A new law to protect children from social media has been passed in the US state of Florida, as growing evidence highlights its negative impact on mental health. The strictest law in the US bans children under 14 from having a social media account and obliges platforms to delete accounts for children under this age group. Tech giants have opposed other states’ restrictions on children’s access to social media. In 2023, plans in Arkansas requiring children to seek parental permission when setting up a social media account were blocked by federal judges upon case brought by social media platforms.
The Free to Choose initiative, which places the children of Italian Mafia bosses into foster care, has been viewed by many as a success. The initiative was initially launched in Calabria in 2012 due to the young children of mobsters being primed for a life of violent crime. Since its introduction, over 150 children from mob families have been placed in foster care in secret locations. With some mothers following the children and testifying against the crime bosses. The scheme is now set to be rolled out in two other mafia strongholds, Sicily and Naples.
The minimum wage has been hailed as the UK’s “single most successful economic policy in a generation”, according to a think-tank report. Since its introduction 25 years ago, the policy has raised the wages of the lowest-paid workers by £6,000 annually. The Resolution Foundation warned that other areas of low-paid work require improvement, such as job intensity and the enforcement of worker rights. The UK’s minimum wage is set for one of its biggest ever hikes next week as it rises from £10.42 to £11.44. Neither of the UK’s major political parties have decided on an agenda for where the minimum wage will be set after 2024.
This week, Scotland passed a “momentous” bill that strengthens animal welfare laws. The Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act imposes strict controls on Scotland’s controversial grouse shooting industry, including a ban on snares and glue traps. The bill includes regulations requiring shooting estates to apply for licences to burn moors and afford police officers more powers to investigate wildlife crimes. Conservationists welcome the new legislation while activists call on the UK government to enact similar laws in England. On the other hand, the shooting industry claims that the new law will damage rural jobs and that the illegal killing of wildlife is rare.
The Yurok Native American tribe is to manage a part of the 125-acre site known by the Yurok as ‘O Rew,’ alongside the National Park Service. The Yurok tribe had much of its land confiscated during California’s gold rush. The arrangement is a part of an historic agreement between the tribe, California State Parks, the National Park Service, and a nonprofit group, Save the Redwoods League. It is the first step towards transferring the inherited land back to the Yurok, who will steward the site, a gateway to Redwood forests
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