parenting

Google's parent company Alphabet has filed a legal challenge against two European Union orders requiring the company to give AI and search competitors access to Android and to its search data. The dispute centres on how far the EU can force dominant platforms to open up mobile and search infrastructure to rivals, and it adds to Alphabet's growing regulatory battles with Brussels.

The father of a suspected school shooter has been convicted of murder, according to ABC News. The verdict marks a rare legal outcome, holding a parent criminally responsible for a child's alleged mass violence. Further details, including the names of those involved and the sentence, were not provided in the available reporting.

An Australian tutoring company is advising parents to save their money and use AI tools instead of paying for tutoring services, according to the Australian Financial Review. The unusual recommendation from within the education industry has drawn attention, as it highlights how quickly generative AI is being positioned as a cheaper alternative to traditional one-on-one academic support for children.

A major new study reported by the Guardian finds that high screen usage in children is linked to poorer developmental outcomes. Researchers suggest the effect of elevated screen exposure could be as significant as parental behaviour and premature birth. The findings add weight to ongoing concerns among parents, educators and health experts about how much time children spend on phones, tablets and other devices.

A new CNN report examines a growing anxiety among parents: the fear that advanced artificial intelligence could pose an existential risk to humanity within their children's lifetimes. The piece reflects a broader public debate over whether rapid AI development should be slowed or regulated, as experts and families weigh potential benefits against worst-case scenarios.

A large global study has examined how screen time affects children's wellbeing, according to reporting carried by Yahoo News New Zealand. The findings address an ongoing debate among parents, educators and health researchers over how digital device use shapes children's mental and physical health. Details of the study's size, methodology and conclusions were not included in the available report.

The Wall Street Journal reports that middle-school students are increasingly seeking out AI companions in place of friendships with real peers. The article examines how chatbots and AI friend apps are filling a social role for children, raising concerns among parents and educators about emotional development, screen dependence, and what this shift means for how a generation learns to form relationships.

A New Mexico jury has found Facebook liable for more than 43 million violations of the state's consumer protection law, with potential penalties for parent company Meta that could exceed $200 billion. The verdict stems from the state's lawsuit against the company, and commentators are highlighting the unprecedented scale of the potential fine and what it could mean for Meta's legal exposure.

TikTok has reached its first settlement with a US state over claims that its platform harms teenagers, agreeing to impose limits on users as part of the deal. The agreement marks the first time an individual state has resolved such allegations with the company, which faces broader scrutiny in the US over the effects of its app on young people's mental health and wellbeing.

A Norwegian science news report describes a study finding that children and teenagers aged 9 to 18 increasingly turn to AI assistants instead of Google for information and answers. Researchers say the shift is happening fast, but the effects on how young people learn, judge sources and handle misinformation are not yet known, prompting calls for closer attention from educators and parents.

A couple and the biological parents of a young girl have reached a custody agreement following an alleged in vitro fertilization mix-up, in which the wrong embryos were reportedly implanted. The case has drawn attention to oversight of fertility clinics and raised difficult legal questions about parental rights when such errors occur.

Some parents are raising concerns about schools requiring students or families to disclose mental health information, according to ABC News. The debate centers on privacy, how the data will be stored and used, and whether such requirements could stigmatize children. Supporters argue early disclosure helps schools provide support, while critics fear overreach and potential consequences for students whose information is shared.

A viral 'Cat in the Hat' trend is circulating among schoolchildren, leading schools to issue warnings to parents about its spread and potential effects. The trend references the Dr. Seuss character and has gained enough traction on social media that administrators are notifying families. Little verified detail has emerged about what the trend involves or how harmful it is.

A new study reports that about one in six children taking GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, developed nutritional deficiencies while on the drugs. The findings raise concerns that appetite suppression and reduced intake may leave some children short on key nutrients, prompting calls for closer monitoring of children prescribed these increasingly used weight-loss medications.

TikTok has reached an agreement with Alabama, days before a scheduled trial, under which it must implement changes for teenagers in the state. These include a two-hour daily time limit, pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use, and stricter age verification checks. The deal is drawing attention as part of wider US scrutiny of social media's effects on young users, with some questioning why parents cannot set the limits themselves.

Professors say the race among parents to give their children an edge in school and life has intensified to a degree they have not seen before. The observation points to rising pressure around admissions, enrichment activities and achievement, with academics warning that intense competition may take a toll on both children and families.

Schools in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania are putting preparations in place as a statewide measles outbreak approaches 900 confirmed cases. Officials are working to limit potential spread in classrooms, with the outbreak's scale raising concern among parents and health authorities across the state. Details on specific measures being taken by individual districts have not yet been reported.

A new essay argues that bans on teen social media use address the wrong problem. Rather than restricting access by age, the piece suggests the focus should be on the underlying design of online platforms and how they capture attention. The debate over age limits for minors online continues to divide policymakers, parents, and researchers worldwide.

Indian fathers hoping to become parents through surrogacy are travelling overseas after a ban on commercial surrogacy at home, the Mumbai Mirror reports. The law restricts the practice to married Indian couples using their own genetic material, leaving single men and others with no domestic option and pushing them toward countries where surrogacy remains legal.

A new opinion piece challenges the increasingly popular argument that smartphones and social media are the main cause of rising anxiety and unhappiness among teenagers. It questions whether the evidence linking phone use to teen mental health decline is as strong as claimed, reopening a debate that has shaped school phone bans and parenting advice worldwide.