, affect brain areas involved in appetite and reward, which might help lessen impulsivity associated with ADHD. However, no scientific studies have proven that these drugs directly improve ADHD symptoms.
Key Facts
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are primarily used for treating obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Some people with ADHD report feeling calmer and more focused on these medications.
These drugs work on brain areas that control dopamine and reward, influencing impulsivity.
There are no clinical trials confirming GLP-1 drugs as an ADHD treatment.
People share experiences online about improved ADHD symptoms while using these drugs.
The FDA approved GLP-1 drugs for other conditions like sleep apnea and heart problems.
Ongoing studies are exploring their effects on alcohol, opioid, and nicotine addiction.
Experts caution that these drugs should not replace established ADHD treatments.
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Apple is preparing to release a new iPhone software update, iOS 26.4, which includes new emoji characters and other small changes. Some users are unhappy because a widely-reported keyboard issue has not been fixed in this update.
Key Facts
Apple is working on releasing the iOS 26.4 update soon.
New emoji characters, such as trombone and orca, are added in the latest beta version.
The update is in the final testing stage with developers before a public release.
Some iPhone users are upset that a known keyboard problem is still unresolved.
The iOS 26.4 update could be available to all users by March or April.
Commenters have noted that the autocorrect feature on the keyboard is still problematic.
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