Mental Health

Law to take effect on January 1 has support of social media companies, but Apple and Google oppose it.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed into law a bill requiring Apple and Alphabet’s Google to verify the age of users of their app stores, putting the second most populous state in the United States at the centre of a debate over whether and how to regulate smartphone use by children and teenagers.

The bill was signed into law on Tuesday.

The law, which goes into effect on January 1, requires parental consent to download apps or make in-app purchases for users aged below 18. Utah was the first US state to pass a similar law this year, and US lawmakers have also introduced a federal bill.

Another Texas bill, passed in the state’s House of Representatives and awaiting a Senate vote, would restrict social media apps to users over the age of 18.

Wide support

Age limits and parental consent for social media apps are among the few areas of wide US consensus. A Pew Research poll in 2023 indicated that 81 percent of Americans support requiring parental consent for children to create social media accounts and 71 percent supported age verification before using social media.

The effect of social media on children’s mental health has become a growing global concern. Dozens of US states have sued Meta Platforms, and the US surgeon general has issued an advisory on safeguards for children. Australia last year banned social media for children under 16, with other countries such as Norway also considering new rules.

How to implement age restrictions has caused a conflict between Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, and Apple and Google, which own the two dominant US app stores.

Meta and the social media companies Snap and X applauded the passage of the bill.

“Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it, and more than one-third of US states have introduced bills recognising the central role app stores play,” the companies said.

Kathleen Farley, vice president of litigation for the Chamber of Progress, a group backed by Apple and Alphabet, said the Texas law is likely to face legal challenges on First Amendment grounds.

“A big path for challenge is that it burdens adult speech in attempting to regulate children’s speech,” Farley told the Reuters news agency in an interview on Tuesday. “I would say there are arguments that this is a content-based regulation singling out digital communication.”

Child online safety groups that backed the Texas bill have also long argued for app store age verification, saying it is the only way to give parents effective control over children’s use of technology.

“The problem is that self-regulation in the digital marketplace has failed, where app stores have just prioritised the profit over safety and rights of children and families,” Casey Stefanski, executive director for the Digital Childhood Alliance, told Reuters.

Apple and Google opposed the Texas bill, saying it imposes blanket requirements to share age data with all apps, even when those apps are uncontroversial.

“If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app, even if it’s an app that simply provides weather updates or sports scores,” Apple said in a statement.

Google and Apple each have their own proposal that involves sharing age range data only with apps that require it, rather than all apps.

“We see a role for legislation here,” Kareem Ghanem, senior director of government affairs and public policy at Google, told Reuters.

“It’s just got to be done in the right way, and it’s got to hold the feet of [Meta CEO Mark] Zuckerberg and the social media companies to the fire because it’s the harm to kids and teens on those sites that’s really inspired people to take a closer look here and see how we can all do better.”

With a vast and notable lists of credits under her hat from over the years of her career, Dame Patricia Hodge opens up about her newest TV stint starring in BBC1’s newest drama Death Valley

Murder is no laughing matter for Patricia Hodge, who will be playing the role of Helena in the new BBC1 Saturday night drama Death Valley, starring Timothy Spall.

A veteran of long-running shows including Poirot, Miss Marple, Waking the Dead and Inspector Morse, she says of Death Valley: “It is sort of that new genre of humorous murder mysteries, which is quite a difficult thing to get your head around, because I don’t think there is anything funny about murder. But it’s a new popular thing.

“It was lovely working with Tim Spall, who is a darling. Anyway, I am interested to see how it pans out. I am not the new Vera, though!”

READ MORE: BBC TV star opens up on neurodiversity battle as she admits ‘I have ADHD’

Patricia, 78, filmed around Cardiff for the show, which follows eccentric retired actor John Chapel (Spall) and detective sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) as they form an unlikely, and often comedic, crime-solving partnership working in and around the Welsh valleys.

Specific details of Patricia’s role are being closely guarded, but she is one of a number of guest stars and, with her vast experience of crime drama, she is sure to add to the intrigue.

Despite being close to 80, the star of A Very English Scandal is also busy working on another BBC murder mystery series, The Marble Hall Murders, based on the Anthony Horowitz books.

