BY AMARI SUKHDEO

Picture this: a child sits at the dinner table, eagerly sharing what’s on their mind, or their day at school. Yet, the moment is lost on their parents, who are engrossed in their smartphones. This familiar scenario is more than just a daily annoyance—it could be taking a toll on children’s mental health.

Recent research highlights a troubling trend: kids aged 9 to 11 whose parents are frequently absorbed by their phones are more likely to experience anxiety, attention issues, and hyperactivity. “When children’s emotional and physical needs are consistently ignored or inappropriately responded to, they are at risk of developing mental health difficulties,” explains Sheri Madigan, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Calgary.

This “technoference” is not just a modern inconvenience, but a significant factor in childhood development. The term refers to the disruptions in parent-child interactions caused by excessive smartphone use. Studies reveal that when parents are preoccupied with their devices, the quality and frequency of their interactions with their children suffer. This can lead to weaker parent-child bonds and, ultimately, developmental issues in children.

“Fewer and lower-quality parent-child interactions impact a child’s development in various ways,” says Dr. Lisa Harris of New Canaan Pediatrics. “Parental screen time interrupts the development of ‘joint attention,’ a crucial skill for socialization and forming meaningful relationships.” Joint attention helps children recognize when someone is engaging with them and reciprocate that focus—a fundamental component of emotional bonding and social skills.

The repercussions extend beyond immediate interactions. Research shows that chronic inattention from parents, often due to screen distractions, can lead to behavioral problems and a decline in self-esteem among children. When children learn that interrupting a parent’s screen time elicits a negative reaction, they may cease seeking interaction altogether, further straining the relationship.

So, what can parents do to mitigate these effects? Begin by auditing your screen habits and setting designated “device-free” times. Simple actions, like refraining from checking your phone during meals, or while engaging with your child, can make a significant difference. “Create intentional moments of interaction and model responsible screen habits,” advises Dr. Harris.

Understanding that our screens can be a powerful distraction is the first step towards improving family dynamics. By choosing to engage meaningfully with our children rather than getting lost in digital distractions, we not only foster stronger relationships, but also set a healthier example for our children’s own screen use.

BY KAHA G.

“‘When fake news is repeated, it becomes difficult for the public to discern what’s real.” Jimmy Gomez

This is a quote I couldn’t agree more with, and it plays a big role in most if not all of the issues going on in the world. In this article, I will discuss three ways you can be misinformed, how it spreads and affects us, and how to protect ourselves.

There are three types of ways you can be misinformed: misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Although they look the same, they all have different meanings.

• Misinformation is false or misleading information shared without the intent to deceive, which means it could be an honest mistake, or misunderstanding.
• Disinformation is false information spread to deliberately deceive or manipulate the public to obscure the truth.
• Malinformation is information that is based on reality, and it is presented in a way to cause harm, like the information shared to damage someone’s reputation. An example of malinformation is when someone online—like a content creator— says something but people clip it (only show the peculiar thing they said), so it’s taken completely out of context to slander their name or get them “cancelled.”

Now, how does this type of information spread so fast on social media? According to https://today.usc.edu/, USC (University of Southern California) researchers found that social media platforms’ reward systems play a big role in spreading fake news. Instead of just being due to people not thinking critically, the study shows that 15% of frequent news sharers are responsible for 30% to 40% of fake news. Social media encourages people to share sensational content by rewarding them, similar to how video games work. This leads users to share information without checking if it’s true.

Furthermore, behavioural studies show that when people see misinformation, they are more likely to believe it and share it, especially if it’s to show support for a political group, criticize others, or gain attention. Expressing that people are more likely to share fake news if it matches their beliefs, is new, or causes strong emotions.

Misinformation spreads differently on social media than on TV, or in newspapers, which have more checks to prevent false claims. On social media, information can spread quickly with little oversight, and something called “echo chambers” where people only see views similar to their own, make it that much worse. Algorithms play a big role in this as they highlight emotional content.

Additionally, misinformation has a profound impact on the public’s opinions, and their beliefs and behaviour. For example, it can cause people to have wrong ideas about important issues like health, politics, or science. It can also make people more divided, as misinformation often plays on emotions like fear and anger, making people strongly support one side while distrusting others. This is a dangerous and disgusting tactic used by some governments in a time of conflict. Over time, this can lead to less trust in reliable sources like news outlets and experts, making it harder for true information to be accepted.

How can the public combat all this misinformation, and tell the truth from deception? It’s by thinking carefully about the information they come across and being cautious about what sources they trust. It’s important to check if the information is accurate by looking at multiple reliable sources before sharing it.

Fact-checking websites can sometimes help confirm if something is true, or false, but even those have to be verified. People should also be aware of their own biases and how these might affect their judgment. Following trustworthy news sources, avoiding echo chambers, and learning about common misinformation tactics can help recognize and avoid false information. Lastly, although commonly overlooked, taking a moment to think before reacting to emotional content can help stop the spread of misinformation.

In conclusion, it’s important to be careful about misinformation. We can protect ourselves from false information by thinking critically, checking facts from trusted sources, and being aware of our biases. Using fact-checking tools and being cautious about what we share can help stop the spread of misinformation. Staying informed and alert helps keep the information we see and share more accurate and reliable.

BY KHADIJA KARIM

When you go to the grocery store and pick out fresh fruits and vegetables, you think that washing them with water will make them perfectly clean. However, it turns out that washing fruit doesn’t always remove all the antibiotics it contains.

To give you an idea, pesticides are chemicals used by farmers to protect their crops from pests and diseases. Those fruits and vegetables look gorgeous, fresh and ready to eat!, but they can also leave residue on the fruit. This residue can be very difficult to remove even after washing. One reason washing doesn’t always work is that some pesticides like to stick to fruits and vegetables. Water alone is not enough to eliminate these chemicals.

Another problem is that not all fruits and vegetables have the same skin tone. For example, fruits with thick skins, such as bananas, or oranges, prevent water from reaching the bottom layer of pesticides. On the other hand, thin-skinned fruits like apples, or berries can be hardier because their skin can trap pesticides near the surface.

To truly understand pesticide residues, it’s important to use more than just water. Some people use liquid rinses that are designed to help remove chemicals more effectively, and you can also peel fruits to get rid of pesticides. For example, if you peel an apple, you can get rid of some of the pesticides left on the skin. However, peeling can also remove some of the best nutrients we need so it’s not always the best option to choose.

In conclusion, washing fruits and vegetables is a good start, but not a complete solution to eliminate all pesticides. Using fruit and vegetable bleach and crop extracts is a great way to reduce pesticide exposure. Always remember it’s important to still eat your fruits and vegetables!