Plans to ban Texas kids from social media

Published

3 years ago

December 14, 2022

A state representative in Texas has developed a bill, proposing banning all minors from using social media platforms.

The bill wants anyone under the age of 18 in the state prohibited from using all social media. This includes platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

HB896 introduced by Texas Rep. Jared Patterson, will require all social media users to prove their age.

Patterson wants put measures in place to protect children from harmful mental health effects of social media.

The legislation will ban accounts being created by minors. It will also require photo identification to verify that users are over the age of 18 before an account is approved.

The bill will also allow parents to request account removal of their child, and grants enforcement of deceptive trade practices to the Office of the Attorney General if violated.

“The harms social media poses to minors are demonstrable not just in the internal research from the very social media companies that create these addictive products, but in the skyrocketing depression, anxiety, and even suicide rates we are seeing afflict children…

We are tremendously grateful for Rep. Jared Patterson’s leadership on keeping this precious population safe, and TPPF is fully supportive of prohibiting social media access to minors to prevent the perpetual harms of social media from devastating the next generation of Texans.”
Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation

Patterson described social media sites as “the pre-1964 cigarette,” with the public believing they were safe before in-depth research provided evidence of their harmful effects.

If the bill is passed, it will be the first of its kind to prohibit minors using social media platforms. It will lookregulate the likes of Meta, and ByteDance regarding minors using its platforms.

Both TikTok and Instagram have minimum age policies requiring users to be at least 13 years of age.

While both platforms enforce age verification measures, users under 13 are still on the platforms. This means parents are largely left to police their children’s use.

Some platforms try to address this issue by providing a range of safety tools for parents.

The level of government intervention proposed in Texas will be interesting to observe if it is passed and how it will be enforced.

It will also be fascinating to watch the societal and cultural impacts of such legislation and if other governments will also jump on board if it is effective.

By Dr Karen Sutherland, University of the Sunshine Coast and Dharana Digital

OpenAI releases GPT-5.1 with enhanced conversational features

OpenAI launches GPT-5.1, enhancing ChatGPT with personality controls and improved conversational abilities for paid users

Published

1 week ago

November 13, 2025

Ahron Young

OpenAI launches GPT-5.1, enhancing ChatGPT with personality controls and improved conversational abilities for paid users

In Short:
– OpenAI launched GPT-5.1 with two models to improve ChatGPT’s conversation and user control.
– The update, initially for paid users, addresses prior complaints and introduces adaptive reasoning and personality presets.

OpenAI launched GPT-5.1 today, featuring two upgraded models aimed at enhancing ChatGPT’s conversational abilities and providing users better control over its personality.The update started rolling out to paid subscribers on November 12, introducing GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking, both designed to address complaints regarding the original GPT-5 release in August.

GPT-5.1 Instant is said to be “warmer by default and more conversational,” with early testers noting its playfulness while remaining clear and useful.

The launch follows a backlash from users after GPT-5’s release, who criticized its “colder” tone and the removal of previous models like GPT-4o. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, admitted that discontinuing GPT-4o “was a mistake” and acknowledged the emotional attachment users had to specific models.

Adaptive Reasoning

GPT-5.1 Instant introduces adaptive reasoning, which helps it determine when to “think before responding” to complex questions.

This leads to marked improvements in mathematical and coding tasks. GPT-5.1 Thinking adjusts processing time based on the task, resulting in clearer explanations and improved ease of use for various tasks.

The new version includes six personality presets, allowing users to tailor interactions. OpenAI aims for the model to integrate cognitive and emotional intelligence effectively.

For now, the rollout is for paid users, with free access occurring soon. Both models will be available via API, and legacy models will remain accessible for three months.

Tech

Apple postpones iPhone Air sequel due to poor sales

Apple delays iPhone Air 2 indefinitely after lacklustre sales of first model

Published

1 week ago

November 11, 2025

Ahron Young

Apple delays iPhone Air 2 indefinitely after lacklustre sales of first model

In Short:
– Apple has postponed the iPhone Air’s launch due to poor sales of the current model.
– Production of the iPhone Air will stop, with Foxconn and Luxshare ceasing manufacturing by November and October respectively.

Apple has delayed the launch of its second-generation iPhone Air, which was scheduled for fall 2026, due to disappointing sales of the current model that debuted two months ago, as reported by The Information.Engineers and suppliers have been informed that the iPhone Air will be removed from the production schedule without a new release date.

The decision coincides with a significant reduction in the production of the existing model. Foxconn is expected to cease all manufacturing by the end of November, while Luxshare will stop production by the end of October.

Sales for the iPhone Air have not met Apple’s expectations since its launch in September. Foxconn has limited its production lines for the device, and future orders are projected to decrease significantly. A survey indicated nearly no demand for the iPhone Air, with consumers instead choosing the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models.

Production Challenges

The underperformance of the iPhone Air continues a trend of failed attempts by Apple to add a fourth model to its lineup.

The iPhone mini was previously discontinued after poor sales, followed by the larger Plus models, which faced similar challenges.

Apple had intended to develop a lighter second-generation iPhone Air with improved specifications but may now reconsider its design approach. The company also has plans for a staggered launch of the iPhone 18 lineup set for 2026 and early 2027.

Tech

Tech giants’ $47 billion AI infrastructure deals announced

Tech giants commit $47.7 billion to AI deals as demand for computing power soars and market diverges

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2025

Ahron Young

Tech giants commit $47.7 billion to AI deals as demand for computing power soars and market diverges

In Short:
– Wall Street started November mixed as AI deals boosted tech stocks, especially Amazon’s share price after a major agreement.
– OpenAI plans $1.4 trillion investment for computing resources, with Big Tech predicting over $250 billion AI infrastructure spending this year.

Wall Street began the month with mixed performances as major artificial intelligence deals influenced tech stocks positively, while broader market indices diverged.

Amazon’s shares rose over 5% following a significant $38 billion cloud services agreement with OpenAI, contributing to gains for the Nasdaq despite a decline in the Dow.The seven-year collaboration with Amazon Web Services marks OpenAI’s first major partnership with AWS, offering access to Nvidia graphics processing units essential for its AI expansion.

Amazon commented on the soaring demand for computing power resulting from rapid AI advancements, aiming for full capacity deployment by the end of 2026.

Microsoft also sealed a $9.7 billion agreement with IREN, highlighting the industry’s insatiable need for cloud capacity.

The collaborations depict Big Tech’s ongoing commitment to AI infrastructure, with significant investments aimed at catering to the escalating demand for computing resources.

Investment Perspective

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed intentions to invest $1.4 trillion to create 30 gigawatts of computing resources.

Major players, including Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta, have adjusted their capital expenditure forecasts for 2025, anticipating AI infrastructure spending to surpass $250 billion this year.

Despite market caution regarding inflated valuations, analysts remain optimistic about growth in the sector. Even amidst fears of an AI bubble, industry leaders assert ongoing investments will continue to bolster market performance through 2026.