Thursday, May 25, 2023

Calls for laws on social media; the world’s most expensive ice cream; messages from outer space; and what next for LeBron?

LINKS

Social media report

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/may/23/social-media-warning-kids-mental-health

Alien message

https://www.seti.org/event/sign-space-simulating-first-contact

Kids + Media Survey Results: https://www.squizkids.com.au/aussie-kids-media-results/

Squiz Kids Book Club: https://www.squizkids.com.au/book_club/april-2023/

Classroom Companion:

Teachers! Want to access free, curriculum-aligned classroom resources tied to the daily podcast? Sign up to be a Squiz Kids Classroom and download the Classroom Companion each day. Made by teachers for teachers, differentiated to suit all primary school ability levels. And did we mention it’s free?

Newshounds

Get started on our free media literacy resource for classrooms

www.squizkids.com.au/newshounds

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Got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out? Complete the form on our Squiz Kids website. Link: SHOUT OUTS or / send us an email at [email protected]

THE LOWDOWN

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You all would have heard your parents and teachers tell you to put down the Ipad, put away the phone and be careful on social media, right?.

Well, we don’t do that just to be mean.  There is a really important and serious reason behind it. 

And yesterday, leading health experts in the United States issued a powerful plea warning about the significant risks social media has on young people’s mental health.

Which means these apps can make you have negative feelings – like being upset, they can make you sad – or worried, and even though almost every single teenager uses some form of social media – there are no laws controlling what can or cannot be posted on it it.  Nothing on social media is checked or approved, so anyone can post whatever they want. 

The new research shows a pattern .. namely, that as the popularity of social media platforms rose – mental health problems experienced by young people also grew.

And the report has called for lawmakers to help – and for tech companies to restrict young people’s access to social media.

What’s being done about this?  In America, a growing number of states are tightening laws on TikTok.  In the state of Utah – they passed a first of it’s kind law where teenagers have a curfew on social media, that means all teens are not allowed to go online after a certain time.

But right now, it’s still parents and carers who are on the front line  helping children and teens navigate the online world.  

Experts suggest creating tech free zones in your home and no social media at night. 

So – at the risk of sounding like your mum or dad – if your parents or teachers tell you to put away your screens, there is a very good reason to do so.

 

SPIN THE GLOBE
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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops. And today we’ve landed in Japan, where an ice cream company has released the world’s most expensive ice cream.  And when I mean expensive – it’s through the roof – with a crazy cost of almost 10 thousand dollars per scoop.  Putting it into the Guinness World Records, no less! 

But it’s not Chocolate.. Nor Vanilla, or Caramel, not Hokey Pokey or Strawberry. 

It has the pricey price tag because it uses rare ingredients.

Get this – it has truffle from Italy, edible gold leaf and two types of cheese.  Ewg.  I didn’t see that coming.  Who would pay 10 grand for cheese and truffle ice cream?!

 If they asked me one or scoop or two?  I think I’d say ‘chocolate, please’. 

The ice cream company says it’s rich in taste and texture.  But come on, it’s also rich in cost…. And boy oh boy, what a disaster if you dropped it on the floor!

 

SPACED OUT

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If we got a message from aliens, would we know what they are saying?  How would we know how to translate it? I mean, do you speak alien?  

The truth is, no one knows.

So a team of scientists have asked the worldwide public, that means all of us, to help take part in a crazy experiment.

These space scientists will send a fake alien message, so one they have made up themselves .  It will be beamed from a spacecraft that is currently orbiting Mars down to three massive telescopes here on Earth.

It’s a top secret message, but in code – the reason is, these scientists want to know HOW people, like you and I –  everyday people from all different backgrounds would decode the message?

Basically it’s practice, so if aliens do want to contact us, we may have a better chance of working out  what they are wanting to say.

The experiment is called ‘A Sign in Space’.  

Anyone wanting to try and interpret the message will have 6 weeks to send in your thoughts.

I’ll post a link to the details of this experiment in your episode notes, in case you want to have a go at translating the alien message yourself.  And wouldn’t it be funny comparing what you and your friends think the alien message says.

 

SPORT TIME 

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Here’s a question: Is the King of basketball ready to give up his throne?  Sport fans are worried that it could be the end of the LeBron James era, after the American superstar yesterday hinted at retirement after his team’s shock elimination from the NBA playoffs.

LeBron James plays for the Los Angeles Lakers – who just lost terribly to the Denver Nuggets.  The Lakers were the favourite team, but were steamrolled by the Nuggets losing 4 games in a row –  Sending the Lakers packing, and the Nuggets through to the NBA finals.  Which is the first time in history Denver has gone this far.

So LeBron has just finished up his twentieth year playing in the NBA with basketball fans hoping it isn’t his last – because if he sticks around for another two seasons, he may have the opportunity to play alongside his son, Bronny James.  

Bronny plays basketball for his University, which means he will be allowed to play in the NBA in 2024. Which would be pretty cool seeing father and son on court together.

As for the other basketball games –  The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are duking it out for the last spot in the NBA finals. 

And whichever of those teams advance to play the Denver Nuggets, the stage is set for a thrilling and unpredictable final series.

 

THE S’QUIZ
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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …

  1. True or false…  Experts believe social media can have a negative effect on young people’s mental health? 
  2. Can you name an unusual ingredient in the world’s most expensive ice cream?
  3. What basketball team does LeBron James play for?

 

SHOUT OUTS

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It’s May 25 – International Plastic Free Day, so it’s our chance to help the planet by ditching single use plastics.  That means using refillable water bottles, and reusable tupperware for food.  All so we have less waste.

It’s also a special day for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today … 

Amy from Plumpton, Deeya from Hammondville, Julio from Cannon Hill, Jorga from Ruse, Nia from Hughesdale, Nelly from Tumbi Umbi, Alisha from Riverview, twins – Elvio and Gabrio from Roberston, Guinevere from Kensington, Macey, Luca and Valentina from Sydney, Miles who’s listening all the way over there in Chiang Mai, Thailand and Skylar who’s listening all the way away in France.