Natasha Singer, a Technology reporter for The New York Times, dives into the historic lawsuits against Meta, accusing the social media giant of exploiting children. She discusses the compelling evidence behind these claims, including whistleblower insights and internal documents revealing the addictive features designed for platforms like Instagram. The conversation highlights the urgent mental health risks for youth and the ethical implications of prioritizing profit over well-being. Singer also illuminates the complexities of legal accountability in the tech industry.

Natasha Singer, a technology reporter for The New York Times, explores the rising trend of cellphone bans in U.S. schools. She discusses how recent legislation in states like Florida aims to tackle increasing phone addiction and its impact on students’ mental health and learning. Different enforcement strategies, like 'cell phone jail,' are examined, alongside varying perspectives from teachers, parents, and students. The conversation highlights the balance between minimizing distractions and fostering responsible tech use in education today.

Natasha Singer, a Technology reporter for The New York Times, dives into Utah's groundbreaking law requiring parental consent for minors to access social media. She discusses the law's implications in addressing the mental health crisis among teens, alongside rising concerns about bullying and exploitation. Singer also contrasts Utah's approach with California's legislation, highlighting challenges in enforcement and the potential for innovative solutions to ensure children's online safety. This insightful conversation sheds light on the future of social media regulation.

Natasha Singer, a reporter from The New York Times, dives into the alarming phenomenon of deepfake nudes circulating in American schools. She highlights the distressing experiences of teenage girls who are victimized by AI-generated explicit images. The discussion covers inadequate responses from school authorities and the activism of parents pushing for better protections. Singer also tackles the complex legal challenges surrounding these cases, emphasizing the urgent need for updated laws in our rapidly evolving digital landscape.

States want to restrict kids’ access to harmful content online via age verification systems. New York Times reporter Natasha Singer explains how a wave of new legislation could dramatically reshape the internet.This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd with help from Michael Raphael, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.Transcript at vox.com/todayexplainedSupport Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices