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Google Shuts Down AdSense Accounts in Russia

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

On August 12, Google revealed that it will deactivate all AdSense accounts based in Russia, ceasing payments to users of its advertising service in the country. The company attributed this decision to “ongoing developments in Russia,” with the change taking effect in August 2024.

Consequently, Russian users will no longer have access to AdSense, a platform that enables website and content owners, including YouTube creators, to generate revenue through Google-managed ad placements.

According to Reuters , Google’s move comes after a recent slowdown in YouTube’s performance in Russia. This has drawn criticism from Russian lawmakers. They argue that the slowdown is due to Google’s failure to upgrade its infrastructure in the country since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. However, Google disputes this claim, suggesting other factors might be at play.

Reuters reports that Russian officials have expressed frustration with Google’s stance, which includes blocking more than 1,000 YouTube channels and over 5.5 million videos, especially those related to the Ukraine conflict. The company had previously stopped serving ads in Russia in March 2022 and paused monetization of content that either exploited or condoned the war.

According to a message from Google reviewed by Reuters, creators based in Russia will receive their final payouts this month. Google stated that payments will be processed between August 21 and 26. This is contingent on users having no active payment holds and meeting the minimum payment thresholds.

Reuters points out that this action follows recent Russian legislation banning advertising on content produced by “foreign agents.” According to The Moscow Times , this category includes journalists, bloggers, news websites, and social media pages, all of which are prohibited from advertising their own products and services through businesses.

Google’s decision to suspend AdSense is seen by some—as reported by Reuters—as a continuation of its broader strategy to comply with Western sanctions and policies.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

New Research Links Tablet Use to Anger Outbursts in Children

• Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
• Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Researchers from the Université de Sherbrooke in Canada published a new study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics addressing a relationship between early childhood tablet use and anger outbursts.

“Child tablet use at age 3.5 years was associated with more expressions of anger and frustration by the age of 4.5 years,” states the research on its key points. “These results suggest that early-childhood tablet use may contribute to a cycle that is deleterious for emotional regulation.”

The study also noted that children who were more prone to anger and frustration at age 4.5 tended to use tablets more by age 5.5.

Researchers conclude that tablet use at an early age could make children enter a vicious cycle that affects their emotional regulation.

However, there are certain factors to consider. The study was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, in moments when the studied population—315 parents of preschoolers in 2020, 2021, and 2022— was going through a stressful period.

According to Forbes , the study isn’t clear about what is the exact reason tablets interfere with emotional development, only the consequences. Researchers observed that active use—like reading— and passive use—like watching a video—have different impacts and also the kids react differently with and without their parents. This is something for parents to consider while children use electronic devices.

Growing up, children usually apply multiple strategies to develop emotional regulation, one path is observation—considering parents or caregivers as main teachers— or through “emotional coaching” by parents telling them how to regulate their emotions. The study noted that tablets can interfere with both paths.

The study provides relevant parenting information for people across the world. As noted by Forbes, in the United States 80% of families with children own tablet devices.

Children’s relationships with technology are being observed closely by regulators across the world as it can have a big impact in their development and there are multiple risks implied. A few days ago, the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of the United States sued TikTok for violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting data from underaged users.