WEBVTT 00:11.440 --> 00:14.080 Hey there and happy Wednesday everyone. 00:14.080 --> 00:16.800 I'm Dr. Sanjre Gupta. So excited to be 00:16.800 --> 00:19.760 filling in again for my buddy Koi Wire 00:19.760 --> 00:22.000 right now. Hopefully he's getting some 00:22.000 --> 00:24.480 sleep tackling that jet lag from his 00:24.480 --> 00:27.680 trip to Italy. Also, today is your word 00:27.680 --> 00:30.320 Wednesday, so listen up. See if the 00:30.320 --> 00:32.880 vocabulary words you submitted helped us 00:32.880 --> 00:35.200 write today's show. Let's begin though 00:35.200 --> 00:37.200 with an update on a story you should all 00:37.200 --> 00:39.680 be following. The unprecedented social 00:39.680 --> 00:41.680 media trial that's currently underway in 00:41.680 --> 00:44.640 California. The basic question is this. 00:44.640 --> 00:47.039 Are social media companies harming 00:47.039 --> 00:49.600 younger users mental health? The answer 00:49.600 --> 00:51.280 to that question and the outcome of this 00:51.280 --> 00:53.520 trial could shape social media going 00:53.520 --> 00:56.640 forward and how more than 1,500 similar 00:56.640 --> 00:59.440 cases will be eventually resolved. Tech 00:59.440 --> 01:02.239 giants YouTube and Meta are now in week 01:02.239 --> 01:04.400 three of their defense in that trial and 01:04.400 --> 01:06.479 they deny claims that their platforms 01:06.479 --> 01:08.640 are intentionally addictive and harmful 01:08.640 --> 01:11.439 to children. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg 01:11.439 --> 01:13.680 testified that he believes his company 01:13.680 --> 01:16.240 has handled user safety in a quote 01:16.240 --> 01:18.799 reasonable way. The head of Instagram, 01:18.799 --> 01:20.880 which is also owned by Meta, added that 01:20.880 --> 01:23.840 he does not think users can become quote 01:23.840 --> 01:27.040 clinically addicted. But new documents 01:27.040 --> 01:30.240 show that back in 2018, some employees 01:30.240 --> 01:32.560 at Meta, which was then on Facebook, 01:32.560 --> 01:35.119 proposed a public review of features 01:35.119 --> 01:38.079 like autoplay and endless scrolling. 01:38.079 --> 01:40.479 There were concerns even back then that 01:40.479 --> 01:42.960 those types of features could contribute 01:42.960 --> 01:45.280 to addictive behavior. While the 01:45.280 --> 01:47.439 proposed review was never carried out, 01:47.439 --> 01:49.280 those features and the concerns about 01:49.280 --> 01:52.240 what they do to a still developing brain 01:52.240 --> 01:55.280 are at the center of this trial. So, 01:55.280 --> 01:57.360 let's talk about what we do know about 01:57.360 --> 01:59.439 the impact of social media and its 01:59.439 --> 02:01.920 impact on mental health. Take a look. 02:01.920 --> 02:05.040 One study found that users aed 12 to 15 02:05.040 --> 02:07.280 who spent more than three hours a day on 02:07.280 --> 02:10.000 social media faced double the risk of 02:10.000 --> 02:11.840 experiencing poor mental health 02:11.840 --> 02:13.840 outcomes, including symptoms of 02:13.840 --> 02:16.080 depression and anxiety. This is 02:16.080 --> 02:19.680 concerning because as of 2021, 8th and 02:19.680 --> 02:22.000 10th graders spent an average of 3 and a 02:22.000 --> 02:24.400 half hours per day on social media. 02:24.400 --> 02:26.400 Excessive social media use has also been 02:26.400 --> 02:28.720 linked to sleep and attention problems. 02:28.720 --> 02:31.440 And a Pew survey showed that teens list 02:31.440 --> 02:34.000 it as a top threat to their mental 02:34.000 --> 02:36.879 health. But at the same time, are there 02:36.879 --> 02:39.120 any benefits to social media? Let's take 02:39.120 --> 02:40.640 a look at some of the potential 02:40.640 --> 02:44.560 positives. A 2025 Pew survey of teens 02:44.560 --> 02:47.760 showed 74% said it makes them feel more 02:47.760 --> 02:51.519 connected to their friends. 