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Should Australia Limit Social Media For Minors?

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

Australia is planning to introduce a minimum age requirement for children using social media, citing concerns over the impact on their mental and physical health. However, digital rights advocates have criticized the move, warning it could push harmful online activity into less regulated spaces, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday.

The South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) has recently released a report proposing significant changes to how children in the state access social media.

The DPC report highlights several reasons for regulating children’s access to social media, primarily focusing on the risks to their well-being and safety. It emphasizes concerns like cyberbullying, which can lead to emotional distress and mental health issues.

Children are also at risk of exposure to inappropriate content such as violence and hate speech, which could harm their development, as stated in the report.

Additionally, the report addresses the addictive nature of social media, noting its impact on sleep, schoolwork, and social interactions, as well as the privacy risks children face when sharing personal information online.

The concerns raised in Australia resonate with recent guidelines from Sweden’s public health authority, which recommend strict limits on screen time for young children to mitigate negative health effects.

The DPC proposes a two-tiered system to restrict social media access based on age: prohibiting access for children under 14 without parental consent and requiring consent for 14-16-year-olds, with no further restrictions once consent is granted.

The report highlights several challenges in enforcing proposed social media restrictions. Verifying ages online is complex, requiring collaboration with platforms for effective processes. Specific enforcement methods are not detailed but may involve a new regulatory body working with social media companies and internet providers.

The report also underscores the need for public consultation to address concerns about freedom of speech and information access. Feedback from parents, educators, and the broader community will be crucial in shaping the final implementation of the restrictions.

According to Reuters, Daniel Angus, director of the Queensland University of Technology Digital Media Research Centre, criticized the proposed restrictions, saying they could “create serious harm by excluding young people from meaningful, healthy participation in the digital world, potentially driving them to lower quality online spaces.”

The Washington Post reported that Lisa Given, a professor of information sciences at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, stated, “There are lots of reasons why children need to access information on their own, especially those in regional or remote areas. They may not have easy access to a nearby library and could be home-schooled.”

This debate reflects broader global concerns about balancing digital safety with access to information.

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Robot’s Two-Week Mission Marks Key Step In Fukushima Decommissioning

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

On Tuesday, Japan took a significant step in the decades-long cleanup of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant as an extendable robot began its mission to retrieve the first sample of melted fuel debris, as reported by the AP .

The AP notes that this marks the start of the most challenging phase of the plant’s decommissioning, which began after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns at three reactors.

The robot, nicknamed “Telesco,” is designed to extend up to 22 meters into the reactor vessel to reach the radioactive fuel, using tongs to collect a small fragment weighing less than 3 grams, notes the AP.

The Diplomat reports that this small sample is crucial to assess the fuel’s condition and inform future removal strategies. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO), the plant operator, has limited daily operations to two hours to minimize radiation exposure.

ABC News says that the mission was originally set to begin on August 22 but was delayed when workers discovered that five 1.5-meter pipes, meant to guide the robot into the reactor, had been assembled incorrectly.

TEPCO stated that the issue was resolved, and the equipment was reassembled correctly for the new attempt on Tuesday. Once inside the reactor, the robot is remotely operated from a remote location, as noted by ABC News.

TEPCO has previously used robots to inspect the damaged reactors, but this is the first time a physical sample of the molten fuel will be retrieved. The mission is expected to take two weeks to complete, states the AP.

The Diplomat states that sampling the melted fuel debris is a crucial first step. Understanding the melted fuel debris is essential to determine how best to remove, store, and dispose of the 880 tons of radioactive material still inside the reactors.

Experts expect the sample will also provide more clues about how the meltdown 13 years ago played out, some of which is still a mystery, as reported by The Diplomat.

The AP notes that the decommissioning process is expected to take 30 to 40 years, though experts have criticized this timeline as overly optimistic.

Despite these advances, significant challenges remain. Only a small fraction of evacuees have returned to their homes, as concerns over radiation and a lack of jobs or community infrastructure persist, reports in another article the AP .

Furthermore, the release of treated radioactive water into the sea has faced backlash, particularly from local fishers and neighboring countries like China. Although TEPCO and the Japanese government claim the water is safely diluted and meets international safety standards, the controversy continues, reports the AP.

Fukushima’s fishing industry has been hit hard, yet domestic support has increased. The government has earmarked 10 billion yen to aid Fukushima’s fisheries. Still, removing the melted fuel is considered the most challenging aspect of the cleanup, reports the AP.

According to The Diplomat, some propose entombing the Fukushima plant, as was done at Chernobyl. However, experts argue that this approach is not viable due to the plant’s exposure to seismic activity and water. Instead, they emphasize that a methodical and controlled removal of the debris will be essential for the safe decommissioning of the site.