It’s the world’s first social-media ban for kids. Will it work?

Summary

Apple News Today: It’s the World’s First Social-Media Ban for Kids. Will It Work?
Release Date: December 5, 2024
Host: Shumita Basu (Hosted by Gideon Resnick)

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1. Controversy Surrounding Pete Hegseth’s Nomination for Secretary of Defense

The episode opens with a deep dive into the mounting controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth's nomination is under intense scrutiny due to a series of allegations and concerns about his past behavior.

Sexual Assault Allegations: Gideon Resnick reports that a woman accused Hegseth of sexually assaulting her in a hotel in Monterey, California, seven years prior. Although the incident was never charged legally, Hegseth settled the matter privately. Addressing these allegations on the Megyn Kelly Show at [01:27], Hegseth firmly denies raping the woman, stating:

Pete Hegseth ([01:27]): "Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I've been honest about that encounter... I may have been drinking, but I was cognizant enough to remember every single detail."

Family and Professional Conduct: Further complicating the picture, Hegseth’s own mother accused him of mistreating women via an email in 2018 during his divorce proceedings. She appeared on Fox News to defend her son, asserting his transformation over the past seven years:

Karen DeYoung ([02:19]): "I want people to look at Pete, judge people or understand him for who he is. Today, Pete is a new person. He's redeemed, forgiven, changed. I think we all are after seven years."

Additionally, investigative reporting by Jane Mayer for The New Yorker revealed that Hegseth had been ousted from previous leadership roles due to "financial mismanagement, sexist behavior, and being repeatedly intoxicated on the job" ([02:35]). Mayer detailed incidents such as Hegseth chanting “kill all Muslims” while drunk, raising severe concerns about his suitability for the Pentagon role ([03:13]).

Political Ramifications: Amid these allegations, Hegseth has been actively seeking support from Republican senators. While some, like Senator Lindsey Graham, express reservations ([04:09]), others such as Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville staunchly defend him:

Tommy Tuberville ([04:24]): "We need a drill sergeant in the military... I have known him for a long time and there’s not going to be anything to this."

With Republicans holding a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, Hegseth’s confirmation hinges on maintaining this support. The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump is already considering backup candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, should Hegseth fail to secure enough votes ([04:47]).

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2. Political Turmoil in South Korea

Shifting focus to international affairs, the podcast covers a significant political crisis unfolding in South Korea. President Yoon Suk Yeol's sudden declaration of martial law, accusing the opposition of anti-state activities, led to widespread backlash and his subsequent reversal of the decision within six hours ([05:41]).

Implications for Democracy and US Relations: Karen DeYoung, a senior national security correspondent at the Washington Post, comments on the confusion and unexpected nature of these events:

Karen DeYoung ([05:41]): "It's caused a lot of confusion in South Korea... no one can understand what seemed to be a sort of doomed effort from the start was undertaken."

This crisis poses a threat of impeachment for President Yoon and has taken the United States by surprise, given South Korea's status as a key ally. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, expressed "grave concern" over the developments ([06:45]).

Strategic Consequences: South Korea's pivotal role in U.S. foreign policy, especially in the context of security pacts with Japan against threats from Russia, China, and North Korea, makes this turmoil particularly concerning. DeYoung further explains that a less cooperative South Korean government would pose challenges for the incoming U.S. administration, especially regarding ongoing security agreements ([07:02]).

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3. Global Movement to Restrict Social Media Use Among Children

A prominent segment of the episode addresses the world's first attempt to ban social media access for children, exploring its potential effectiveness and implications.

Australia’s Pioneering Legislation: Australia has approved a law prohibiting children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, set to take effect in a year. Failure to comply could result in fines up to $32 million. The specifics of enforcement mechanisms remain unclear.

International and Domestic Responses: Spain is considering requiring smartphones to carry warning labels, while the U.S. Surgeon General has recommended similar measures for social media platforms. Concurrently, various U.S. states and localities are implementing their own restrictions, such as banning phone use in schools and prohibiting social media accounts for children under 14 in Florida starting next year.

