Latest news with #youth
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The story every mum and dad needs to hear as kids groomed and blackmailed on social media
Children across Birmingham are being groomed and exploited into gangs through social media. It's a frightening truth, but it's the reality here in 2025. Youths are approached online with offers of high-end trainers or 'fast cash', in return for running drugs or driving a car on behalf of a gang. Once they're involved in that lifestyle, they find themselves carrying knives, machetes and even guns. Whether its unfiltered videos of stabbings or gangs being glamourized in music videos, children are all being exposed to the same content on social media. Read more: Birmingham Children's Hospital offers 'harsh truth' as staff fight to save teenage stab victims We explored the dangers of social media influence on children as part of our Deep Cuts project - a three month investigation into the root causes and societal issues behind knife crime. As part of our five key asks, we're urging all parents to make sure parental controls are applied to their child's phone. Birmingham's gang police spoke of the cruel tactics used to groom kids online while an ex-gang member told us how social media posts can instigate violence in the real world. We also sought advice from NSPCC, who shared the grooming signs every parent should look out for in their teenagers. "There's predators that prey on kids that are just given an iPad, or given a phone and parents say 'here you go, leave me alone,'" Sgt Varley, of Operation Guardian, told us. "They're in their room and it's like kicking them outside and leaving them to fend for themselves - that's the equivalent of it, being a kid on social media, because they don't know what's right and what's wrong. 'They film them performing a sexual act and it will be posted on Snapchat or Instagram if you don't do this.' They are basically like prisoners." Worryingly, the online world also creates a platform where confrontations - which would otherwise stop at school - can escalate 24/7. One ex-gang member, who carried a knife and was involved in a street robbery, told BirminghamLive: "If social media wasn't around, a lot of things that happened to me wouldn't have happened. "Certain arguments that happen should not have gone that far. If group chat wasn't made to carry it on and certain posts weren't made to aggravate people, make people angry and embarrass people. "Social media is just that thing that puts the cherry on top for everything and just instigate so many things, that don't need to be instigated." His story is one of fear and hope - and one every parent should read. Though he grew up in Longbridge, he found himself influenced by excluded kids sent to his school. Mixing with gang-affiliated youths from Handsworth, he was slowly and gradually gripped into a life of crime. In his own words, he spoke of the changes As well as a youth worker, Ken is a 'peer researcher' currently exploring the link between social media and violence. "Lots of people are the same and they're having the same crisis because one of the top things is social media," he added. "Everyone is seeing the same content, everyone is seeing the same music. So everyone is listening and taking in the same information. "Everyone is naturally just talking the same, having the same mentality, having the same Issues, let's say because they're taken in the same things." As part of Deep Cuts, we also asked the NSPCC for their important advice on protecting children from grooming and exploitation. We were directed to view the signs parents should look out for in their kids - but also warned these could be masked as "normal teenage behaviour." A spokesman for the NSPCC told us: 'To determine whether a child is being exploited or groomed isn't easy as the signs can be subtle or even hidden. Older children may display what appears to be "normal" teenage behaviour that can otherwise mask more serious underlying problems. 'Children and young people can be groomed by a stranger or someone they know. This can happen either online, in person or both. When a child is groomed online, perpetrators may hide who they are by sending photos or videos of other people. They might target one child online or contact lots of children very quickly and wait for them to respond. 'Groomers will exploit any vulnerability they can to increase the likelihood of a child or young person becoming dependent on them and less likely to speak out. What is more, children may not realise that they are being been groomed. They may have complicated feelings of loyalty, admiration, love, as well as fear, distress and confusion. 'Potential signs of grooming may include whether a child is being very secretive about how and where they're spending their time. They may have an older boyfriend or girlfriend, unexplained amounts of money or new things given to them like clothes and mobile phones. They may also display sexualised behaviour that's not appropriate for their age. 'The impact of grooming can have a lasting impact on victims. It is important that parents speak to their children and address the consequences of violent or illegal behaviour. If parents or carers are concerned about the safety of a child, they should reach out to police or other agencies. There is also the NSPCC Helpline, where adults can receive free advice and information by calling 0808 800 5000 or emailing help@ Meta, which runs WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, highlighted that they had launched Teen Accounts - which "at least 54 million teens around the world" had been moved into. "This means that they now have enhanced protections, like automatically being placed into private accounts and the strictest setting of our Sensitive Content Control, limits on notifications over night and reminders to leave the app after 60 minutes, and they can only be messaged by people they follow or are already connected to," said a spokesperson for Meta.
