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More than half of Australian children and teens are using AI for personal reasons. This comes with risks

New data released this week show 54% of Australian children and teens use artificial intelligence tools for personal and social reasons.

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All 50 states have introduced bills to regulate digital media for kids. A new database tracks them

As of March 2026, every U.S. state had introduced at least one bill seeking to regulate social media or other digital platforms for people younger than 18. The wave of legislation would be difficult for anyone to keep track ...

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X adds banking in 'everything app' push

Elon Musk's social media app X on Monday began offering its X Money banking service to all U.S. subscribers of its paid Premium and Premium+ tiers, part of the multibillionaire's ambition to turn the site into an "everything ...

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Older people's media literacy can be boosted in just 60 minutes—new study

Consider these scenarios.

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French youth social media ban meets age check conundrum

France's parliament is weighing a social media ban for users under 15, following in the footsteps of Australia and Indonesia, although enforcement authorities face a puzzle over how to manage age checks.

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EU to limit children's access to social media—gradually

Children should have "phased and gradual access" to social media, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Monday, as experts recommended that children under 13 use online platforms only under supervision.

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Music industry launches AI-generated content labels

Several major music industry organizations on Friday unveiled a labeling system for content created with generative artificial intelligence that they would like to see widely adopted.

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EU moves closer to kicking kids off social media

Restrictions on children's use of social media in the European Union could come as early as this summer, as a long-awaited expert report next week is expected to recommend limiting minors' access to online platforms.

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Arkansas requires parents' OK for children on social media

Arkansas on Wednesday became the second state to restrict social media use by children, as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved legislation requiring minors to get their parents' permission to create a new account.

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Arkansas House OKs social media age verification requirement

Arkansas children would need their parents' OK to access social media sites under a bill Arkansas lawmakers advanced Wednesday, moving the state closer toward becoming the second to enact restrictions that critics say raise ...

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AI bot ChatGPT faces growing scrutiny in Europe

France's data regulator said on Wednesday it had received two complaints about the AI program ChatGPT, as European authorities deepened their scrutiny of the chatbot days after Italy banned it.

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Eyes on Apple to join quest for the metaverse

Apple fans are watching to see whether the iPhone-maker puts a culture-changing spin on virtual reality, even as rivals slow their march toward the metaverse.

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What's happening with Twitter blue check marks?

Elon Musk had promised to take away all of Twitter's blue check marks doled out to Hollywood stars, professional athletes, business leaders, authors and journalists unless they start buying a monthly subscription to the social ...

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Italy temporarily blocks ChatGPT over privacy concerns

Italy is temporarily blocking the artificial intelligence software ChatGPT in the wake of a data breach as it investigates a possible violation of stringent European Union data protection rules, the government's privacy watchdog ...

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AI generator Midjourney pauses service over deepfake 'abuse'

Research laboratory Midjourney has paused free trials of its image-generation software after users cranked out realistic deepfakes including of former US president Donald Trump getting arrested and Pope Francis in a puffer ...

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Tweeters, and celebs, await 'blue tick' ultimatum

All eyes are on whether Elon Musk will go through with stripping blue checkmarks from celebrities and other high-profile Twitter users starting April 1 unless they pay for the privilege.