Patricia, whose movie credits include Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Elephant Man, clearly loves working. “Work is what we are,” she says. “I sort of like being challenged. I don’t want to sit on the back foot. I want to sit on the front foot.

“I am filming this new Anthony Horowitz thing at the moment, The Marble Hall Murders, and I have been filming in Dublin and Greece, and I have never been to Greece, so that has been lovely. I am very lucky to work. Work engages me.”

She is also acclimatising to life without her husband, music publisher Peter Owen, who died aged 85 in 2016, after suffering from dementia. Downton Abbey star Patricia cared for him until his death and has helped raise awareness of dementia.

Speaking movingly in the past about her feelings of guilt over not being able to prevent her husband’s memory loss, which eventually meant he couldn’t recognise her, Patricia is not interested in finding anyone else.

She says of her loss: “It is always a big adjustment, isn’t it? We had over 40 years together, and it is now coming up to nine years (without Peter). I am not looking (for anyone new). It is not on my radar at all. I don’t know what I feel, really. I have wonderful friends. I am very lucky to work.”

Besides acting, Patricia has been committed to supporting Historic Royal Palaces – the charity which oversees the restoration of ageing ancient palaces, held in trust for the nation by King Charles and the Royal Collection. She enjoys seeing new life being breathed into these impressive sites, for the nation to enjoy.

Patricia, who lives in Barnes, south west London, continues: “I was on the development board of the Historic Royal Palaces when it came out of the public purse and was given charity status. It suddenly made all these palaces belong to the nation again. And they gave them public ownership.

“I am no longer working on it, but it was amazing to be involved, and I would like to be involved again. I guess we only have so many hours in a day. During my time, we oversaw the opening of Kew Palace, which was so amazing because nobody had seen it before, and the things they uncovered, they did it so beautifully. I live in Barnes, so I am not far from it.”

Avid history lover Patricia was also keen to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. She says: “I stood on Hammersmith Bridge for the VE Day flypast and I watched the bombers come over. I was hit in the gut to think of what our parents went through. What they put up with and how they came through.”

Turning to more fickle matters, Patricia is keen to pay tribute to the man behind her meticulously well-groomed appearance. She says: “I have very enduring relationships. All my friendships go way back, so I have had the same hairdresser for years, since 1981. It is a man called Hugh Green.”

Immensely stylish, Patricia has an enviably ageless image. But she insists: “I have never, never lied about my age. I don’t think there’s any point, because people can find it out very easily.

“I think, better to rejoice in what you are rather than try and stifle it. And if people find out and they know you’ve been lying, then what else are you lying about? You know, far better to live and embrace the truth.”

Made an OBE in 2017 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her services to drama, despite being widely regarded as acting royalty, Patricia likes to be known simply as “Hodge.”She says: ” The diminutives in Patricia are a nightmare. For the first 10 years of my life, I was called Patricia.

“Then I went to a school where, from day one, the teacher introduced me as Pat, without asking or anything. That was an automatic thing, that if you were called Patricia, you were called Pat.

“And then I got a bit tired of it, because actually Pat Hodge is not a great combo. When I went to drama school, I was called Trish or Trisha.

“There are a lot of people who just call me Hodge, and I think there’s only about two, if not three of us (Hodges) in the whole of equity. So now, when I answer the phone, I go, ‘Hodge.’”

Whether Hodge, Pat, Trisha, or Trish, asked if Dame Patricia Hodge has a certain ring to it, it becomes clear that if she gets another call from the Palace, this grande dame of British acting will take it in her stride.

She says: I don’t think about it. We should not get prizes for just doing a job. I am an OBE. Do you know what? If it happens, it happens.”

• The new series of Death Valley begins on BBC1 on Sunday, at 8.15pm.

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Countryfile’s Adam Henson has opened up on the ‘difficult times’ he has faced away from the BBC show

Countryfile’s Adam Henson has candidly shared his struggles with “difficult times” and family woes.

Behind the scenes, Adam tends to a Cotswolds farm founded by his father Joe in 1971, where he’s faced hard choices and significant losses.

Adam, despite a robust circle of support, stresses the need to highlight mental health concerns within the farming community.

In an exclusive chat with Reach PLC, Adam confessed: “My characteristics are that I am an upbeat person, and I have got an incredibly supportive family, wife and children and people around me.”