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
‘His sleeping bag was frozen solid': the highs – and lows – of the Duke of Edinburgh's award
Biblical rain, meagre food rations and – in one particularly notable case – a frozen, dead sheep. The Duke of Edinburgh's award (DofE) prides itself on offering teenagers experiences that a classroom cannot replicate – and the charity has recently said more people are signing up than ever before. More than 342,000 young people took on tasks to achieve their bronze, silver or gold award last year, according to the DofE. For people who shared their abiding memories of the scheme with the Guardian, many involved getting very wet somewhere deep in the UK countryside. James, 29, from Manchester, completed his gold award in 2013. He recalls: 'Of the many candidates for worst experience, mine would be a sub-zero night in the Peak District field containing a frozen dead sheep. 'During the night, my water leaked over my tent mate's sleeping bag. He woke up and, in a delirious state, put it over the top of our tent to dry. He told me the following morning that he'd been lying next to me on his sleeping mat, watching me shiver in my sleep for the rest of the night. By the morning, his sleeping bag was frozen solid.' For 32-year-old Freya from London, 'biblical rain' cut her silver award expedition short in the 2000s. 'The plan was to do a day of walking just outside Ripon and a day in a canoe, but on our first day there was substantial rainfall which meant we arrived at the campsite absolutely sodden,' she says. Feeling deflated, the group of 15 set up camp in silence. 'Our spirits were so low we couldn't even be bothered to get the cooker going so just had a Mars bar for dinner, crawled into the foetal position and slept,' she adds. 'The next day we were meant to get in a canoe but when we woke up it had rained heavily throughout the night. We were up for continuing but we had to cancel the rest of the expedition because the river was so high we couldn't get our boats under the bridge. 'We eventually completed the expedition and really enjoyed it. Looking back I have fond memories as it was a fun experience and it was nice to spend a weekend detached from my phone.' Getting lost was a strong theme among respondents. For *Zara, 41, from Scotland, who went on her bronze expedition in the late 90s in the Cairngorms, a diversion turned out to be a highlight. 'We waved down a tractor, and a farmer very kindly took us for a few kilometres. We felt like we'd got one over on the teachers.' On their journey, Zara's group stumbled across a wild stag. 'It caught our eye, then wandered off. It felt so spectacular,' she says. Although the rise in DofE participation may be partly explained by an increase in the number of teenagers in the UK, experts said it was also the result of character education becoming a growing focus for state schools. Prof Tom Harrison, the deputy pro vice-chancellor for education innovation at the University of Birmingham, says there is a 'growing realisation [in education] that getting a good grade is not a direct route to success in getting a job but indeed in life more broadly'. Harrison says that in the past, character education was considered the preserve of private and selective schools, but it has increasingly become an area of focus for state schools, which benefited from a £3.4m government funding boost to expand the scheme in 2021. His research has found that in 2024, 22% of outstanding Ofsted reports mentioned character education, compared with 1% in 2014. Pepe Di'Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, says the awards are an 'excellent scheme offering young people a valuable chance to learn skills and enjoy new experiences', with particular benefit considering concerns about the amount of time that children spend on electronic devices and screens. Mike Hall, 54, blames a heavy backpack for his failed silver award expedition on the Offa's Dyke path in Shropshire in 1986. 'I came over a stile, and the drop on the other side was greater than I thought. My backpack wasn't balanced properly, so I went over at an angle and I landed in the field with an enormous 'crack'! 'I broke my ankle and couldn't take my boot off. It swelled up enormously. We didn't have mobile phones, so my mates hiked the last five miles to the end of the trail to fetch the teachers. Two hours later, they helped me into the back of a minibus, and I was dropped off at home in Surrey to go straight to A&E. 'I was on crutches and a plastic cast for weeks. And that was the story of my life for about another seven years or so until I ended up having reconstructive surgery and getting my ankle sorted out properly in my 20s.' Hall did not receive his silver award until he completed the same hike the following year. *Name has been changed.