63% said it 02:51.519 --> 02:53.120 gave them a place to show off their 02:53.120 --> 02:56.720 creative side. And 52% said they liked 02:56.720 --> 02:59.040 having people support them through tough 02:59.040 --> 03:01.360 times. Look, I think the biggest 03:01.360 --> 03:03.599 question often asked about social media 03:03.599 --> 03:06.720 is why? Why do we keep mindlessly 03:06.720 --> 03:08.959 scrolling, maybe even when we really 03:08.959 --> 03:10.879 want to stop? And there are three 03:10.879 --> 03:12.800 factors that seem to influence our 03:12.800 --> 03:15.519 desire to keep scrolling. How much a 03:15.519 --> 03:18.239 person has already watched, how similar 03:18.239 --> 03:20.480 the content is that they are viewing, 03:20.480 --> 03:23.519 and how they are watching it. That means 03:23.519 --> 03:26.080 we're more likely to watch more content 03:26.080 --> 03:28.560 based on how much we've already seen. 03:28.560 --> 03:30.879 The more similar the content is, the 03:30.879 --> 03:33.599 easier it is to watch. And we're more 03:33.599 --> 03:35.920 likely to keep scrolling if our viewing 03:35.920 --> 03:39.200 isn't interrupted by other tasks. So, 03:39.200 --> 03:41.680 what can we do? What can you do if you 03:41.680 --> 03:43.519 feel that your social media use is 03:43.519 --> 03:46.080 becoming a problem? Well, in addition to 03:46.080 --> 03:47.920 using in-app controls such as time 03:47.920 --> 03:50.799 limits and filters, we can follow the 03:50.799 --> 03:55.519 three W's. They stand for what for? Why 03:55.519 --> 03:58.319 now? What else? That means when you pick 03:58.319 --> 04:00.400 up your phone, ask yourself those 04:00.400 --> 04:03.040 questions. What is the reason I just 04:03.040 --> 04:05.680 picked up my phone? Why do I need to do 04:05.680 --> 04:08.720 that at this exact moment? And what else 04:08.720 --> 04:11.120 could I be doing instead of starting to 04:11.120 --> 04:13.680 scroll? Look, I'll tell you this. As a 04:13.680 --> 04:15.920 parent of three teenage girls, it's a 04:15.920 --> 04:18.639 conundrum. I struggle with how to limit 04:18.639 --> 04:20.400 the negative aspects of owning a 04:20.400 --> 04:22.479 smartphone while still encouraging my 04:22.479 --> 04:24.160 kids to stay connected with their 04:24.160 --> 04:27.600 friends. One solution, just dial it back 04:27.600 --> 04:30.000 way back. In fact, one strategy some 04:30.000 --> 04:32.639 parents are using is to install landline 04:32.639 --> 04:35.199 phones in common areas in their homes. 04:35.199 --> 04:37.680 CNN's Vanessa Yavich shows us how 04:37.680 --> 04:43.160 families are hanging up on smartphones. 04:46.479 --> 04:48.320 Hello, 04:48.320 --> 04:49.199 Jennifer. 04:49.199 --> 04:51.919 >> When it first rang, did you like 04:51.919 --> 04:53.759 recognize that it was a phone ring? 04:53.759 --> 04:54.479 >> No. I'm like, 04:54.479 --> 04:56.320 >> is that a fire alarm? 04:56.320 --> 04:58.560 >> Brooks, Harry, and Charlotte had never 04:58.560 --> 05:00.639 used a landline before their mom Sarah 05:00.639 --> 05:02.240 got them one for Christmas. 05:02.240 --> 05:05.199 >> I use it a lot because I could call my 05:05.199 --> 05:07.919 friends on it. She's probably waiting. 05:07.919 --> 05:10.320 >> Landlines are the latest craze for kids. 05:10.320 --> 05:12.000 Parents hoping to push off getting their 05:12.000 --> 05:14.639 kids smartphones are ordering modern-day 05:14.639 --> 05:17.039 Wi-Fi connected landline phones made 05:17.039 --> 05:20.160 just for kids. I spoke to the CEO of Tin 05:20.160 --> 05:22.240 Canan. Their phones are on back order 05:22.240 --> 05:23.840 through April. Chad, 05:23.840 --> 05:25.280 >> hello. Hi, Vanessa. 