Stonewall Pride flag removal at Stonewall National Monument in New York City
NewsUnited States

Stonewall National Monument Pride Flag Removal Sparks Backlash

Pride flag taken down at historic LGBTQ landmark The National Park Service has removed the Pride flag from Stonewall National Monument in New York City. The move follows broader changes…

Savannah Guthrie issues new plea as ransom deadline passes
BusinessTechnology

Can Artificial Intelligence Truly Love You?

People Are Forming Real Bonds With AI Artificial intelligence can now write a decent love poem in seconds. Some people are not just impressed by that, they are falling in…

How Britain Became a Fried Chicken Nation
Business

How Britain Became a Fried Chicken Nation

Fried chicken is no longer just a quick bite in Britain. It has turned into a full blown food trend, led by young customers and powered by social media. In…

University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team during game amid lawsuit allegations
NewsUnited States

University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball coach sued over alleged abusive environment

Former players file federal lawsuits Six former members of the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team have filed lawsuits against the school and head coach Tory Verdi. They claim the…

A major social media addiction trial has started in California, where Instagram and YouTube face serious claims about their impact on children’s mental health. Lawyers for the plaintiff say the world’s largest tech companies built platforms that hook young users on purpose. The case centers on a girl identified as K.G.M., also called Kaley G.M., who says she developed mental health problems because of her addiction to social media. Her initials are used because the alleged harm happened when she was a minor. Lawyers Claim Platforms Were Designed to Hook Children During opening statements in Los Angeles Superior Court, attorney Mark Lanier argued that Meta and YouTube created systems that target children’s brains. He told the jury that the companies designed features to keep kids online for longer periods. To make his point, he placed children’s blocks in front of him labeled with words like “Addicting,” “Brains,” and “Children.” Lanier also presented internal company emails. In one 2015 email shown in court, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly pushed for a 12% increase in time spent on the platform to meet business goals. Lanier claimed YouTube targeted young users because advertisers pay more to reach them. He also accused the platform of acting as a “digital babysitter” for busy parents. According to the lawsuit, both companies failed to warn families about the potential mental health risks linked to their platform designs. Defense Says Other Factors Caused Mental Health Struggles Lawyers for Meta and YouTube rejected the claims. Meta’s attorney, Paul Schmidt, argued that Instagram was not a key factor in K.G.M.’s mental health challenges. He told the jury that she experienced family neglect, verbal abuse, and domestic violence long before using social media. Court records show she began therapy at the age of three. Schmidt displayed statements in which K.G.M. described her mother yelling at her and calling her hurtful names. He urged jurors to consider her home environment when assessing her psychological distress. The companies also argue that federal law protects them from liability for content posted by third parties. Trial Could Shape Future Social Media Lawsuits The six-week trial could influence thousands of similar cases across the United States. Families, school districts, and state prosecutors have filed lawsuits claiming social media platforms harm young users. In a separate case, 29 state attorneys general asked a federal judge to order Meta to remove accounts belonging to children under 13. They also want the company to delete data collected from those users and remove algorithms built on that information. Eighteen of those states also requested limits on school-time and late-night usage. They asked the court to disable features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and beauty filters. Meta says it has introduced safety measures for teen accounts, including stronger content filters. However, state officials argue these changes offer limited protection. Over the coming weeks, the court will hear from expert witnesses, former employees, and top executives, including Zuckerberg, Instagram head Adam Mosseri, and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. Snapchat’s parent company Snap and TikTok have already settled with K.G.M. and are no longer part of the case. The outcome may set a financial benchmark for future lawsuits and reshape how social media companies design their platforms for young users.
Business

Instagram and YouTube Addiction Trial Begins in California Court

A major social media addiction trial has started in California, where Instagram and YouTube face serious claims about their impact on children’s mental health. Lawyers for the plaintiff say the…

Nancy Guthrie door camera photos show masked armed person outside Tucson home
NewsUnited States

Nancy Guthrie door camera photos show armed person amid FBI search

FBI releases surveillance images The FBI has shared new door camera photos and video tied to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “TODAY” co anchor Savannah Guthrie. Investigators…

US Cuts Tariffs on Bangladeshi Clothing Under New Trade Deal
BusinessUnited States

US Cuts Tariffs on Bangladeshi Clothing Under New Trade Deal

US Reduces Tariffs on Bangladeshi Apparel The United States has agreed to lower tariffs on Bangladeshi clothing as part of a new trade deal announced on Monday. Under the agreement,…

FDA ban BHA review focuses on cancer concerns tied to processed food additive
NewsUnited States

FDA moves to ban BHA, a common food additive used in processed meats and baked goods

What Is BHA and Why Is It Used? The Food and Drug Administration has launched a new safety review that could lead to a ban on BHA, a preservative found…

CMA Seeks Fair Competition and Transparency Sarah Cardell, head of the CMA, said the commitments "will boost the UK's app economy" and mark just the first step in broader reforms. She added that securing immediate commitments from Apple and Google highlights the flexibility of the UK’s digital markets competition regime. In October 2025, the CMA classified both Apple’s and Google’s app stores as having "strategic market status." This allowed the regulator to demand changes that promote competition and offer more choices to developers and users. Key Commitments from Apple and Google As part of the new measures, Apple and Google will: Avoid giving preferential treatment to their own apps. Be transparent in approving third-party apps. Not misuse data from third-party developers unfairly. Cardell called these "important first steps" and said the CMA will continue working with the companies on additional reforms. The regulator also confirmed it will closely monitor progress and enforce formal changes if the commitments are ignored. Tech Giants Respond Apple welcomed the commitments, stating it faces strong competition in all markets and continues to focus on user experience. Google said its current app store practices are fair and transparent but welcomed the chance to address CMA concerns collaboratively. Technology analyst Paolo Pescatore described the announcement as a "pragmatic first step" but noted it may only address the "low-hanging fruit." He suggested stronger regulations could still follow. Context: EU Criticism and UK App Market The CMA said the UK has Europe’s largest app economy in terms of revenue and developer numbers, contributing roughly 1.5% of GDP and supporting around 400,000 jobs. Both Apple and Google previously warned against following EU-style strict regulations. In Europe, large online platforms labeled "gatekeepers" face tougher rules to promote fair competition. Apple, for instance, has had to show alternative browsers and improve interoperability without compromising user privacy and security. Apple emphasized that the recent commitments reflect its constructive engagement with the CMA and pragmatic regulatory approach.
Business

Apple and Google Agree to UK App Store Changes After CMA Intervention

CMA Seeks Fair Competition and Transparency Sarah Cardell, head of the CMA, said the commitments "will boost the UK's app economy" and mark just the first step in broader reforms.…

U.S. wins bronze in team combined as Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson compete in Olympic Alpine skiing event
NewsUnited States

Breezy Johnson, Mikaela Shiffrin Miss Podium in Team Combined as U.S. Claims Bronze

Shiffrin Struggles in Slalom Despite Johnson’s Strong Downhill Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson narrowly missed a medal in the women’s Alpine skiing team combined event, finishing just outside the podium…

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