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Young voters want credibility, not nostalgia, Johari tells Umno members
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani today urged Umno delegates to shift their mindset and move away from clinging to past leadership glory, as the political landscape continues to evolve. According to Buletin TV3, the Umno vice-president said 40 per cent of voters in the next general election will be made up of young Malaysians, whose expectations and outlook differ from previous generations. 'These young people are not interested in narratives that divide Malaysia's multiracial society. Their friends come from diverse backgrounds. 'What they want is a leader who can navigate and shape a harmonious multiracial nation,' he said during his keynote address at the 2025 Titiwangsa Umno Division Delegates' Meeting today. Johari, who is also the Titiwangsa Umno division chief, said the party must remain inclusive and not marginalise non-Malay communities. He warned that failure to move beyond outdated thinking could result in a loss of trust among young voters. 'They're not interested in nostalgia. They want to see whether future leaders are transparent, open, and free of corruption. 'They are evaluating leaders based on integrity, credibility, and their knowledge to build a better future for their generation — and those to come. 'They're also looking for strong commitment from leaders — those who are willing to sacrifice time, effort and ideas for the nation without expecting rewards,' he reportedly said. Johari, who also serves as minister of plantation and commodities, said Umno delegates carry the responsibility of developing credible community leaders who can be seen as products of the party.
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Alberta court grants injunction blocking Bill 26
Calgary Watch An Alberta court has granted an injunction preventing the provincial government from banning gender-affirming care for minors.
News24
18 hours ago
- Business
- News24
‘How my gap year inspired an app that connects people with causes that matter'
During her gap year in 2022, Abigail Larsen volunteered at The King's Children's Home in East London as part of an outreach programme – and what she discovered shocked her to the core. About 50 children were living in a couple's backyard, sleeping in shipping containers because the home had reached full capacity. Despite the couple's extraordinary dedication, the home struggled with visibility and funding. It struck Abigail (now 21) that so many young people want to help but don't know where to start, while countless organisations doing vital work lack the support they need. That's when the idea for Thallo (Greek for 'to flourish') was born. It's a dynamic, youth-driven platform to connect volunteers with causes that matter. The dream began taking shape in November 2024 when Abigail, along with Mia Olivier (brand designer) and Michael Manly (app developer), entered the Hult Prize Challenge. Together, they began crafting the pitch for what would become Thallo. While volunteering across Africa and India, Abigail saw that many impactful organisations struggled with funding due to low visibility. She hopes Thallo will help solve this problem. This is her story. 'In July 2023, when I was in Mumbai, we visited an underfunded organisation caring for the dying in a crowded basement. Most patients didn't recover – they passed away with dignity. I remember thinking, 'If people only knew, they'd help. The truth is powerful, they just need to see it.' That's when I realised the world doesn't lack compassion, it lacks connection. There needs to be a platform that could create awareness about incredible organisations and give people the opportunity to partner with them to expand their impact. In Rwanda in 2023, I volunteered at Love With Actions, a school for disabled children working to break stigma. With just social media skills, I boosted their online presence and ran a successful stationery fundraiser – proof that even small efforts can make a big impact. At Durban's LIV Village, an outreach programme for vulnerable and orphaned children, I learned that, sometimes, just showing up and listening is enough. In every experience, I wished for one place to share what I'd seen, where people could discover and support these organisations. But at Kings Children's Home, the urgency hit. They were doing amazing work, yet few knew they existed. It's not just about volunteering – it's about visibility. South Africa has over 250 000 registered organisations. How many do you know? Many organisations focus so much on serving their cause that they lack the time or tools to raise awareness. Meanwhile, many young people want to help but don't know where to start. READ MORE| MY STORY | 'I found my purpose and a passion for cooking behind bars' Thallo aims to bridge that gap and make getting involved easy and rewarding by letting users follow, donate to or volunteer with organisations through their profiles. The platform will boost the visibility of organisations, helping them grow with more support, funding and volunteers. PHOTO: Supplied We've been taught to look inward for meaning, but that often leads to pressure and anxiety. In reality, serving others can lift us out of that. It gives purpose and reminds us our lives matter. Young people don't just want CV fillers. They want something real that makes them come alive. READ MORE| MY STORY | 'Olympiads and having fun are the key to my academic success' Thallo is still in its early days, and it will launch in early 2026. Turning the dream into reality has been tough. I've battled doubts about not being experienced or capable enough, especially while juggling studies as a BCom International Business student at Stellenbosch University. But I've learned to lean on God, knowing I'm not fully equipped but trusting that if He called me, He'll make a way. Making a difference begins with using what you have to love and serve those around you. As Mother Teresa said, If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.'