05:25.280 --> 05:27.759 >> I uh cannot remember the last time I 05:27.759 --> 05:30.000 called someone on a landline. Honestly, 05:30.000 --> 05:33.280 have you heard that this actually either 05:33.280 --> 05:36.800 prolongs the kid asking or acts in place 05:36.800 --> 05:39.360 of a cell phone? What a kid is asking 05:39.360 --> 05:42.240 for is almost never a cell phone. What 05:42.240 --> 05:44.240 they're asking for is a way to connect 05:44.240 --> 05:45.360 with people. 05:45.360 --> 05:46.560 >> Don't hit that. 05:46.560 --> 05:49.360 >> The telephone has been around for 150 05:49.360 --> 05:51.600 years. But with the rise of smartphones 05:51.600 --> 05:54.080 in just two decades, landlines have all 05:54.080 --> 05:55.280 but disappeared. 05:55.280 --> 05:56.880 >> We lost sight of the fact that there was 05:56.880 --> 05:59.280 this major population of people that 05:59.280 --> 06:02.240 relied on the landline for decades and 06:02.240 --> 06:03.919 we left them behind. That's kids and 06:03.919 --> 06:05.520 sort of launched head first into the 06:05.520 --> 06:08.080 mobile era. Research shows kids who get 06:08.080 --> 06:10.080 smartphones at a younger age are more 06:10.080 --> 06:11.840 likely to suffer from obesity, 06:11.840 --> 06:14.240 depression, and not get enough sleep. 06:14.240 --> 06:17.039 >> Why, in your mind, was a phone, still a 06:17.039 --> 06:18.880 version of a phone, but a landline 06:18.880 --> 06:20.479 better than a cell phone? 06:20.479 --> 06:23.280 >> No screen. Uh, and I thought, well, hey, 06:23.280 --> 06:24.240 they're going to have to learn how to 06:24.240 --> 06:25.919 communicate. So many kids, the 06:25.919 --> 06:28.000 communication is is lacking. I feel 06:28.000 --> 06:28.560 like, 06:28.560 --> 06:31.759 >> hi, Nana. Parents can control who calls 06:31.759 --> 06:34.080 in and out, can set hours for use, and 06:34.080 --> 06:36.400 can add 911 as an option. 06:36.400 --> 06:38.880 >> Sometimes we'll actually we'll fight 06:38.880 --> 06:41.440 like I'll get it and then they every now 06:41.440 --> 06:43.280 and then like I answer it and Harry 06:43.280 --> 06:45.199 called Dibs first and we actually kind 06:45.199 --> 06:46.800 of fight with each other but don't 06:46.800 --> 06:48.319 actually hurt each other. It's just 06:48.319 --> 06:52.120 tough love basically. 06:52.479 --> 06:54.319 >> So what do you think? I think this would 06:54.319 --> 06:56.560 be a good time to press pause if you'd 06:56.560 --> 06:58.400 like and maybe discuss this with your 06:58.400 --> 07:01.280 peers. Maybe start with these questions. 07:01.280 --> 07:03.599 Do you feel like social media has had an 07:03.599 --> 07:06.160 impact on your mental health? Would you 07:06.160 --> 07:08.960 enjoy having a landline in your house? 07:08.960 --> 07:11.120 Have you personally taken any steps to 07:11.120 --> 07:13.039 try and limit your screen time? And if 07:13.039 --> 07:16.319 so, what are they? 07:16.319 --> 07:18.880 Right, time for 10 second trivia. How 07:18.880 --> 07:22.160 many major islands make up the Gopagos? 07:22.160 --> 07:27.599 Is it 9, 13, 25, or 17? 07:27.599 --> 07:30.240 According 07:30.240 --> 07:32.880 to the Galopagos Conservancy, there are 07:32.880 --> 07:35.440 13 major islands and numerous smaller 07:35.440 --> 07:38.000 islands that make up the archipelago. 07:38.000 --> 07:42.000 About 97% of the land is a national park 07:42.000 --> 07:44.880 and a protected marine reserve. 