On the professional front, he divulged: “And within the business, I have got a business partner who I was at Agricultural College with, and he is one of my closest friends, and what we do is surround ourselves with people that are excellent within their own role in the business”, reports Wales Online.

He added about his team dynamics: “Whether that is a manager or a farm manager, we work really closely with the team, and we are all very honest and open with one another.”

Reflecting on some particularly tough periods, Adam revealed: “I have had some very difficult times in my life, both in business and personally. My wife was very ill a few years ago, my parents dying, and I lost a nephew.

“We have gone through foot and mouth challenges, Covid, and we have had some tough times, but I’ve never had poor mental health because I’ve had that fantastic support system around me.”

Adam is well-known for sharing the ups and downs of his farming life in Gloucestershire with his social media audience.

In one of his latest online updates, Adam shared a touching moment from the farm. In the post, he jubilantly declares, “We’ve just had another new arrival on the farm. One of our Gloucester cows has given birth.”

The footage then reveals the heartwarming scene of the cow alongside her newborn calf as Adam appreciatively says, “There she is. That’s Holly and her beautiful little calf.”

Concluding his heartfelt post, Adam praises the efforts of the cow with an affectionate: “What a clever girl.”

Admirers flocked to the comments section, with one person expressing their awe by stating “Just beautiful,” while another kept it brief with the word, “Lovely.”

The charming newborn also attracted warm sentiments, with someone calling it a “Sweet baby”.

Countryfile airs Sundays at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

There are some places that some say should never be visited regardless of the time of year or how safe the country they’re in is. Here’s a list of the ’15 most dangerous places on Earth’

Journeying across the globe is one of life’s greatest pleasures, offering the chance to immerse oneself in diverse cultures and marvel at the world’s natural splendours. However, like any endeavour, travel comes with its own set of risks, and not all destinations are safe for tourists. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as political instability, ongoing conflict, or recent natural disasters.

Yet, there are certain locations that some argue should be avoided altogether, regardless of the season or the overall safety of the country they’re situated in. The YouTube channel Top Fives has curated a list of what they believe to be the 15 most perilous places on Earth.

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In 15th place is Snake Island, Brazil. Also known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, Top Fives said the last known inhabitants were last on the island in the early part of the 20th century. Atlas Obscura reported that the island is responsible for 90 percent of fatalities related to snakebites in Brazil.

Sinabung Volcano in Indonesia is a highly dangerous active volcano that sits on the Karo plateau. It’s around 25 miles from super volcano Lake Toba and last erupted in July 2021; it’s 14th on the list.

The Bermuda Triangle is one of the most famous and supernatural places on the planet. Over the years hundreds of boats and aircraft have disappeared without a trace. The three points of the triangle are often considered to be Miami, Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

Lake Natron in Tanzania is famous for having the ability to reportedly turn animals into stone because of the toxicity of the lake. Despite the danger, the lake is a popular mating ground for flamingos.

Death Valley California, USA, is famous for being where some of the highest temperatures in human history have been recorded. Often considered the hottest place on earth, last year the temperature in the area skyrocketed to over 55C; it’s 11th on the list, reports the Express.

Cracking into the top ten is Danakil Depression in Eritrea. According to Brilliant Ethiopia is “one of the hottest, lowest, and driest places on the planet”. Within the scorching environment are a series of salt lakes, acidic springs, and lava lakes.

Although it covers a very small area, the Valley of Death, Russia, is infamous for the number of dead animals littered around. Situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula tourists are banned from visiting because a nearby volcano emits a deadly combination of carbon disulphide, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, and sulphur dioxide.

Madidi National Park, Bolivia, is another jungle paradise on the surface, but it is also filled with deadly plants and animals that can cause serious harm to the unwary. Originally established in the 1990s, visitors must exercise extreme caution if they visit.

Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands is most famous for the nuclear tests that took place in the region in the middle of the 20th century during the nuclear arms race. It is impossible for people to live there because the groundwater is contaminated from those tests.

Naica Crystal Cave, Mexico, is also known as the Cave of Crystals. Located in Naica, Chihuahua, no tourists are permitted inside the cave at any time because of the high heat and humidity.