Expert Opinion: Mitch Prince, Chief Science Officer at the American Psychological Association, offers a critical perspective on these bans, arguing that they do not align with scientific understanding of child development:

Mitch Prince ([08:34]): "I mean, we've seen a number of things over the last year that have been, in my opinion, heading in the right direction and some things that don't seem very well conceived."

Prince emphasizes the importance of digital media literacy over outright bans, suggesting that education on responsible social media use is more effective:

Mitch Prince ([09:23]): "Let's build digital media literacy into every school... There's no such thing as multitasking. There's only task shifting."

Educational Impact: Echoing Prince's sentiments, NPR interviewed teachers who have implemented phone bans, reporting increased student engagement and participation in classrooms. One high school biology teacher from Arizona resigned after 11 years, citing the negative impact of phone use on teaching efficacy ([08:51]).

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4. Additional News Highlights

Assassination of UnitedHealthcare Executive: Brian Thompson, an executive with UnitedHealthcare, was tragically shot and killed while en route to the company's annual investor conference in Manhattan. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the incident was a "premeditated, pre-planned targeted attack" at [11:04]. The motive remains unknown as authorities continue their investigation.

2024 House Election Results: The final House race of the 2024 election concluded with Democrats narrowly capturing California's 13th district, resulting in Republicans holding 220 seats and Democrats 215. This narrow majority may further tighten as President Trump positions Republican House members for Cabinet roles, potentially shifting the balance of power in the early days of the new administration.

Earworm Eraser Tool: Addressing the common annoyance of persistent catchy tunes, the podcast introduces a new tool called the "earworm eraser." This 40-second audio track aims to disrupt repetitive song loops by varying beats, musical styles, and tempos. User feedback on YouTube has been mixed, with some finding it effective while others remain skeptical. This tool offers a novel solution for those looking to eliminate unwanted songs from their minds.

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Conclusion

The episode of Apple News Today on December 5, 2024, provides an insightful and comprehensive overview of pressing issues ranging from high-stakes political nominations and international crises to groundbreaking social media legislation aimed at protecting youth. With expert commentary and firsthand accounts, the podcast delivers a nuanced analysis designed to inform and engage listeners on the multifaceted challenges shaping our world today.

For more detailed coverage and continuous updates, listeners are encouraged to access the stories through the Apple News app or follow Apple News Narrated in their podcast app.

Transcript

[Gideon Resnick]

Good morning. It's Thursday, December 5th. I'm Gideon Resnick in for Shmita Basu. This is Apple News today. On today's show, explaining the political turmoil in South Korea, one country's sweeping plan to stop kids from using social media and the final House race of the 2024 election has been called. But first, Pete Hegseth, President elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of defense, met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday amid a storm of controversy. A number of damaging stories have emerged since he was selected for the role, leading to concerns from some Republican senators and questions about his future. Trump's team has publicly defended him, and Hegseth said that Trump told him that he had his support. Let's recap how we got to this moment. The first allegation came from a woman who said Hegseth sexually assaulted her in a hotel in Monterey, California, seven years ago. She said she doesn't remember much, but remembers saying no and alleges that Hegseth prevented her from leaving his hotel room. That's all according to a police report that was filed at the time. Hegseth was never charged, but he did pay the woman a settlement and maintains it was consensual. Yesterday, he was asked about the incident on the Megyn Kelly Show. Did you rape a woman in a hotel in Monterey?

[Pete Hegseth]

Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I've been honest about that encounter, starting with law enforcement. From the beginning, I was. I may have been drinking, but I was cognizant enough to remember every single detail. And I'm not here to say that my conduct was good. You know, being in a hotel room with someone that's, you know, not the person you're with is not okay. I own up to that.

[Gideon Resnick]

Another allegation of bad behavior came from his mother. Last Friday, the New York Times reported that Hegseth's mother had sent her son an email in 2018 accusing him of mistreating women. At the time, Hegseth was going through a divorce. His mom's email reads, quote, I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, and sleeps around. Yesterday, she appeared on Fox News to clear up those comments.

[Karen DeYoung]

I want people to look at Pete, judge people or understand him for who he is. Today, Pete is a new person. He's redeemed, forgiven, changed. I think we all are after seven years.

