Latest news with #youthawareness
Zawya
05-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Emt collaborates with DESC to deliver Cyberspace Leaders Program 2025
Activities are designed to equip students with practical cybersecurity skills and critical thinking tools Dubai, UAE: As part of ongoing efforts to raise cybersecurity awareness among youth and foster a safe and sustainable digital community, emt, a leading cybersecurity solutions, training and service provider, has partnered with the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), to organize a series of interactive events and activities during the second week of the Cyberspace Leaders Program 2025, at the University of Dubai. The initiative invites students aged 13 to 18 to take part in a dynamic, hands-on program designed to promote cybersecurity awareness and build essential digital competencies. Activities will take place daily from July 7 to 10, offering a structured and engaging learning environment. Throughout the four-day program, participating students will engage in a curated set of experiences, including safe internet browsing challenges, interactive digital games, and cyber-themed escape rooms. The sessions will also feature awareness-building workshops aimed at simplifying core cybersecurity concepts while encouraging collaboration and critical thinking. Amer Sharaf, CEO of the Cyber Security Systems and Services Sector at DESC, commented: 'Empowering youth with cybersecurity knowledge and practical tools is a strategic investment in building a smarter, more secure, and resilient digital future, further reinforcing Dubai's leadership in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.' 'We're thrilled to collaborate with DESC on this forward-thinking initiative,' said Mo Mobasseri, CEO of emt. 'Introducing cybersecurity in an engaging and practical format allows us to connect with the next generation and spark their interest in digital safety and future career paths.' The Cyberspace Leaders Program serves as a comprehensive educational platform that enhances collaboration and teamwork skills, nurtures scientific curiosity among participants, and provides opportunities for direct engagement and knowledge exchange with emt's cybersecurity experts, opening promising career paths in this critical field. For more information, please visit::
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
More and more children aware of nicotine pouches, charity warns
There is growing awareness of nicotine pouches among children and teenagers, a charity has warned. The pouches, which contain addictive nicotine and often sweeteners and flavourings, can be bought cheaply and are frequently used as a tobacco substitute. There is currently a lack of evidence on the health effects of the pouches, which are placed under the top lip. The current law means people of any age can also buy them. In February, trading standards teams in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Dorset warned they were seeing a 'significant growth' in illegal versions containing potentially dangerous levels of nicotine. A new YouGov survey commissioned by the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) has found a growing awareness of nicotine pouches among under-18s – rising from 38% in 2024 to 43% in 2025. Almost 4% of teenagers also report trying the pouches, according to the poll of 2,746 youngsters aged 11 to 17. Ash data also shows that between 2023 and 2025, nicotine pouch use has increased among younger adults aged 18 to 34. Some 2.6% of 18 to 34-year-olds currently use them, compared to 0.2% of those aged over 55. Ash said that while nicotine pouches are less harmful than smoking, there are currently no limits on the strength of the nicotine, and few controls over their marketing and advertising. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently going through Parliament which will ban the advertising and sponsorship of all vapes and other nicotine products (such as nicotine pouches) and ban all vapes and nicotine products (and non-nicotine vapes) from being sold to under-18s. Conservative MP Bob Blackman, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health, said: 'Many of the big nicotine pouch brands are owned by tobacco companies with decades of experience targeting our children. 'The longer it takes for this Government to regulate, the more time the tobacco industry has to promote their products to the next generation.' Ash said the Government must now prioritise the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Ash, said: 'The surge in teen awareness and growing levels of use in young adults over the last two years indicates that the industry's marketing strategies are working. 'Products are highly promoted in shops and on social media with football stars and male influencers used to further raise their profile. 'Nicotine pouches are very likely to be less harmful than smoking. However, they must be properly regulated.' Tobacco and vapes lead for Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Kate Pike, said: 'I hear from trading standards teams across the country who are getting reports from concerned citizens who have seen teenagers being sold these products. 'However, there is no action we can take until the law is changed as no offence is being committed.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'Our landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will ban the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s and stop vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately promoted and advertised to children. 'The Bill will place nicotine pouches under the same advertising restrictions as tobacco and provides powers to regulate their nicotine limits, flavours, packaging and how they are displayed. 'It will stop the next generation from getting hooked on nicotine and put an end to the cycle of addiction and disadvantage.'
