The Download: rethinking child safety and fossil-fueled farming
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Child-monitoring apps might need a reboot Digital harms have become the defining fear of American parents. In response, they’re increasingly turning to content-monitoring apps that scan their children’s texts, photos, emails,…
This edition of The Download explores two important topics: reevaluating child safety in the digital age and the environmental impact of fossil-fueled farming practices.
Concerns around child safety have surged as parents turn to content-monitoring apps to keep tabs on their kids' digital activities. While these tools have successfully prevented tragedies like suicide attempts, predators, and school shootings, they also carry risks such as false alarms, unnecessary interventions, damaged trust, and increased anxiety. Experts urge a rethinking of these approaches to prioritize better, more balanced solutions.
On the agricultural front, fertilizer prices are skyrocketing due to a complex mix of factors like international trade disruptions, high natural gas prices, and geopolitical tensions such as the Iran war. Natural gas is crucial for ammonia production, a key fertilizer ingredient. Disruptions in fertilizer trade, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, threaten access for poorer nations. The story delves into the soaring fertilizer costs and explores potential climate-friendly alternatives to ease the burden on farmers.
Written by urgent.news from MIT Technology Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
