The online world comes with risks – but also friendships and independence for young people with disabilities: Kleber Cordeiro/Shutterstock “In the real world, I’m a coward. When I’m online, I’m a hero.” These words, paraphrased from a conversation with a young man with autism, have stayed with us throughout the years of research that underpin …
How does Marburg virus spread between species? Young Ugandan scientist’s photos give important clues: In the shadows of Python Cave, Uganda, a leopard leaps from a guano mound – formed by bat excrement – and sinks its teeth into a bat. But this is no ordinary bat colony. The thousands of Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus …
Social media’s push for the perfect muscular body is fuelling a new form of disordered eating — and young men are most at risk: Young men are most likely to follow eating habits consistent with Mode. Elkhophoto/ Shutterstock From celebrities and influencers to everyday people, social media is full of content that showcases perfectly toned, …
Young men on South Africa’s urban margins: new book follows their lives over 10 years: South Africa’s young people, aged 15 to 34, who make up more than 50% of the country’s working age population, bear a disproportionate burden of unemployment. They have done so for more than a decade. Of this group, those aged …
6 in 10 young South Africans have no jobs. Why some still reject offers of work: South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. The official rate is 32%, rising to 42% when discouraged job seekers are included. Among young people aged 15 to 24, unemployment reaches a staggering 60%. While …
Apprenticeships aren’t designed for young people any more: BigPixel Photo/Shutterstock The number of people in England choosing to enrol in an apprenticeship has declined markedly over the past decade. Apprenticeship participation has fallen overall from 908,700 in 2016-17 to 736,500 in 2023-24. Particularly notable has been a shift away from apprenticeships providing introductory skills for …
Social media rewires young minds – here’s how: Deliris/Shutterstock That satisfying feeling after doomscrolling through endless TikTok videos or impulsively shopping online mimics the relief of scratching an itch. This is dopamine at work — a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) responsible for feelings of reward and accomplishment. Whether indulging in viral videos or engaging in new …
Sex and alcohol in Nigeria: marketing tactics send dangerous messages to young drinkers: Nigeria has a high rate of heavy drinking among young people. One study found that 55.8% of teenagers between 15 and 19 years old had engaged in binge drinking in the past month. The World Health Organization has shown that strictly limiting …
Generations of young women have been bombarded with weight loss medications – ‘skinny jabs’ are just the latest: Medics report young girls are ending up in A&E after using weight loss jabs off-label. MillaF/ Shutterstock “I couldn’t stop being sick. My side and my back were hurting and I just felt like my body was …
Young people led surge for smaller parties but no Reform ‘youthquake’, says UK election survey: One of the defining features of contemporary electoral politics in Britain is the age divide. Young people are far more likely to support Labour, and older people to support the Conservatives. This divide is still apparent following the 2024 election …
How 2-Tone brought new ideas about race and culture to young people beyond the inner cities: This Town, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s latest drama for the BBC, brings to life a defining – if short-lived – era in the history of British youth culture and popular music. Set in the West Midlands against the …
Young Africans could disrupt authoritarian states but they don’t – here’s why: Africa has the world’s largest youth population. By 2030, 75% of the African population will be under the age of 35. The number of young Africans aged 15-24 is projected to reach 500 million in 2080. While population dynamics vary across the continent, …
Young people took up smoking during the pandemic – how tobacco has been used for stress relief for more than a century: Lomb/Shutterstock In the UK and much of the west, smoking rates have consistently declined since the turn of the millennium. But during some of the most anxiety-ridden months of the COVID pandemic in …
Trans guidance for schools: the voices of young people are missing: aerogondo2/Shutterstock After significant delay, the UK government has published draft guidance for schools in England on “gender questioning children”, from education secretary Gillian Keegan and women and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch. The guidance is non-statutory, meaning it is not legally enforceable, and the government …
Loneliness is a major public health problem – and young people are bearing the brunt of it: Hannah Wei|Unsplash Writing in the Week, journalist Theara Coleman has declared 2023 “the year of the loneliness epidemic”. In May, the US surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, said loneliness posed a public health risk on a par with smoking …
Japan: Myths to Manga – Young V&A exhibition celebrates nature’s influence on Japanese culture: Japan: Myths to Manga at the Young V&A is loosely divided into four parts: sky, sea, forest and city. The underlying theme of the exhibition is showcasing how traditions developed in these contexts relate to contemporary Japanese culture. Japan’s dramatic natural …
Autumn statement: what national insurance cuts and other changes mean for young people: Natee Meepian/Shutterstock At first glance, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement appears to reduce the tax burden, increase pay and make our lives a bit easier. But given the cost of living and other pressures, the big picture is not as pretty. If …
Women still face unfair pressure about having children — here’s what to expect if you don’t have kids when you’re young: If you’re a woman in your 20s or 30s, particularly if you’re in a long-term relationship, you’ve probably been asked when you’re going to have children. In the UK and many other countries, there …