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Rise in awareness of nicotine pouches among children, survey suggests
Young people under the age of 18 are more aware of nicotine pouches, new data to a survey commissioned by charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), the percentage of 11-17 year olds who said they knew of the pouches grew from 38% in 2024 to 43% this survey indicates nearly 4% of children in this age group have tried a nicotine pouch, equivalent to 210,000 young is calling on the government to prioritise the passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will ban the marketing of nicotine pouches and their sale to under Department of Health and Social Care said the bill "will stop the next generation from getting hooked on nicotine". The bill is making its way through Parliament and is currently in the House of CEO Hazel Cheeseman said: "There is currently no date for the next phase of the legislation and therefore no clear timeframe for when it will become illegal to sell a 9-year-old a nicotine pouch. "The government must make passing this bill a priority."Nicotine pouches, often sold in cans, are small tea-bag-like rectangles that contain white powder that releases nicotine into the bloodstream when placed between a person's upper lip and gum. They do not contain are less harmful than smoking and some people use them as a way to quit smoking, though they are not recommended by the warns that the lack of limits on the strength of the nicotine put into pouches, along with the absence of age restrictions on their sales, make them a highly addictive nicotine product that anyone can buy, including children. It's 'terrifying' Jasmine Primrose, a teacher at a high school in north London, started a petition calling for greater regulation of nicotine pouches after seeing a 17-year-old pupil being offered a free can of pouches at a corner shop next to their school."They're literally giving nicotine addiction out for free to children and I think that's terrifying. I think there should definitely be an age range on that," she told the said while vapes were still the bigger offender at schools, she had confiscated a number of nicotine pouches from students."A lot of parents aren't aware of the issue, parents don't even know that it's happening most of the time," she said. Ash's survey of 13,000 adults and 2,700 11 to 17-year-olds was carried out by YouGov. It suggests there has been an increase in the number of adults aged between 18 and 34 using the pouches since 2023 - though the overall percentage of the population who uses them remains survey indicates 2.6% of 18-34 year olds reported using pouches in 2025, up from 1.2% in also suggests there is a strong gender divide among nicotine pouch users, with men under 40 three times more likely to use pouches than women of the same 24-year-old man who has recently quit using nicotine pouches is Kofi Bernson."I had them every single day in every social situation, while driving, whilst at work, in a meeting… you could have them anywhere and no-one will know, and that is one of… the most addictive aspects of it", he told the BBC. He said while he found them effective in helping him to quit smoking, quitting nicotine pouches was much harder, and it took him three or four attempts to do said he also experienced side-effects like headaches, heart flutters, sore gums, a decrease in his appetite and feeling is relatively little research into the potential health implications associated with nicotine pouches, but a 2023 review carried out by the British Dental Journal said mouth and throat soreness, mouth ulcers, hiccups and coughing were well-documented side-effects. A study published in 2024 in Germany also found their use can have cardiovascular effects, such as an increased heart rate.A research paper co-published by Ash in 2024 said that for people who smoke, switching to nicotine pouches could have positive health effects. While pouches are less harmful than smoking, they are highly addictive and not recommended for teenagers or non-smokers. Ash CEO, Ms Cheeseman said "the surge in teen awareness and growing levels of use in young adults over the last two years indicates that the industry's marketing strategies are working."Products are highly promoted in shops and on social media with football stars and male influencers used to further raise their profile," she said.A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the proposed bill would stop nicotine products from being advertised to children."The Bill will place nicotine pouches under the same advertising restrictions as tobacco and provides powers to regulate their nicotine limits, flavours, packaging and how they are displayed."But the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, a professional association which represents trading standards professionals, said there is little that can be done to stop the sale of nicotine pouches to children until the law is changed. "I hear from trading standards teams across the country who are getting reports from concerned citizens who have seen teenagers being sold these products," Tobacco and vapes lead Katie Pike said."However, there is no action we can take until the law is changed as no offence is being committed."
