All articles tagged with #teens
Newly released 911 recordings from a Fourth of July block party in North Charleston describe residents warning of armed teens, gunfire and a crowd of about 500 as officers attempted to disperse the gathering; several officers were assaulted, multiple firearms including what police described as a machine gun were recovered, and six people — four juveniles among them — have been charged as the investigation continues.
EU regulators have charged Meta with failing to curb 'addictive design' on Facebook and Instagram—such as autoplay and infinite scroll—that may drive excessive teen use, while Meta defends its steps and the Commission weighs reforms under the Digital Services Act, with penalties up to 6% of annual turnover.
Two California teens allegedly drank alcohol and fired a gel-bead shooter from a Waymo robotaxi; the car stopped, alerted 911, and police detained them. Waymo’s rider rules ban alcohol for minors, require an accompanying adult for riders under 18, and forbid throwing objects or weapons. The incident illustrates how the robotaxi can enforce rider guidelines through its cameras and systems, with no DUI charge reported.
Meta warns that if the four-state COPPA case against it wins, penalties could total $1.4 trillion—nearly the company’s entire market capitalization—an amount it calls outlandish. The suit accuses Facebook and Instagram of addicting teens and misleading the public about safety, with about 29 states involved and a trial set for August, amid a broader wave of related lawsuits.
A Waymo self-driving car in San Mateo contacted police after two 15-year-olds allegedly drank alcohol and fired toy guns inside the vehicle; officers detained the youths. Waymo says its cars have internal cameras and live support for emergencies and safety, but it does not use facial recognition. A separate incident in Santa Monica involved teens taking selfies and firing Orbeez from a Waymo, prompting police response.
A Lincoln, Nebraska mom turned in her own 15-year-old daughter after recognizing her in surveillance video of vandals who damaged Kelly’s Produce, causing about $5,232 in damages ( smashed jars, destroyed refrigerators, and stolen items). The incident also involved two other juveniles; the 15-year-old girl faces criminal mischief and theft charges, and a 15-year-old boy was later taken into custody. Owner Kelly Abbott had to restock and clean up, and the mom’s decision drew community praise online for taking accountability and supporting the local business.
A 19-year-old man was killed and six others were injured when hundreds of teens gathered in downtown Pensacola for the Fourth of July; shots were fired just after 1 a.m. in what police described as a targeted attack. The victims range in age from 16 to 26 and are expected to survive. Authorities say they have not identified suspects as of Sunday morning and had significantly expanded staffing for the event to deter violence.
A 14-year-old Parisian who calls himself 'Customs Officer Hamza' was arrested twice in one week for water-gun pranks and other stunts along Canal Saint-Martin, where he charges motorists about €2 to spray them. His antics have gone viral online, drawing praise from some while prompting legal action and criticism from officials; authorities say he is a repeat offender facing charges including vandalism, aggravated theft, insulting officers and resisting arrest, with his family and a defense lawyer saying he’s been unfairly targeted.
A Finnish study of over 600,000 youths shows that teens whose peers have a mental health diagnosis are more likely to receive one themselves, with a peer’s genetic predisposition also lifting risk—most pronounced in high school. The researchers note emotional contagion can occur online and in person, and that normalization of distress may motivate peers to explore their own difficulties. The findings underscore the importance of school-based mental health programs and parental check-ins, while cautioning against isolating teens and encouraging professional help when issues arise.
A father confronts a stranger who yelled at two teen girls traveling alone in an airport, telling the man to talk to him the same way and sparking online praise for defending the teens.
A Florida jury watched a video showing 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez dancing with friends on a boat moments before it crashed in Biscayne Bay, killing her and injuring others. Prosecutors say George Pino drove at high speed through a channel marker while teens drank, while the defense argues it was a case of human error as closing arguments begin in his trial.
A University of East Anglia study finds TikTok videos glamorizing vaping contribute to an illicit teen subculture, with content that bypasses age checks and misleads youths about risks, including cancer, dementia and heart/lung damage; health messaging struggles to compete with engaging, glamorized content, prompting calls for better public health outreach and smarter platform regulation.
A nationwide look at teens’ summer job searches shows they’re finding far fewer opportunities and more roadblocks than in prior years. Data from Pew notes teen employment fell since the early-2000s, while applicants report ghosting and endless applications. Some teens do land roles after long efforts (e.g., a 16-year-old who finally joined Sonic after dozens of applications), but many remain unemployed or end up in less ideal gigs. Experts point to a leaner entry-level market, plus factors like automation and wage laws that favor more experienced workers, making first jobs harder to secure.
A 2025 nationally representative survey of 1,060 US teens found 72% had tried an AI companion and 52% used one regularly; notably, a third confided in a bot for a serious conversation and 31% found those chats as satisfying as or more than talking with real friends. The researchers note that about half distrust AI advice and most teens still spend more time with real friends, suggesting the pattern may reflect a broader shortage of patient, nonjudgmental listeners in teens’ lives rather than a failure of the technology.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a spring 2027 plan to bar under-16s from major social apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube; on a BBC segment a schoolgirl joked she’d ‘stare at a wall’ if restricted, while classmates and many parents expressed mixed feelings, reflecting a broader debate about child protection, privacy, and innovation as governments model similar bans after Australia. US and platform leaders warned blanket bans could push teens toward less safe spaces.