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Children are turning to ChatGPT over their PARENTS for life advice

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Dame Rachel de Souza has warned that children are increasingly turning to online chatbots instead of their parents for answers to life’s biggest questions (file photo)

Children are increasingly turning to online chatbots instead of their parents for answers to life’s biggest questions, the Children’s Commissioner has warned.

Dame Rachel de Souza will say in a speech today that the ‘apathy’ of many parents is causing a ‘crisis in childhood’ that is leading to many children feeling ‘disconnected’.

The Children’s Commissioner will say that artificial intelligence such as Chat GPT could end up filling knowledge gaps for children unless parents can show they will respond quicker than online chatbots.

Her comments come amid a national conversation about how the internet and social media are affecting children, which has been prompted by the hit Netflix drama Adolescence.

Today Dame Rachel will address the inaugural Festival Of Childhood alongside Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, where she is expected to say that children just ‘want to be listened to’.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, has warned that the ‘apathy’ of many parents is causing a ‘crisis in childhood’ that is leading to many children feeling ‘disconnected’

 

She will warn that childhood must not be conflated with adulthood ‘because to do so abdicates us of our responsibility to making sure every child has all the things they should always have, and no child experiences the things they never should’.

Dame Rachel will say: ‘If we want children to experience the vivid technicolour of life, the joy of childhood, the innocence of youth, we have to prove that we will respond more quickly to them than Chat GPT.’

She will add: ‘Some of these foundations of childhood are cracking. A different version of childhood is playing out – one that we are struggling to be honest about. A crisis developing in childhood.

‘There is a risk of inaction, of apathy – and the antidote to this is listening. Connecting. That is why we must listen to children, to engage them on the decisions about their lives.’

The Children’s Commissioner has also carried out a new survey using her statutory powers to obtain responses from around 19,000 schools and colleges, representing almost 90 per cent of schools in England.

Dame Rachel de Souza has warned that children are increasingly turning to online chatbots instead of their parents for answers to life’s biggest questions (file photo)

 

The research has found that more than half – 55 per cent – of schools are worried about the online safety of their children.

The survey also found that 71 per cent of schools are concerned about children’s access to adolescent mental health services, while 46 per cent are worried about the impact of poverty on children.

Dame Rachel is also expected to set out her focus for the next 12 months, which will include looking at children’s trust in the police, harms cause by AI ‘deepfake’ technology, and the use of mobile phones in schools.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said she pledged, upon entering office, that this would be a ‘child-centred government’.

She added: ‘This is exactly what we are delivering: better life chances for every child, wherever they live and whatever their background, putting their best interests at the heart of everything we do.’

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IMO STATE LAUNCHES DIGITAL LAND INFORMATION CENTER, UNLOCKING NEW ERA FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT

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Imo State has taken a major leap in land administration with the unveiling of the Imo Land Information Service Centre (IMLISC), a modern, technology-driven facility established under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma. Located within the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Physical Planning in Owerri, this state-of-the-art centre is set to transform land governance, boost investor confidence, and protect citizens from fraudulent land dealings.

The IMLISC introduces a fully digital system that streamlines land transactions and offers services such as e-land searches, land recertification, issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), and ownership transfers. These automated processes ensure faster, more transparent, and accountable land administration, marking a clear departure from outdated, manual methods.

Governor Uzodimma’s administration has championed this initiative as part of its broader commitment to innovative governance and economic reform. The centre provides Imo citizens with secure access to land-related data, shielding them from scams and ensuring legitimacy in property transactions. It builds trust and simplifies land ownership—making it both secure and straightforward.

For the business community, IMLISC is a game-changer. Entrepreneurs and real estate developers now have access to clear documentation, reliable data, and efficient processing—eliminating bottlenecks that previously hampered progress. The result is a more attractive business climate that welcomes both local and diaspora investors with open arms.

Moreover, the new system is expected to enhance internally generated revenue (IGR). With better documentation and fewer disputes, land transactions will be more organized and traceable, increasing state earnings from legitimate dealings. These funds can then be reinvested into critical sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, and education—ultimately benefiting every Imo resident.

The centre will also serve as a hub for land dispute resolution, offering timely and fair intervention mechanisms. Through data-driven decision-making, it will support sustainable urban planning and responsible land use policies across the state.

Governor Uzodimma’s foresight in establishing the IMLISC is a testament to his commitment to good governance, transparency, and economic growth. The centre is not just a building—it is a symbol of Imo State’s readiness for progress, a safeguard for property rights, and a magnet for investment.

