For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
A 13-year-old girl has been charged with murdering a woman after a body was found following a house fire.
Northamptonshire Police said the child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Monday following the discovery of a body in a house in Newcomen Road, Wellingborough, shortly after 3am that morning.
She has also been charged with arson with attempt to endanger life.
Formal identification has yet to be confirmed, but she is believed to be 43-year-old mother-of-three Marta Bednarczyk.
A forensic post-mortem investigation, which took place today at Leicester Royal Infirmary, gave the preliminary cause of death as being a result of sharp force injury.
Police and firefighters had attended the address after reports came in of a fire at the property. Inside, police officers found Ms Bednarczyk’s body and paramedics declared her dead at the scene at 3.29am.
A scene guard remains in place tonight and police are asking people to avoid the immediate area.
Detective Chief Insp Johnny Campbell, the senior investigating officer from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “This evening we have formally charged a 13-year-old Wellingborough girl with murder, and arson, and she will appear before Northampton Magistrates Court at 10am tomorrow.
“I want to take a moment to thank the many police officers and staff who are working and continue to work tirelessly on this investigation since the very tragic events of early yesterday morning. And, in particular, all our thoughts are with Marta’s family who have been fully co-operative throughout what has been a devastating couple of days for them.
“Given the developments this evening, we will be making no further comment at this time.”
From tense standoffs to strategic bargaining — the average American parent spends 67 hours per year “in negotiation” with their child, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 parents of school-aged children examined the food-related battles and compromises each household goes through and found the average mom or dad strikes five bargains with their child per week.
The survey also found that dinnertime is the most common meal of the day for parents to receive pushback from their young ones, with children aged five officially the pickiest.
Parents spend the most time bargaining with their kids at dinnertime, the survey revealed. SWNS
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of SeaPak, the results showed nearly half of parents (44%) are concerned their child’s pickiness is affecting their overall nutrition.
Complaints about not wanting to eat veggies (37%) were the number one reason for mealtime meltdowns, followed by disliking the smell of the meal (33%) and “not liking the way it looks” (32%).
Fourteen percent of parents said food battles stem from their child not wanting to try something new, further complicating the issue.
The average American parent spends 67 hours per year “in negotiation” with their child, according to new research. SWNS
“It’s such a common problem, said Meaghan Murphy, lifestyle expert and spokesperson for SeaPak. “We hear from parents all the time who want to make sure their children are getting a balanced diet but who also are hesitant to eat anything they’ve never had before. The good news is that with a little creativity, introducing new foods and flavors into familiar dishes can help children expand their palates and enjoy a more varied, nutritious diet without the stress.”
Some of the ways parents who participated in the survey addressed this issue were to engage with their children more around mealtime, rather than punish them for their pushback.
The most popular foods parents said their kids rarely turn down were pizza (76%), chicken nuggets (73%), fries (72%), macaroni and cheese (66%) and hamburgers (58%).
A survey of 2,000 parents of school-aged children found the average mom or dad strikes five bargains with their child per week. SWNS
And seafood is a reliable go-to for about a third of parents who said their kids never say no to shrimp (32%) or fish sticks (31%).
And those familiar favorites come in handy when expanding kids’ culinary palettes. One of the most common strategies parents use is pairing new foods with flavors children already enjoy (31%).
Other strategies parents said they use to get their kids to try something new were getting their kids involved in meal preparation (36%) and introducing new foods gradually (34%). When it comes to the types of food parents receive the most pushback on, vegetables were overwhelmingly where parents saw the most refusals (56%). Just 17% of parents said the same about proteins.
The results showed nearly half of parents are concerned their child’s pickiness is affecting their overall nutrition. SWNSThe survey also found that dinnertime is the most common meal of the day for parents to receive pushback from their young ones, with children aged five officially the pickiest. SWNS
Additional helpful tactics parents noted were teaching children about the benefits of nutrition (28%), creating a positive, pressure-free mealtime environment (26%) and modeling positive behaviors by trying new ingredients for the first time with their kids (26%).
