Screen Time

A major new study reported by the Guardian finds that high screen usage in children is linked to poorer developmental outcomes. Researchers suggest the effect of elevated screen exposure could be as significant as parental behaviour and premature birth. The findings add weight to ongoing concerns among parents, educators and health experts about how much time children spend on phones, tablets and other devices.

A large global study has examined how screen time affects children's wellbeing, according to reporting carried by Yahoo News New Zealand. The findings address an ongoing debate among parents, educators and health researchers over how digital device use shapes children's mental and physical health. Details of the study's size, methodology and conclusions were not included in the available report.

A Supreme Court ruling is unlikely to change how voter eligibility checks are carried out in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a report by The New York Times. The decision may have limited practical impact on voter screening procedures. Discussion is focused on what the ruling does and does not mean for election administration.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is to serve as an advisor to the board of Skydance, the media company behind the planned merger with Paramount Global. The appointment, reported by Screen Daily, places Blair inside a major Hollywood power structure at a time when the Skydance-Paramount deal is reshaping the US entertainment industry. The move is drawing attention given Blair's political profile and the growing overlap between politics and media ownership.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the Trump administration's expansive federal database for use in voter roll screening, per the New York Times. The move is likely to intensify debate over election integrity versus voter access, with critics warning it could lead to improper purges of eligible voters while supporters frame it as a safeguard against noncitizen voting.

A new survey finds that 8 in 10 Dutch people aged 16 to 34 believe their smartphone use harms their everyday life. The finding highlights growing concern among young adults about the impact of constant phone use on wellbeing, concentration, and daily routines, sparking debate about digital habits and possible measures to curb excessive screen time.

UF Health researchers report that cancer diagnoses in the United States drop sharply during holiday periods, while outcomes for patients diagnosed around those dates are worse. The findings suggest holiday disruptions delay screenings and follow-up care, allowing cancers to be caught at later, harder-to-treat stages, and raise questions about how seasonal healthcare patterns affect patient survival.

Singapore's National Library Board is offering micropayments to encourage people to read more books and spend less time on their phones. The programme aims to build reading habits by rewarding users directly, prompting debate online about whether small financial incentives can genuinely change behaviour or trivialise the value of reading.

Apple is reportedly working on a screenless fitness band, a wearable design similar to Whoop's subscription-based health tracker that focuses entirely on sensor data rather than an on-device display. The device would track activity, recovery and health metrics, with insights delivered through the iPhone instead of a screen. Details about timing, pricing or features have not been confirmed by the company.

Researchers have highlighted three previously overlooked RNA molecules as potential new markers for colorectal cancer. The findings suggest these molecules could help detect the disease earlier and guide treatment choices, offering a possible addition to existing screening and diagnostic tools. Colorectal cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide, so any lead on earlier detection is drawing scientific and media attention.

Viewers are discussing the latest episode of Survivor's 51st season, with recaps breaking down how the episode was edited and which contestants received the most screen time. The season's new cast and early strategic moves are fueling conversation among fans following along week to week.

A newly published book argues that digital screens are driving growing social disconnection, examining how constant device use reshapes relationships, attention and everyday face-to-face interaction. The work adds to ongoing public debate about the psychological and social costs of screen time, joining a wider wave of recent writing on technology's effects on community and mental health.

Zoe Kazan's television adaptation of John Steinbeck's East of Eden is streaming on Netflix, and the Los Angeles Times has profiled six key creative choices Kazan made in bringing the novel to the screen. The piece explores her backstory decisions in reworking the classic saga of the Trask and Hamilton families, and the series is drawing renewed interest from viewers discovering it on the platform.

Netflix's viewing time grew only around 2 percent in the latest period, a marked slowdown for the streaming leader. The figures are being discussed alongside Netflix's ongoing competition with Disney, as both companies fight for subscribers and screen time. Investors are watching whether slowing engagement will affect Netflix's growth story and its position against Disney's expanding streaming services.

An Ottawa parent is asking whether families can fully opt out of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board's 'appropriate use of technology' curriculum in the early grades. They argue a junior kindergartener does not need digital citizenship lessons yet and should focus on foundational learning first. The question has struck a chord with other parents weighing screen time, early education priorities and how much technology belongs in the classroom for four- and five-year-olds.

Apple's iOS 27 is drawing attention for its overhauled screen time controls, alongside a set of other practical new features. Reports highlight the updated parental and usage-management tools as a key change for families and users looking to limit device time, with the broader feature list suggesting a focus on everyday usefulness rather than flashy additions.

A Wisconsin doctor is drawing attention for advice aimed at parents struggling to raise children amid constant screens and digital distractions. The piece, from Wisconsin Public Radio, positions the physician as a resource for families feeling overloaded by smartphones, social media and device battles at home. It speaks to a wider anxiety among parents about how much technology should be part of childhood.

Cholesterol is drawing attention following a Telegraph piece in which a cardiologist outlines the key cholesterol numbers people should know in midlife, prompting discussion about heart health screening. Separately, Merck reported a milestone in its cholesterol drug pipeline, keeping the topic in business and health headlines in Australia and the UK.

United Cinemas Terramall Matsudo has published screening times for the Resident Evil film at its cinema in Matsudo, Japan, drawing attention from moviegoers looking up schedules. The listing is being widely checked as interest in the film's theatrical run continues in the area.

Michael Douglas has confirmed he had a secret affair with Kathleen Turner during the filming of 'Romancing the Stone', ending roughly four decades of denial. Turner has now reacted to his revelation, with entertainment outlets including Fox News, The Times and Nine.com.au covering the pair's on-set romance and their long-running chemistry both on and off screen.

Theaters across Japan are publishing showtimes for TOHO Cinemas locations, including the flagship Shinjuku multiplex, with listings appearing for screenings of films such as 'Resident Evil' at branches in Kumamoto, Tachikawa, Matsubara and Funabashi. Attention is also on 'Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo', with actor Shotaro Mamiya praised for portraying the film's 'deadliest psychopath'. Moviegoers are checking timetables at major TOHO Cinemas sites, with Shinjuku topping search interest.

Amazon is drawing attention with the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, a large-screen tablet that Engadget got hands-on time with ahead of launch. The outlet's early look frames the device as a direct challenger to Apple's iPad Pro, reportedly priced at less than half the cost. Commenters are weighing whether the lower price can deliver a comparable premium tablet experience.

Michael Douglas has confirmed he had a secret affair with Kathleen Turner while filming 'Romancing the Stone'. The revelation has drawn wide attention, reigniting interest in the 1984 adventure classic and the famous on-screen chemistry between Douglas and Turner. Fans and entertainment outlets are discussing the admission and what it says about the pair's working relationship at the time.

Italian TV personality Sonia Bruganelli is drawing attention on two fronts. Italian media are showing off her home in an upscale Rome neighbourhood, complete with designer cushions reportedly costing 1,500 euros each, in a property said to communicate with ex-partner Paolo Bonolis's residence. She is also back on screen alongside Carlo Crucianni and Mega on Italia 1's 'Come Ti Leggo', a second-prime-time show discussing books and artificial intelligence.