With this initiative, Imo is setting a new benchmark in land administration—one that empowers citizens, supports business growth, attracts global investors, and drives development for the future.

#HopeNewAndElectronicMediaCenter

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French Tesla customers sue over brand becoming ‘extreme right’

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Tesla sales in the EU have nearly halved, with many customers looking for electric cars put off by Elon Musk's political positions. Photo: JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP/File Source: AFP

Around 10 French clients with leases on Teslas are suing the US carmaker, run by Elon Musk, because they consider the vehicles to be “extreme-right” symbols, the law firm representing them said on Wednesday.

They feel they suffered “direct and concrete” damage from the way Teslas are now associated with “Elon Musk’s actions”, the GKA law firm said.

They are demanding the Paris commercial court order their lease contracts be terminated and legal costs reimbursed, it said in a statement, signed by lawyers Patrick Klugman and Ivan Terel.

The lawsuit comes as Tesla sales in the European Union have almost halved since the beginning of the year, a slump attributed to Musk’s political activities.

Those activities include him — until last week — standing firmly with US President Donald Trump, and overseeing efforts to cut down US departments and agencies.

He has also lent public support to Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, and came under criticism for making a repeated gesture with an out-thrust arm interpreted by many historians to be a Nazi salute.

“Because of Elon Musk’s actions… Tesla branded vehicles have become strong political symbols and now appear to be veritable extreme-right ‘totems’, to the dismay of those who acquired them with the sole aim of possessing an innovative and ecological vehicle,” GKA said in a statement.

The perception of the Teslas they leased “prevents them from fully enjoying their car”, it said.

Most of the leases run for four years, with an option at the end to buy the vehicle.

Tesla cars in Europe and elsewhere have been targeted by vandals, with some drivers reporting they have been insulted for using what is sometimes called on social media a “swasti-car”.

Several owners have taken to putting stickers on their Teslas reading “I bought this before Elon went crazy”.

“The situation is both unexpected and impossible for French Tesla owners,” Klugman told AFP.

“Musk’s political positions have interrupted enjoyment” of the vehicles, and “we believe that Mr Musk owes these buyers the peaceful possession of the thing sold”, he said.

Contacted by AFP for comment, Tesla did not immediately respond.

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Elon Musk unveils XChat to rival WhatsApp, Telegram, others globally

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Billionaire Elon Musk is pushing forward his ambition to transform X (formerly Twitter) into an “everything app” with the launch of XChat, a new messaging feature designed to rival the likes of WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal.

Unveiled over the weekend, XChat introduces end-to-end encryption, vanishing messages, file sharing, and audio/video calling.

Musk described the tool as “all new” in a post on Sunday, emphasizing its focus on secure, private communication.

“All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages, and the ability to send any kind of file.  

“This is built on Rust with (Bitcoin style) encryption, a whole new architecture. You can do audio/video calls without a phone number across all platforms,” Elon Musk posted.

Early reports suggest the feature is already in beta testing among paid X subscribers. Leaked screenshots by app researcher Nima Owji show support for group chats, a vanish mode, and a four-digit passcode to lock messages, a significant upgrade to X’s previous direct messaging capabilities.

The bigger picture 

XChat is part of Musk’s long-term goal of morphing X into a Western super app, similar to China’s WeChat.

This vision encompasses everything from messaging and payments to entertainment, commerce, and even dating.

Musk previously told employees he wants X to function as a digital bank and dating app by 2024, part of a sweeping transformation that could change how users engage with the platform.

He’s not alone in this race. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is also building a “super app” through his side project, World, which recently launched an app store and biometric ID system called Orbs.

What you should know 

With 600 million monthly active users as of October 2024, Musk’s X holds a considerable lead but retaining that user base is critical.

The rollout of XChat could help the platform move beyond just being a public town square and into users’ everyday digital routines.

Last year, X unveiled plans to roll out a peer-to-peer payment system on the platform, saying it would unlock more user utility and new opportunities for commerce.

  • The company said this would also showcase the power of the platform users living their “life in one place.
  • Reports have indicated that as of December 2023, X was licensed for payment processing in a dozen U.S. states, and by this January, that number stands at 14, with the recent additions of Arkansas and Pennsylvania.
  • Musk had earlier said that he envisions a platform where users will be able to send money to others and extract those funds to authenticated bank accounts.

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