Repeated exposure (25%), offering rewards or incentives (19%) and preparing food in fun shapes and colorful arrangements (19%) were also mentioned.
Interestingly, a little over one in four participants (26%) said they were a picky eater as a kid and are still a picky eater.
And seafood is a reliable go-to for about a third of parents who said their kids never say no to shrimp or fish sticks. SWNS
“We know that getting picky eaters to try new foods can be a challenge, but seafood is a great source of protein that offers a quick and easy way to make mealtime both fun and nutritious,” said Ciera Womack, Director of Marketing, Seafood at Rich Products Corporation. “Our goal is to help parents feel confident in serving seafood in ways that are familiar and approachable, whether it’s a twist on a favorite dish or a fun new shape that sparks curiosity. Every small step toward variety can help set the stage for healthier eating habits down the road.”
MOST COMMON KID CRITIQUES AT MEALTIME
● I don’t like vegetables/a certain vegetable (37%)
● I don’t like the smell (33%)
● I don’t like the way it looks (32%)
Strategies parents said they use to get their kids to try something new were getting their kids involved in meal preparation and introducing new foods gradually. SWNS
● It’s too spicy (22%)
● It’s too mushy (18%)
● I don’t want to eat something new (14%)
● It’s too plain/bland (10%)
● It’s boring (9%)
● I had this recently (yesterday, at lunch at school, etc.) (9%)
● It’s too chewy (9%)
Additional helpful tactics parents noted were teaching children about the benefits of nutrition, creating a positive, pressure-free mealtime environment, and modeling positive behaviors by trying new ingredients for the first time with their kids. SWNS
● It’s too hot (temperature, not spice) (9%)
● It’s too cold (7%)
● It’s too crunchy (6%)
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American parents with school-aged children; the survey was commissioned by SeaPak and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between January 31 – February 4, 2025.
Tom Cruise was papped with Hayley Atwell, her partner and their daughter at the Heliport in London Tom Also attended Hayley’s Play Much Ado About Nothing
The verbal exchanges at the press conference for the historic Times Square card on Monday extended beyond the fighters.
After a contentious second press conference between the six fighters fighting on the Times Square card on May 2, Devin Haney’s father and trainer, Bill Haney, got into it with the host of the presser, DAZN commentator Todd Grisham.
The crux of the issue for Bill was how he felt his son was portrayed by Grisham during the press conference, given Devin’s accolades and accomplishments in his career.
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
“You’re full of s***,” Bill told Grisham. “I hope that this is what you guys wanted to do. It’s a f****** circus act. Devin is a real fighter and you showed no respect up there. You showed no respect for what he’s done for boxing. He’s a two division champion and undisputed champion. You’re a piece of s***.”
Devin (31-0, 15 KOs) is a former undisputed lightweight champion and WBC junior welterweight champion. He will face former unified junior welterweight champion Jose Ramirez at Times Square, while his bitter rival, Ryan Garcia, faces Rolando “Rolly” Romero (16-2, 13 KOs) in the main event. Teofimo Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) will defend his WBO and Ring junior welterweight title against interim WBO junior welterweight champion Arnold Barboza Jr. (31-0, 11 KOs) on May 2 as well.
Most of Bill’s ire toward Grisham likely stemmed from how he interjected in one exchange between Devin and Ramirez. Ramirez (29-2, 18 KOs) said his job is to test Devin’s chin, to which he responded by asking why people are questioning his chin after he was dropped three times by Ryan Garcia, who missed weight by three pounds and tested positive multiple times for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine.
IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wir
The failed drug tests caused the outcome of their bout to go from a majority decision win for Garcia to a no-contest and he was suspended for one year by the New York State Athletic Commission retroactive to his bout vs. Devin bout on April 20.
Grisham responded by saying Devin showed heart, but didn’t back him on his claim that he has a good chin.
“Shows that you had a lot of heart for sure,” Grisham said. “Certainly showed you had a lot of heart.”