The top five is a closely fought contest starting with the Kawah Ijen volcano in Indonesia on the island of Java. As with other volcanoes, extreme caution is advised before going near or venturing up to the crater.

Mount Washington is a challenging mountain to climb. It is also one filled with dangers. One of the tallest mountains in the USA, the weather, difficulty of the climb, and poor preparation are all factors that can lead to deaths on the mountain.

Lake Nyos, Cameroon, is set in the crater of a volcano. It is best known for what happened on August 21, 1986. On that day, it released a massive cloud of carbon dioxide that swept through the local area, killing over 1,000 people.

K’gari, Australia, is considered dangerous for several reasons including riptides in the sea alongside the presence of large numbers of sharks and jellyfish. Formerly known as Fraser Island it was renamed basic to its traditional name a few years ago.

Despite being named after a land animal, the Elephant Kingdom in Thailand was not full of elephants. Instead, tourists were given the opportunity to feed crocodiles from a raft. In 2016, it was closed because of how dangerous it was.

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Financial markets are volatile with consumer confidence at its lowest level in five years – as economists point to a higher risk of recession.

It all adds up to financial uncertainty for a lot of people. Roughly half of US adults say that President Trump’s trade policies will increase prices “a lot,” according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

About half of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about the possibility of the US economy going into a recession in the next few months.

Matt Watson, CEO of Origin, a financial planning app, says it’s a period of uncertainty for everyone, including experts.

“No one has a crystal ball. No one, even the people that do this professionally and have done it very successfully for many years, know what’s going to happen,” he said.

If you’re worried about how economic uncertainty might affect you, here are some expert recommendations:

Take stock of your finances

The first step to preparing for uncertain financial times is knowing your starting point, Watson said. Look at your budget or your debit card expenses so you can understand how much you spend every month.

“Take stock of where you are across a number of different categories,” Watson said.

Looking at the state of your savings and investments can also provide you with an idea of your overall financial health.

Find where you can cut back

The more nonessential expenses you can pause, the more you can save for an emergency.

“Your choice is really to cut now or cut later, so it’s easier to cut now and have a cushion,” Watson said.

If you’re having difficulty finding where to cut back, Jim Weil, managing partner at Private Vista, a financial planning firm, recommends that you divide your expenses into three buckets: needs, wants and wishes. Wishes are larger expenses that can be postponed, such as a big vacation.

For the time being, cut back expenses from the wishes section until you feel like your finances are in a good place.

Take care of your mental health

Between news about tariffs and job losses, you might feel your anxiety rising. So, it’s important that you protect your mental health while also caring about your finances said Courtney Alev, consumer advocate at Credit Karma. Sometimes, reading too much news that can affect your finances can become overbearing and create more stress than you need.

“It’s good practice to stay informed but you don’t want to let the news cycle consume you,” Alev said.

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If you find yourself feeling high levels of stress or anxiety when it comes to your finances, it’s best to contact a professional who can assist you, such as a financial therapist.

If looking for regular mental health services, most health insurance covers some type of mental health assistance. If you don’t have health insurance, you can look for sliding-scale therapists around the country.

Focus on what you can control

Rather than worrying too much about the economics of the entire country, Alev recommends that you focus on the aspects of your personal life that you can control in order to feel more confident in case there is a recession.

“Identify any changes that you might need to make to have more of a safety net in place that could give you confidence,” Alev said.

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Things you can control include budgeting, creating an emergency fund and cutting unnecessary expenses.

Create an emergency fund

Whether you are worried about your job security or the high prices of goods, it’s best that you sit down and reassess your budget to create an emergency fund. An emergency fund can feel unattainable if finances are already difficult, but having even a small amount of cash saved can make the difference, Alev said.

Ideally, your emergency fund should amount to three to six months of expenses.

Weil recommends you start thinking about any special commitments that you might have in the next year or two, such as college tuition or moving. If you are planning for a large financial commitment in the near future, Weil recommends that you plan to build a larger emergency fund.

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Do monthly finance check-ins

Alev recommends regularly adjusting your budget to keep your financial goals on track. Monthly budget check-ins can help identify when you are overspending or if your needs change.

“A budget is only as good as it is to help you actually make decisions, so don’t be afraid to update and adapt your budget as the months go by,” Alev said.

