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World news bites: ‘Social media causes anxiety in teens’ – study

Rorisang Modiba with your daily global updates.

England – Oxford University researchers have found that teenagers who spend more time on social media are more likely to experience anxiety and depression. The study showed that about 60% of teens aged 16 to 18 spend between two to four hours a day on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, with some online for as long as eight hours. The research also showed that girls suffer more from mental health issues than boys. The study suggests that better sleep and more exercise could help teens feel better. This project will track 50,000 teens in the UK over the next ten years.

US – Kanye West’s former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, is suing him for drugging her and sexually assaulting her, along with making inappropriate sexual requests. She alleges that West wanted to sleep with his wife’s mother while his wife watched. Pisciotta claims West spiked her drink during a studio session, leaving her disoriented. He then allegedly told her they had “kind of hooked up.” She was later fired and is also suing for wrongful termination and unpaid severance. West’s legal team has denied these claims, saying Pisciotta is after money.

England – Prince William is honouring his late mother, Princess Diana, by launching a new project to end homelessness. In the upcoming ITV1 documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, he talks about his goal to make homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated” within five years. William shared how his mother’s charity work inspired him. The film covers the first year of his Homewards initiative.

Australia – British YouTuber Yung Filly, real name Andres Barrientos, appeared in court in Perth, Australia, after being accused of raping and choking a woman in his hotel room on 28 September. The 29-year-old is facing several charges, including sexual penetration without consent and assault. Filly has been granted bail with conditions. The case continues.

US – Musician Pharrell Williams, 51, revealed his skincare secrets, saying he owes his youthful look to exfoliating and staying young at heart. Williams, who launched his skincare line Humanrace in 2020, says exfoliating helps remove dead skin. Critics, like singer Frank Ocean, have questioned whether this is enough to explain his age-defying skin. Williams has also been chosen as a co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

Pictured above: Teen scrolling on a phone.

Source: Stock