Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

The Loss of Interstitial Time: How Smartphones Are Killing Boredom and Creativity

2025-05-05

This article explores the impact of smartphones and social media on our lives, particularly the erosion of 'interstitial time' – those small pockets of time between activities. The author argues that these moments, once used for reflection, conversation, or daydreaming, are now consumed by our phones, leading to decreased attention spans, impatience, and reduced creativity. The constant pursuit of instant gratification diminishes the value of waiting and boredom, impacting our anticipation of the future and our overall life experience. The article calls for a renewed appreciation of interstitial time, encouraging the cultivation of patience and creativity for a more fulfilling life.

(www.afterbabel.com)

Misc attention span

Snapchat's Internal Emails Reveal 10,000+ Monthly Sextortion Reports

2025-04-17

Internal Snap Inc. emails revealed that the company receives approximately 10,000 sextortion reports monthly—a figure likely representing only a fraction of the problem. This article investigates Snapchat's impact on teenagers, examining court cases and internal documents detailing widespread harm. These include addictive design, drug and gun sales, CSAM, sextortion, offline sexual assault, and cyberbullying. Snap insiders acknowledge these issues but demonstrate slow responses and ineffective mitigation. The article calls for Snap to implement design changes to protect its young users.

(www.afterbabel.com)

Tech sextortion teen safety

Evidence of Harm: Why TikTok Should Be Banned

2025-04-17

The US Supreme Court will soon decide whether to block a ban on TikTok. This article argues for the ban, citing overwhelming evidence of harm to minors. Compiled from lawsuits filed by 14 state Attorneys General, internal documents reveal TikTok's knowledge of its algorithm's addictive nature, leading to sleep deprivation, academic decline, and worsening mental health in children. The platform is rife with pornography, violence, and drug-related content, with severe child sexual exploitation and harassment, yet TikTok's response is demonstrably inadequate. The authors urge public awareness of TikTok's harm to children and support for its removal.

(www.afterbabel.com)

Tech Child Safety Algorithmic Addiction

Global Shift in Happiness: Young Adults Now Least Happy

2024-12-29

A groundbreaking global study reveals a stunning reversal in the long-held U-shaped curve of happiness across the lifespan. Previously, midlife was associated with the lowest happiness levels, but now young adults are the least happy. Analyzing millions of data points from 82 countries, researchers found a sharp decline in well-being among young people, particularly young women, starting around 2017. This shift is reflected not only in happiness scores but also in increased anxiety, depression, and suicide rates. The researchers emphasize this isn't just an American phenomenon, but a worldwide trend requiring further investigation into its underlying causes.

(www.afterbabel.com)

AI happiness youth mental health global trend