“You didn’t describe [Garcia] for who he was,” Bill told Grisham. “You painted Ryan Garcia as if he’s won something. He’s a PED drug cheat. You never said that.”
Grisham responded by saying that he has the utmost respect for Devin, but Bill didn’t believe him.
Unfortunately for Bill and Devin, the image of how the fight vs. Garcia played out still remains fresh in the mind of many, despite what transpired outside of the ring. If they’re going to shake that notion, it’ll depend on how Devin performs against Ramirez on May 2 and the rematch against Garcia, which is planned for later this year if they win their respective bouts.
“[May] 2, Devin will come in and he’s going to be a better version of Devin Haney, just like he said,” Bill said.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. —A 4-year-old boy called 911 last week after his mother committed what he saw as a serious crime — eating his ice cream, WCAX reported.
“My mom is being bad,” the child told a Racine County dispatcher, according to audio obtained by WCAX. “Come and get my mommy, come get my mommy.”
As the dispatcher tried to determine what was wrong, the boy’s mother took the phone and explained the situation.
“I ate his ice cream, so that’s probably why he’s calling 911,” the mother said.
After receiving the call,Officer Gardinier and Officer Ostergaard were dispatched to the house for a 911 hangup, the Mount Pleasant Police Department said. Body camera video shows the mother answering the door.
“Oh it’s the police, they came for real,” she said.
“Yeah, we have to just come check to make sure everything’s okay,” an officer said.
The 4-year-old who called 911 can be seen at the top of stairs inside the house.
“Did you call the police?” the officer asks.
“Yeah,” the 4-year-old responds. “I told my mommy to go to jail.”
“I didn’t get ice cream,” the child continues.
After determining that the ice cream was the reason for calling 911, one of the officers turned the moment into a valuable lesson.
“No calling 911 unless it’s a real emergency, okay?” the officer said.
Before the officers’ leave, they remind the 4-year-old that they’ll be there to help if he ever needs it.
The next day, the officers returned — with ice cream. A photo released by the department shows the smiling boy holding two cups of ice cream with blue sprinkles, standing alongside Gardinier and Ostergaard who made sure justice was served — in a much sweeter way.
The Fort Worth Police Department created its “diss track” in response to a Dallas Police recruiting billboard installed in Fort Worth
Hit your fitness goals without breaking the bank
March 11, 2025 02:49 PM
·
By incorporating these snacks into their daily routine, officers can better manage their energy levels and focus
March 12, 2025 07:57 PM
·
Officers faced historic challenges during the pandemic, with many falling ill in the line of duty; NLEOMF has formally recognized COVID-19 as a line-of-duty death
“We’ll be wasting the skirts we already have and having to spend £30 on one you can only buy from the school and not other uniform shops.
“It also means people won’t be able to rely on second hand uniforms or hand me downs as so many do.
“Having a unique material and pattern is just nonsense and this goes against government guidance which says schools should have fewer branded items.
“Also, why just target the girls with this? It’s very unfair.”
The girls will also have the option to wear trousers from September, but Sarah says a petition has been launched against the new skirt.
One person said on social media: “I think it’s appalling. 30 quid for a skirt!”
A second added: “My daughter is due to start in September and the cost is going to be over a week’s wage.”
One person wrote: “Girls have to have their skirt which costs £30, but boys can wear plain black pants from a supermarket, it’s a joke, kids had no choice in it.”
The change was announced to parents in a letter from head of school Victoria Walmsley which said: “We recognise the financial challenges many families face and are committed to making this uniform change as affordable as possible.
“For the initial year, the school will purchase the skirts directly and sell them to parents at the cost price of £29.95.
“The skirt will not be available at our uniform suppliers during the first year of launch, however the uniform suppliers will continue to stock all other uniform items.”
She says that input from the students has ‘been invaluable’ and that ‘the new skirt has been designed based on their feedback to ensure it is both practical and comfortable’.
The letter continued: “We are confident that it will not only offer comfort and quality but also provide a unique design that sets our school apart.
