Sexual predators grooming children under 6 online, Apple scraps eco-friendly accessories

Sexual predators are grooming children under six into performing “disturbing” acts of sexual abuse via phones or webcams a charity has warned. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) said it had discovered more than two thousand remotely filmed child abuse images of three to six-year-olds online in 2023. It follows recent warnings from the communications watchdog Ofcom…

40% of female entrepreneurs report gender-based discrimination

A new survey by social enterprise Code First Girls has found that 40% of female entrepreneurs have faced gender-based discrimination whilst in a leadership role.  61% also agreed that, in terms of the challenges faced by women when breaking into senior roles, stereotypes still exist - with leadership continuing to favour men.  Additionally, when asked about barriers to…

39% of women in the UK credit video games for enhancing workplace skills

A new study from Currys reveals that 39% of women believe their hobby makes them better workers, with almost three in five (58%) saying that they incorporate gaming skills into their working day. These same skills were listed in the top 10 most in-demand skills for employers in the latest LinkedIn job listing analysis.   LinkedIn’s 2024…

WhatsApp reduces minimum age to 13 in UK/EU, Apple eases self-repair policy

Children as young as nine have been added to malicious WhatsApp groups promoting self-harm, sexual violence and racism, a BBC investigation has found. Thousands of parents with children at schools across Tyneside have been sent a warning issued by Northumbria Police. One parent said her 12-year-old daughter had viewed sexual images, racism and swearing that…

Microsoft to open AI office in London, Spotify launches AI Playlist tool

Microsoft is opening a new office in London dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) research and development. The tech firm's AI boss Mustafa Suleyman said it will advertise roles for "exceptional individuals" in the coming weeks and months. But he has not said how many jobs will be created. Microsoft is a major investor in ChatGPT-creator…

X reinstates some free blue ticks, Disney+ cracks down on password sharing

X has caused confusion by reinstating free blue ticks for some users - a year after it began charging for the service. For years, Twitter blue ticks effectively served as verification badges and were given to celebrities, politicians, journalists, and other influential accounts for free. However, months after Elon Musk purchased Twitter for $44bn (£38bn) in October…

Google considers charging for AI content, ‘Invisibility Cloak’ becomes reality

Google, the search engine used by more than a billion people around the world, is reported to be considering charging for premium content generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The company, owned by Alphabet Inc, is said to be revamping its business model and looking at putting some of its core product behind a paywall. It…

9 in 10 neurodivergent employees report burnout in tech sector

  90% of female neurodivergent employees are experiencing burnout in the tech sector, according to the latest research by social enterprise Code First Girls.  In the UK alone, there are 5 million people who consider themselves to be neurodivergent - but only 120,000 have been formally diagnosed. This is a particular issue for women -…

How To Avoid Being Scammed On Facebook Marketplace

  As the popularity of online marketplaces continues to soar, Facebook Marketplace has emerged as a go-to destination for buying and selling a wide range of goods. However, amidst the plethora of legitimate sellers lie deceptive scammers waiting to prey on unsuspecting buyers. To help you steer clear of potential scams and protect your hard-earned…