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
More and more children aware of nicotine pouches, charity warns
There is growing awareness of nicotine pouches among children and teenagers, a charity has warned. The pouches, which contain addictive nicotine and often sweeteners and flavourings, can be bought cheaply and are frequently used as a tobacco substitute. There is currently a lack of evidence on the health effects of the pouches, which are placed under the top lip. The current law means people of any age can also buy them. In February, trading standards teams in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Dorset warned they were seeing a 'significant growth' in illegal versions containing potentially dangerous levels of nicotine. A new YouGov survey commissioned by the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) has found a growing awareness of nicotine pouches among under-18s – rising from 38% in 2024 to 43% in 2025. Almost 4% of teenagers also report trying the pouches, according to the poll of 2,746 youngsters aged 11 to 17. Ash data also shows that between 2023 and 2025, nicotine pouch use has increased among younger adults aged 18 to 34. Some 2.6% of 18 to 34-year-olds currently use them, compared to 0.2% of those aged over 55. Ash said that while nicotine pouches are less harmful than smoking, there are currently no limits on the strength of the nicotine, and few controls over their marketing and advertising. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently going through Parliament which will ban the advertising and sponsorship of all vapes and other nicotine products (such as nicotine pouches) and ban all vapes and nicotine products (and non-nicotine vapes) from being sold to under-18s. Conservative MP Bob Blackman, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health, said: 'Many of the big nicotine pouch brands are owned by tobacco companies with decades of experience targeting our children. 'The longer it takes for this Government to regulate, the more time the tobacco industry has to promote their products to the next generation.' Ash said the Government must now prioritise the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Ash, said: 'The surge in teen awareness and growing levels of use in young adults over the last two years indicates that the industry's marketing strategies are working. 'Products are highly promoted in shops and on social media with football stars and male influencers used to further raise their profile. 'Nicotine pouches are very likely to be less harmful than smoking. However, they must be properly regulated.' Tobacco and vapes lead for Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Kate Pike, said: 'I hear from trading standards teams across the country who are getting reports from concerned citizens who have seen teenagers being sold these products. 'However, there is no action we can take until the law is changed as no offence is being committed.'
Al Arabiya
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
British Netflix hit ‘adolescence' to be shown in French schools: Minister
British Netflix drama 'Adolescence' -- which has sparked widespread debate about the toxic and misogynistic influences to which young boys are exposed online, can now be shown in French secondary schools -- a minister has said. The initiative follows a precedent set in the UK. The producer of the series broadcast on Netflix has 'opened up the rights to us' and the French education ministry will 'offer five educational sequences to young people based on this series,' Education Minister Elisabeth Borne told LCI TV late on Sunday. These excerpts from the mini-series are 'very representative of the violence that can exist among young people,' Borne said. She added that they would be shown in secondary schools to children from the age of around 14 onwards. Such materials are intended to help raise awareness of the problem of 'overexposure to screens and the trivialization of violence on social networks,' as well as the spread of so-called masculinist theories -- misogynistic spheres which advocate violence against women, said Borne. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the move to screen the show -- in which a 13-year-old boy stabs a girl to death after being radicalized on the internet -- 'an important initiative' which would help start conversations about the content teenagers consume online. 'Adolescence,' which was released on March 13, follows the aftermath of the schoolgirl's fatal stabbing, revealing the dangerous influences to which boys are subjected online and the secret meaning youngsters are giving to seemingly innocent emojis. The series has resonated with an audience increasingly disturbed by a litany of shocking knife crimes committed by young people and the misogynistic rhetoric of influencers like Andrew Tate. As of June 1, 'Adolescence' reached a total of 141.2 million views, making it Netflix's second most watched English-language series ever, according to industry magazine Variety.