[Gideon Resnick]

Then this week, Jane Mayer, chief Washington correspondent for the New Yorker, reported that Hegseth was forced out of previous leadership positions for, quote, financial mismanagement, sexist behavior, and being repeatedly intoxicated on the job. The allegations are based on a whistleblower report and other internal emails. Here's Mayer on cnn.

[Jessica Tisch]

I mean, the behavior described by the people that he worked with really was the kind of behavior that would get anybody fired in almost any office in America. Near constant allegations of drunkenness, him being blackout drunk, having to be carried to his hotel room.

[Gideon Resnick]

Mayer also described one incident that took a dark turn.

[Jessica Tisch]

People that he worked with, who sent it to the management, saying he was really horrified by what he described as the quote, unquote despicable behavior, which was Pete Hegseth closing down a bar at 2:30 in the morning in Ohio chanting kill all Muslims. Kill all Muslims. Which again, of course is concerning for someone who might run the Pentagon.

[Gideon Resnick]

Mayer's reporting also found that Hegseth had run up massive debt while he was the head of the organization Veterans for Freedom to the point where it was unable to pay its bills. A lawyer for Hegseth called the allegations outlandish and attributed them to, quote, a petty and jealous disgruntled former associate of Hegseth's. Since all of this, Hegseth has been meeting with senators to try to shore up support. He's told at least one that he wouldn't drink if he were confirmed for the role. But there are mounting concerns. Here's Senator Lindsey Graham on CBS News earlier this week.

[Karen DeYoung]

Some of these articles are very disturbing. He obviously has a chance to defend himself here. But you know, some of this stuff is going to be difficult.

[Gideon Resnick]

But other Republicans are standing firmly behind Hexaf, like Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville.

[Tommy Tuberville]

We need a drill sergeant in the military. We need somebody to straighten the military out, to get the woke the DEI affiliation out and go from there.

[Gideon Resnick]

And you don't have any concerns about the allegations against him in the needle for our.

[Tommy Tuberville]

No. I've looked at all the personal stuff and again, I've known him for a long time and I would there's not going to be anything to this.

[Gideon Resnick]

At the end of the day, Republicans will have a 53:47 majority in the Senate next year, which means Hegseth can afford to lose no more than three Republican senators to be confirmed. The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump is already considering backup options, including Florida Governor Ron DeSant. Let's turn now to the political turmoil that's erupted this week in South Korea. It started when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law after accusing the opposition party of engaging in anti state activities. That decision was met with swift backlash, leading Yoon to lift the martial law declaration just six hours later. Now he faces the threat of impeachment. The quickly moving events are being described as the biggest political crisis that South Korea has faced in decades.

[Karen DeYoung]

It's caused a lot of confusion in South Korea, where no one can understand what seemed to be a sort of doomed effort from the start was undertaken.

[Gideon Resnick]

That's Karen DeYoung, a senior national security correspondent at the Washington Post. She says the events also took the US by surprise.

[Karen DeYoung]

And it's also caused a lot of consternation in the United States, which considers South Korea a sort of model democracy in East Asia and has a number of agreements on the security front with South Korea.

[Gideon Resnick]

South Korea is one of America's closest allies. In fact, one of President Biden's signature foreign policy achievements is engaging the United States in a security pact with South Korea and Japan in the face of mounting threats from Russia, China, and North Korea.

[Karen DeYoung]

It provides for joint exercises, intelligence sharing, high level consultations, and basically security cooperation. And it's part of turning toward China as what the Pentagon calls the pacing threat of American security.

[Gideon Resnick]

On Tuesday, the US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters that the US Was watching the unfolding events with, quote, grave concern. Now, South Korean lawmakers say they'll hold a vote to impeach President Yoon as soon as Friday. At the same time, American leadership is on the cusp of changing, too.

[Karen DeYoung]

If there were a government that is not quite as friendly to the United States as the UN Government is now, I think that would be a challenge for the incoming president. President Elect Trump has congratulated himself on his relationship with North Korea during his first term and has indicated he would try to follow up on that. So I think it basically would just be another challenge on a long list of challenges that will be greeting him on his first day of office.