07:44.880 --> 07:47.440 On Ecuador's Galopicos Islands, famous 07:47.440 --> 07:48.880 by the way for inspiring Charles 07:48.880 --> 07:51.919 Darwin's theory of evolution, a slow and 07:51.919 --> 07:53.599 steady comeback is making big 07:53.599 --> 07:56.000 environmental strides. On Floriana 07:56.000 --> 07:59.360 Island, 158 giant tortoises have been 07:59.360 --> 08:01.599 released, restoring a species that have 08:01.599 --> 08:03.919 been locally extinct since the 19th 08:03.919 --> 08:06.319 century. The animals were bred over more 08:06.319 --> 08:09.360 than a decade at Ecuador's Fausto Yarena 08:09.360 --> 08:11.199 and then reintroduced by the country's 08:11.199 --> 08:13.199 environmental ministry in Gapico's 08:13.199 --> 08:15.199 National Park. The ministry says this 08:15.199 --> 08:17.919 milestone is intended to set the stage 08:17.919 --> 08:20.479 for the restoration of a dozen native 08:20.479 --> 08:22.400 species that are considered locally 08:22.400 --> 08:24.560 extinct on the island. 08:24.560 --> 08:26.560 For us as park rangers, it's a source of 08:26.560 --> 08:28.160 pride to release the tortoises here on 08:28.160 --> 08:30.560 Floriana Island. Something iconic in 08:30.560 --> 08:32.640 this restoration process, and we feel 08:32.640 --> 08:34.560 very proud to be able to release them on 08:34.560 --> 08:37.719 this island. 08:40.560 --> 08:42.800 Okay, today's story getting a 10 out of 08:42.800 --> 08:45.600 10. You may have heard of a food fight, 08:45.600 --> 08:47.360 but have you ever been in a flower 08:47.360 --> 08:50.080 fight? In Greece, this is an annual 08:50.080 --> 08:51.920 tradition. Hundreds of people in a 08:51.920 --> 08:54.080 coastal town marched through the streets 08:54.080 --> 08:55.920 throwing colorful clouds of flower 08:55.920 --> 08:58.000 everywhere. Some took the event very 08:58.000 --> 08:59.920 seriously. They wore eye protection and 08:59.920 --> 09:02.399 even suits while others they went 09:02.399 --> 09:03.760 without. 09:03.760 --> 09:05.200 >> We are trying, as you can see, with 09:05.200 --> 09:07.040 courage and without a suit to become 09:07.040 --> 09:09.279 like this. How we end up looking doesn't 09:09.279 --> 09:11.279 matter. It's only about the joy and the 09:11.279 --> 09:12.080 fun. 09:12.080 --> 09:14.160 >> The event dates back to the 19th 09:14.160 --> 09:16.160 century. It marks the end of the 09:16.160 --> 09:18.560 carnival season and the start of the 09:18.560 --> 09:20.640 40-day Lent period leading up to 09:20.640 --> 09:23.120 Orthodox Easter. All right, superstars. 09:23.120 --> 09:25.279 We've got some shoutouts for you today. 09:25.279 --> 09:27.680 But first, a big congratulations to our 09:27.680 --> 09:30.320 your word Wednesday winner, Miss Moore 09:30.320 --> 09:33.120 at Waverly Shell Rock Middle School, who 09:33.120 --> 09:36.959 submitted conundrum, a noun meaning a 09:36.959 --> 09:39.440 confusing and difficult problem or 09:39.440 --> 09:41.519 question. Thank you for making us a 09:41.519 --> 09:43.680 little bit smarter today. All right, 09:43.680 --> 09:46.080 first shout out is going to Mr. 09:46.080 --> 09:48.800 Rodriguez at Orange Center School in 09:48.800 --> 09:51.519 Fresno, California. Thank you for making 09:51.519 --> 09:53.680 us a part of your classroom. And Mr. 09:53.680 --> 09:56.399 Dunn at Great Creek High School in San 09:56.399 --> 09:58.640 Angelo, Texas. And a huge 09:58.640 --> 10:01.440 congratulations to the Iron Talons who 10:01.440 --> 10:03.839 just won their robotics tournament. Keep 10:03.839 --> 10:06.080 up the good work. Thank you for spending 10:06.080 --> 10:07.839 some time with us today. We'll see you 10:07.839 --> 10:10.560 back here tomorrow. I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta 10:10.560 --> 10:14.080 and this is CNN 10.