On the Radar: Europe’s AI Emotion Ban, Doomscrolling and Is Silent Mode Better for You?

EU Will Ban AI ‘Emotions’ to Protect Kids

What? The European Union intends to ban artificial intelligence chatbots from “from simulating emotions or interpersonal relationships” during interactions with minors.

So What? The ban, which is part of the larger EU Kids Act, is an effort to improve child safety online by shoring up the potential dangers of AI usage to young users—particularly as it relates to children viewing AI as their “friend.”

Now What? The push for AI safety across the board is a prime example of “better late than never.” Ultimately, it’s an encouraging development that leaders are recognizing the need for some AI restrictions and taking an active role in creating guardrails, instead of leaving that up to the companies behind the AI chatbots in question.   

Can Doomscrolling Help People Stay Informed?

What? In a new poll by Hopelab and Data for Progress, 76% of people ages 13 to 24 said that doomscrolling—the term for consuming a steady diet of distressing online content—helped them “stay informed.”

So What? Doomscrolling didn’t get its gloomy identifier due to all the positive benefits it provides. While it may help people stay informed about news and other information, how much of this information is helpful, actionable or beneficial to our mental health is another thing entirely. After all, six in 10 of those survey respondents said doomscrolling left them “anxious, mentally exhausted, overwhelmed, angry, or hopeless.”

Now What? There’s nothing wrong with your kids being informed about the things happening in the world around them. But we’re not made to carry the weight of the whole world on our shoulders, either. Help your kids avoid the doomscroll, limit overuse of screens and keep phones out of bedrooms at night.

Is ‘Silent Mode’ Better for You?

What? Putting your phone on silent mode is an act of self-control, right? Mastery over that little screen in your pocket? Maybe not. A new study found that people who used silent mode actually checked their phones nearly twice as much as those who had their phone’s sound or vibration settings on.

So What? As the study notes, “removing the sound [from your phone] doesn’t remove the uncertainty about what might be happening on the phone.” For some, that might be even more distracting than a sporadic beep or buzz.

Now What? The issue here isn’t a notification noise, it’s the unchecked dependence on digital stimulation. Instead of simply telling your kids to “turn off their phone,” help them develop the habit of disconnecting from the online space, whether they’re on their phone or not.