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.

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.

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.

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.

Screening times for the Japanese film 'Jikyu 300 Yen no Shinigami' (The 300-Yen-per-Hour Grim Reaper) have been published for United Cinemas Makuhari in Chiba, near Kaihin-Makuhari station. Moviegoers are checking showtimes and schedules as the film continues its theatrical run in Japan.

Attention is turning to how young South Korean children are when they first begin using smartphones, with reports highlighting exposure starting in the toddler years. The topic has fuelled wider debate about screen time, child development and parenting habits in one of the world's most connected countries.

Viewers increasingly treat commercial breaks on television as time to pick up their phones and scroll instead of watching the ads. The observation, shared in a short online remark, captures a widely recognised shift in viewing habits: second-screen behaviour has made traditional TV advertising far easier to ignore, a trend advertisers and broadcasters have been grappling with for years.

Dr Gaurav Batra, Principal Consultant Neurosurgeon at Yashoda Medicity in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, spoke to HT Lifestyle about whether excessive smartphone use could contribute to health problems. He addressed concerns including fragmented attention, disturbed sleep and recurrent headaches, adding medical perspective to the growing public debate over heavy screen time and its effects on daily wellbeing.

A film starring Denzel Washington described as 'masterfully executed' is being broadcast on BBC tonight, according to the Liverpool Echo. The actor, one of Hollywood's most decorated stars and a two-time Oscar winner, is drawing attention as viewers look up details about the screening and which of his films is being shown.

German broadcaster Martina Eßer has presented her last show on WDR, bidding farewell to viewers, as reported by the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. The Cologne-based public broadcaster is a fixture of regional television in North Rhine-Westphalia, so the departure of a familiar host has drawn attention from local audiences reflecting on her time on screen.

A guide ranks gadgets designed to replace screen time with simpler technology, ordering them by how little attention they demand from users. The list reflects growing interest in digital minimalism, with devices such as e-readers, basic music players and other single-purpose tools positioned as alternatives to constant smartphone use for people looking to cut back on phone habits.

A student newspaper column argues for digital minimalism — deliberately cutting back on screens and apps — as a response to how dependent daily life has become on technology. The piece weighs the benefits of constant connectivity against concerns about attention, wellbeing and overuse, and suggests setting personal limits on device use rather than abandoning technology altogether.

A new hands-on preview of Monster Hunter Outlanders examines whether Capcom's hunting series can translate to mobile devices. Nick at TheSixthAxis spent time with the game and reports his verdict on how the core Monster Hunter experience holds up on phones. The piece is drawing attention from players curious whether the franchise's famously demanding combat survives the move to handheld screens.

Apple says its rumoured folding iPhone, referred to as iPhone Duo, will feature a replaceable cover layer on its folding display to reduce the visible crease that develops on foldable screens over time. The detail was shared by Apple executive Kate Bergeron and is drawing attention as a potential differentiator against Samsung and other foldable makers, whose displays typically degrade at the hinge.

Peacock has officially given the green light to a television series based on the 'Fast & Furious' film franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The move extends one of Hollywood's biggest action franchises into episodic streaming, though details on cast, story and premiere timing have not yet been announced. Fans are reacting to the expansion of the car-racing saga to the small screen.

A science publication is asking why regulatory screening in drug development and food formulation takes place only after the recipe or compound is essentially complete, rather than earlier in the design process. The piece explores how late-stage screening can force costly redesigns and why regulators evaluate finished formulations rather than drafts, raising questions about whether earlier integration could save time and money.

The Zurich Film Festival 2026 is introducing a section dedicated to artificial intelligence, exploring how the technology intersects with cinema. Alongside screenings, the festival will host a three-part talk series examining AI from multiple perspectives, featuring guests from different fields. It is one of the more prominent festival programmes to put AI at the centre of its edition.