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Norway Set to Become Latest Country to Ban Social Media for Under 16s

2 weeks 2 days ago
Norway plans to ban social media access for children under 16 (source paywalled; alternative source), "joining a growing number of countries responding to concerns about the potential harm kids face online," reports Bloomberg. From the report: The bill comes after "overwhelming" demand from the public, the government said Friday. It plans to bring the legislation to parliament before the end of the year. The limit will apply up until January 1 the year a child turns 16 with technology companies responsible for age verification, the government said. "We want a childhood where children get to be children," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in the statement. "Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens." "Children cannot be left with the responsibility for staying away from platforms they are not allowed to use," Karianne Tung, Norway's minister of digitalization, said in the statement. "That responsibility rests with the companies providing these services." Recent Slashdot coverage of countries instituting or proposing social media bans has included Australia, France, Austria, Indonesia, and Denmark.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Pentagon wants to water down drone program with autonomous subs

2 weeks 2 days ago
What, you didn't expect autonomous military craft to stay in the sky forever?

Drones: they're not just for the sky anymore. DARPA is seeking compact deep-ocean autonomous craft developed faster, smaller, and cheaper than today's full-ocean-depth AUV systems.…

Brandon Vigliarolo