[Gideon Resnick]

There are growing efforts across the world to limit how much time young people spend on their phones. Recently, Australia approved a new law that would ban kids from accessing social media platforms until they're 16 years old. It's expected to go into effect in a year, and there are not a lot of details about how the ban would be enforced. But social media companies could face fines of up to $32 million if they don't comply. Meanwhile, in Spain, lawmakers there are considering a recommendation that smartphones carry warning labels. And here in the United States, our surgeon general has recommended something similar for social media platforms. At the same time, lots of states and locales are starting to take matters into their own hands. Multiple school districts, including in Los Angeles, are banning phone use at school. And next year children in Florida who are under 14 will not be permitted to have social media accounts.

[Mitch Prince]

I mean, we've seen a number of things over the last year that have been, in my opinion, heading in the right direction and some things that don't seem very well conceived.

[Gideon Resnick]

That's Mitch Prince, chief science officer at the American Psychological association, who spoke to us a few months back for an episode of Apple News in conversation.

[Mitch Prince]

I think shutting off social media to everyone and anyone below a certain age doesn't make a lot of sense and it doesn't fit the science.

[Gideon Resnick]

That's because he says kids brains develop at such different rates.

[Mitch Prince]

It's also concerning that if you shut everything off till 16, come on, we are all adolescents. You know exactly what that's going to do. It's going to make every 13 year old think it's the coolest thing to find a way on there. And it conveys the idea that once you hit 16, it's perfectly safe and fine, which it's not. So that's a wrong way.

[Gideon Resnick]

In his professional opinion, the right way to approach the issue is to treat social media like any other potentially dangerous behavior and to teach kids how to use it the right way.

[Mitch Prince]

Let's build digital media literacy into every school. Even better, let's build it into the social media programs themselves. And the last thing I'll say is that the Netherlands, the uk, France, they're all starting to take phones out of the classroom. And that's well founded in psychological science as well. There's no such thing as multitasking. There's only task shifting. And kids are not as good at task shifting as adults are. So to expect a kid to learn organic chemistry, well, period. But certainly while they're scrolling through their social media at the same time, there's just no argument that I'm aware of to suggest that that's a good idea.

[Gideon Resnick]

NPR recently spoke to a bunch of teachers about this issue. One in Arizona who taught high school biology said that he recently quit after 11 years, saying that phone use in the class was taking a toll on him. And one English teacher in Minnesota said that after she banned phones in her classroom, students were participating and socializing way more. Before we let you go, a few other stories being featured in the Apple News app. We're starting to learn more details about the death of Brian Thompson, an executive with UnitedHealthcare who was shot and killed Wednesday morning as he was heading to the company's annual investor conference in midtown Manhattan. A gunman fired multiple rounds before fleeing into Central Park. Here's the NYPD Commissioner, Jessica Tisch.

[Jessica Tisch]

Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target. I want to be clear at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre planned targeted attack.

[Gideon Resnick]

Police officers don't have a motive for the shooting yet and they've yet to find the suspect. In political news, the final House race in the 2024 election has been called. Democrats flipped California's 13th district with Adam Gray eking out the slimmest of victories, beating his Republican opponent by just 187 votes. Now, with all of the races called, we finally know the balance of power in next year's House of Representatives. Republicans will hold 220seats and Democrats will hold 215. And that majority will get even narrower for at least parts of January as Trump has picked several Republican House members to fill Cabinet positions. And finally, tis a season of holiday music you can't get out of your head. Tunes often referred to as earworms. According to one study, 90% of people say they experience the earworm phenomenon once a week. If this is you, NPR reports on a new tool created to help you get rid of those pesky repeating tunes. It's called the earworm eraser, a 40 second audio track designed specifically to help you forget a song by switching beats, musical styles and tempo every few seconds. Here's a bit of what it sounds like. A lot of people on YouTube have said the song does in fact do the trick, while others say not so much. So the next time that you're at the grocery store and you get All I Want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey stuck in your head, you can go ahead and try it out yourself. You can find all these stories and more in the Apple News app. And if you're already listening to the news app right now, we have Shmita's interview about limiting social media use queued up to play next. If you're listening in the podcast app, you can follow Apple News narrated to find that story. And we'll be back with the news tomorrow.