Peabody Finalist: Tech's Impact on Youth

0:00It's April 7th. I'm Cory with the story. This is Canada News Today, driven by AI. The Toronto Star Podcast left to their own devices just landed a finalist spot for the Peabody Award, one of journalism's top global honors. This 10-part series dives deep into how social media and tech mess with young people's lives, from addictive algorithms to pushing kids toward. Self-harm and harmful content, way too early. They teamed up with paradigm productions in McGill University for original reporting that uncovers online exploitation like financial sex torsion, hitting minors and linking to dozens of teen suicides since 2021. It features talks with affected youth, grieving parents, experts in addiction and brain science, plus lawyers battling big tech companies. The host Ava Smithing says, this knot spotlights the real damage these platforms cause and amps up the call for safer online spaces. Toronto Star's editor-in-chief, Nicole McIntyre, calls it fearless public service journalism for a whole generation, earned by a unanimous jury vote.

1:06Peabody Awards started in radio like Pulitz's for broadcasting, now covering digital too, with winners announced April 23rd in the ceremony. In Los Angeles, May 31st, right on nomination day, they dropped a bonus episode from a Columbia University chat between smithing and author Jonathan Hyte on childhood mental, health crises. This recognition keeps the pressure on for change, echoing moves like Australia's new law banning social media for under 16s. Check out the series, wherever you listen and join the push for kids online safety.