Choose which type of debt to tackle first

Many people struggle with debt, whether it’s credit card debt or student loan debt, which limits their ability to save. But, if you want to create an emergency fund while also tackling your debt, it will take some prioritisation.

“I would think about different kinds of debt differently,” Weil said, adding that you can place debt in three buckets: short-, medium- and long-term debt.

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Weil recommends that you prioritise paying off high-interest debt such as your credit card. By making extra payments or paying over the minimum payment, you will be able to pay it off quicker. Student loan debt and long-term debt such as a mortgage can be tackled with more modest payments while you focus on creating an emergency fund.

If you have credit card debt and you can’t make too much progress in paying it down, Alev recommends you try to eliminate or reduce the amount of credit you use.

Don’t panic about your investments

While the stock market has had some bad days, it’s best that you are not reactive to the market. If you have investments, especially in retirement vehicles, it’s best not to make rushed decisions, Alev said.

“You really want to try not to panic. It can be unnerving but most likely, you should have time to make that up,” she added. If you’re closer to retirement, Alev recommends that you look into more conservative investments.

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Travelling solo can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be lonely. Travel expert Will Sarson has shared his top tips for beating loneliness while travelling alone.

If you’ve ever ventured on a solo journey, you’ll know it’s an extraordinary adventure. Solo travel lets you set your own rhythm, immerse yourself in new cultures, and bond with the locals.

Yet, it can also pose its own set of challenges. Travelling on your own might sometimes lead to feelings of loneliness.

Will Sarson, Travel Expert at Riviera Travel, has shared his six essential tips for overcoming loneliness and maximising the enjoyment of your solo travel escapades. He advised: “Whether it’s friends or family you’re missing, it’s important to know what to do to navigate these feelings to get the most out of your trip.”

His primary advice is to have a plan full of activities – whether that’s a beach day or a guided excursion, reports the Express.

Will explained: “When enjoying a solo holiday, it’s important to plan ahead and arrange enjoyable activities to keep yourself engaged and avoid feelings of loneliness.”

“Smaller tour groups are often a better choice for solo travellers. Many holiday packages are designed with this in mind, ensuring those travelling alone don’t feel overwhelmed or lost in a crowd.”

It’s equally crucial not to shy away from engaging with locals or fellow travellers. Even though it may seem daunting, initiating a conversation is worthwhile – you never know what insights you might gain.

Will remarked: “Taking that first step can increase the chances of establishing strong connections and making lifelong friends.”

Chatting with individuals from diverse countries, backgrounds and cultures can widen your horizons. Solo travel is supposed to be enlightening, and striking up conversations with new people plays a key role in this experience.

Opting for a cruise or group tour tailored for solo voyagers ensures you’ll be among other lone adventurers, offering company when desired or the option to relish solitude.

The evening often poses the greatest challenge to evade feelings of loneliness – spending the day exploring might keep it at bay. To combat feeling down as dusk falls, carving out some quality relaxation time is crucial.

Getting engrossed in an absorbing book or podcast, or taking an evening stroll through the local neighbourhood can be perfect remedies.

Will emphasises: “I believe it’s extremely important to plan for the downtime in the evenings, to avoid long nights with nothing to do – which naturally increases boredom and loneliness.”

For those about to embark on a maiden solo journey and who may harbour some apprehension, Will suggests joining a dedicated tour for solo travellers. He advises: “These trips often include thoughtfully planned itineraries designed to keep solo travellers engaged and connected with others. For example, a welcome dinner on the first night gives travellers a chance to meet fellow solo travellers.”

Gone are the days when solo travellers had to make do with substandard lodgings, with many travel companies now offering spacious rooms or for those on cruises, double cabins that boast all the comforts one would expect on a group or family getaway.

If you find yourself still trying to stave off homesickness after booking a packed itinerary, taking some alone time, joining a tour, or attempting to forge new friendships, there’s no shame in reaching out back home. Will advises: “Checking in while abroad can give people a sense of comfort. Social media can be a great way of keeping in touch while on a solo trip while also allowing friends and family to know you’re safe.”

“It’s not often you get to enjoy a holiday on your own, so my best advice is to embrace it, learn from the experience and do your best to enjoy it! Solo travelling is a fulfilling experience that forces people to cultivate independence and enjoy their own space.”