All articles tagged with #children
A gunman opened fire at a Billings, Montana home Sunday, then set it ablaze, killing multiple people including children. The shooter died by a self-inflicted gunshot; authorities have withheld the victims' identities and say motive is not yet known as investigators navigate fire-damage and limited access to the scene.
A 37-year-old Brazilian woman, Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira, posed as a severely autistic 12-year-old girl to win the trust of an evangelical couple in Joinville, living with them for about 14 months with expenses covered. She used a doll, pacifier and baby bottle to appear younger and carried out similar frauds across Brazil under different names. After her aunt raised suspicions, police uncovered more cases; Oliveira was arrested in 2025, convicted of fraud, and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The case echoes the Natalia Grace controversy in the United States.
The Justice Department announced a $400 million settlement with TikTok (and ByteDance) to dismiss claims that the platforms collected data on millions of children under 13 without parental consent and to vacate a 2019 FTC consent decree, citing substantial changes to management, ownership, and privacy practices since 2024; TikTok now operates as a U.S.-backed joint venture with ByteDance retaining about 19.9% stake, and the company has expanded safeguards, age controls, and parental oversight for younger users.
TikTok and its former parent ByteDance have agreed to a $400 million settlement with the US Department of Justice over alleged COPPA violations, accusing the app of collecting data from children under 13 without parental consent. The payout is $300 million upfront and $100 million later after a prior 2019 FTC consent decree is vacated (tied to Musical.ly). The DoJ notes changes in ownership, management, and privacy practices, while ByteDance-forward steps include forming a majority-American joint venture to protect US data. TikTok says it has strengthened age-verification and underage-moderation efforts, with hundreds of staff and tens of thousands of underage accounts removed.
A stabbing at a Beit Shemesh home killed a seven-year-old boy and left his four-year-old cousin in moderate condition; a 15-year-old supervising relative is receiving support as police investigate and a suspect has been arrested. The seven-year-old died at Hadassah Medical Center, while the four-year-old is undergoing surgery. In a separate Beit Shemesh incident later the same day, a 4-year-old boy was pronounced dead after being struck by a vehicle.
Five people were shot at Charles Young Park in downtown Lexington during Saturday summer festivities; a 14-year-old and a 4-year-old were among the victims, with two adults in non-life-threatening condition and one person dead. Police have not identified the fatality as investigators continue to search for leads and a motive surrounding the shooting.
Trauma centers in Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield have treated 477 under-16s for e-scooter injuries since 2019, with nearly 150 cases in 2024 and an average age of 12; most injuries result from falls and helmets were rarely worn. Private e-scooters on roads or pavements remain illegal in the UK, and there is no current age or helmet requirement. The report references a fatal crash involving a teenager and a 14-year-old friend and urges tougher laws, helmet use and speed limits, while the Department for Transport says new regulations are being developed; rental scooters typically cap at ~15 mph, while some private models can go faster.
A four-year-old girl in Scotland developed a stroke months after recovering from chickenpox, with doctors linking severe inflammation in a main neck artery to the infection. She presented with vomiting, headache, left-side weakness and facial droop, required MRI, CT, lumbar puncture, and antibiotics, and spent about eight weeks in hospital before beginning rehabilitation. Her doctors confirmed the stroke was not related to her preexisting cerebral palsy, and her mother later started Olivia’s Steps Foundation to support families of children with disabilities, while experts urge recognizing stroke symptoms in kids using BE FAST.
The piece identifies eight subtle parenting habits that can unintentionally heighten a child’s anxiety—avoiding uncomfortable situations, modeling or exposing personal anxiety, shying away from discussing feelings, being overly cautious, praising outcomes instead of effort, asking leading questions, adopting an authoritarian approach, and sending mixed messages. It then offers expert guidance on healthier approaches: model calm coping, validate and discuss emotions, provide age-appropriate explanations, praise effort, focus on solutions rather than dictating every outcome, reduce fear-based warnings, and foster open dialogue to empower kids to manage anxiety more effectively.
Amid Rep. Max Miller’s bitter divorce, a child’s stuffed blue bunny named Buddy—his daughter’s sleep buddy—emerged as a viral symbol online, reframing private family disputes as a public narrative and potentially influencing perceptions in Ohio’s political race.
Prince Harry praised a federal judge's order fining Meta $567 million for failing to warn about the dangers its platforms pose to children, calling it a milestone in holding big tech accountable and urging platforms to prioritize safety over engagement. Meta plans to appeal. The Sussexes have long advocated safer online spaces and recently launched the Parents Network; Meghan's absence from the statement was noted.
Perez Hilton's family says his three children were inside the home moments before a disturbing livestream in which he appeared to harm himself; authorities responded as Hilton suffered a severe mental health crisis and was hospitalized. His TikTok account was later taken down, and the family is asking for privacy as the children begin to heal.
US researchers report a liquid, silver diamine fluoride (SDF) can halt cavity decay in children as young as one without drilling. In a trial of 830 kids across Michigan, New York and Iowa, a 38% SDF concentration stopped decay in more than half of affected baby teeth when applied every six months. The treatment is relatively affordable (about $20–$75 per application) and could be used as a bridge for adults too, with results supporting FDA approval for broader use, though the dark staining of treated decay is a drawback.
A federal contract that provides attorneys for unaccompanied immigrant minors is set to expire Friday, risking that tens of thousands of children will appear before immigration judges without legal representation. Nonprofits warn they may scale back or close, affecting about 24,000 children and leaving roughly $65 million in unpaid reimbursements. The Office of Refugee Resettlement has offered to extend the contract if providers share client information, a demand nonprofits have refused due to confidentiality concerns.
Hilaria Baldwin reveals she began dieting at age 5 and has endured a long history of disordered eating, including anorexia and bulimia. Experts say early dieting is more common than many realize and that disordered eating in children can predict eating disorders in adulthood, with millions affected worldwide and about 20% of kids showing signs. Baldwin emphasizes talking about food and empowerment with her children rather than their appearance, acknowledging the ongoing cultural pull of thin ideals. The piece also notes resources like the National Eating Disorders Association helpline for those seeking help.