Marketplace Tech

March 11 marks five years since the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 virus officially a pandemic. Tracking the virus has been key to understanding where outbreaks are occurring and one tracking tool that had been mostly on the shelf prior to the pandemic is wastewater surveillance. That’s pretty much what it sounds like — testing what we flush down the toilet which eventually lands in what’s known as a sewer shed. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with molecular virologist Marc Johnson at the University of Missouri about the advantages of wastewater surveillance. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.

In this week’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” TSMC announced it’s investing an additional $100 billion to make chips in the U.S. Plus, a co-founder of the social media platform Reddit joins a bid to buy TikTok. But first, let’s talk about the stock market. A number of tech companies watched their stocks sink this week, when new tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada were put in place. That volatility continued when President Donald Trump backtracked on the policy, at least temporarily.  Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Natasha Mascarenhas, reporter at The Information, to unpack these stories and more.

Today, we’re wrapping up our series “The Infinite Scroll,” where we look at kids’ lives on social media and the risks and rules they face. One approach some states take to creating rules to mitigate risk is known as an age-appropriate design code, a law that puts the onus on tech companies to design products that keep kids safer when they’re on the internet. California passed its Age-Appropriate Design Code Act in 2022, as did Maryland last year. Both have been challenged by lawsuits from the tech industry. State Delegate Jared Solomon, a sponsor and lead author of the Maryland law, explained to Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes that the oversight effort attempts to prevent manipulation by algorithms. He hopes the industry will begin to “think differently about how they design their products.”

On our new series “The Infinite Scroll,” we’re looking at the rules and risks of kids using social media. Artificial intelligence is showing up on these platforms in the form of chatbots, digital characters you can text or talk with. Today we explore what can happen to youngsters who interact with them. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes discussed the subject with Meetali Jain, founder and director at the Tech Justice Law Project. Her organization is involved in a lawsuit against Character.AI, an app that enables users to create and communicate with these bots. 

This week, we are looking at how kids use social media and the risks and rules around it. It’s part of our new series “The Infinite Scroll.” Monday, we talked about how habitually checking social media can change adolescents’ brains, making them more sensitive to feedback from their peers. Today, we’re going to look at what it’s like to be a parent monitoring their kids’ social media. One thing’s clear: It can be a lot of work. 

Eva Telzer, a neuroscience and psychology professor at UNC Chapel Hill, dives deep into the heavy social media habits of teenagers. With a staggering number of teens online constantly, she highlights how this relentless connectivity reshapes adolescent brain development. Telzer discusses the psychological effects, such as increased sensitivity to social feedback that can lead to anxiety and loneliness. She also touches on the necessity for adult guidance and possible legal measures to ensure safer social media experiences for young users.

Anita Ramaswamy, a tech industry columnist at The Information, joins to unpack significant stories from the week. Apple is making headlines with a massive $500 billion investment aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing and job creation. Nvidia is riding the AI wave, reporting a staggering 78% revenue increase driven by chip demand. Meanwhile, the crypto world is reeling from a Bybit hack that siphoned off nearly $1.5 billion, highlighting security risks and regulatory challenges in the ever-evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

The discussion centers on a recent report from Patreon about the evolving relationship between creators and fans. While fans crave long-form content, they're bombarded with short-form snippets, leading to engagement struggles for creators. The conversation highlights the 'TikTokification' of the internet, and the challenges of balancing visibility with meaningful storytelling. Creators must navigate monetization hurdles while cultivating strong connections with dedicated supporters, revealing the complex dynamics of the current creator economy.

Is coding still an essential skill for kids with the rise of AI that can write code? Experts discuss the importance of programming literacy and computational thinking for future engagement with AI. They explore how education is adapting through innovative methods like pair programming. The conversation also highlights varying approaches to coding education worldwide and the foundational skills it nurtures in students. The implications of AI on traditional software development practices take center stage as educators rethink coding's role in curriculum.

Australia is gearing up for a significant social media ban for kids under 16, reflecting shifting attitudes toward youth online engagement. Experts discuss the challenges of enforcing age restrictions, especially for tech companies facing potential fines. The podcast delves into the intricacies of age verification methods and shares global perspectives from places like Texas and France. As the government navigates this new terrain, the impact on children and the tech industry's role in safeguarding young users from harmful content takes center stage.