“The fabric is unique to Rivington and Blackrod High School, giving our students a signature skirt that reflects our sense of community and pride.
“It is made from high-quality, durable material, manufactured in the UK and features an elasticated, adjustable waist to comfortably accommodate students as they grow.”
Mrs Walmsley adds that there will be a buy-back scheme for families with students entering Year 11 in September and says the school is ‘actively exploring the possibility of uniform recycling for future years, ensuring that our uniform remains accessible to all’.
A spokesperson for Leverhulme Academy Trust, which runs the school, said: “This update is part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a consistent and professional standard of uniform that reflects the pride and identity of our school community.
“We understand the concerns raised regarding the cost of the skirt and changes to our uniform policy and we are actively listening to feedback from parents and students.
“The new skirt has been designed based on student feedback to ensure it is comfortable, durable, high quality and UK-manufactured.
“To support families, we are offering the skirt at cost price for the first year, along with a ‘buy now, pay later’ option to help spread the cost. Additionally, we are planning to introduce a uniform recycling scheme to further assist with affordability.
“We are committed to ensuring that the overall uniform remains affordable. Students will still have the option to wear plain black tailored trousers, available from local suppliers and supermarkets, in line with our uniform policy.
“We appreciate the ongoing dialogue and are happy to address any further questions or concerns.”
Under changes to the Education Act in 2022, schools in England were told to lower uniform costs for families by removing unnecessary branded items and making cheaper second-hand uniforms available.
A report from The Children’s Society said parents and carers were still being forced to spend hundreds of pounds, an average of £422 on secondary pupils and £287 on primary uniforms.
90 Day Fiancé: Jasmine Pineda Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby With Boyfriend Not Husband Gino Palazzolo
The 90 Day universe is getting bigger.
Annie Suwan and David Toborowsky, whose relationship and marriage were chronicled on season five of 90 Day Fiancé, welcomed their first baby together March 11 in Pattaya, Thailand, after undergoing in vitro fertilization.
“With hearts full of love and joy, we are thrilled to announce the arrival of our beautiful baby girl, Minthirarat,” the couple said in a statement to Us Weekly. “Her name means ‘brave gem’ and symbolizes the strength of Pisces, truly a shining light in our lives. We feel incredibly blessed to see this little miracle come to life.”
Annie, 32, and David, 56, went on to thank their doctors and nurses as well as viewers who offered support throughout their journey to parenthood.
“We are beyond grateful for the love and encouragement from all the 90 Day Fiancé fans who have been with us every step of the way,” they continued. “Your kindness means the world to us, and we couldn’t have done it without you.”
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
A triple killer been given a whole-life term after murdering his ex-partner, her sister and mother, with her father, the BBC racing commentator John Hunt, telling Kyle Clifford that the “screams of hell” await him.
Clifford refused to attend his sentencing on Tuesday for the murders of his former partner Louise and her sister Hannah with a crossbow. He used a butcher’s knife to kill their mother, Carol.
Carol Hunt (left), Hannah (top right) and Louise (bottom right) were all murdered by Clifford (Supplied)
He gained access to the family home in Bushey on 9 July last year by deceiving her 61-year-old mother, Carol Hunt, before he stabbed her eight times and then “lay in wait” for Louise to enter the property.
He restrained her by tying her wrists and ankles, raped her and shot her with a crossbow, before also killing her 28-year-old sister Hannah when she returned home from work.
The screams of hell, Kyle. I can hear them faintly now. They’re going to roll the red carpet out for you
John Hunt
Sentencing Clifford to a whole-life order, the judge, Mr Justice Bennathan said: “The evidence I have heard shows you to be a jealous man soaked in self-pity – a man who holds women in utter contempt.”
Taking the witness stand, Mr Hunt said: “Whatever sentence you’re about to receive, whatever misery lies ahead for you in the next 60 years … after your days on earth are done, on your dying day there will be no release for you, Kyle.
“The screams of hell, Kyle. I can hear them faintly now.
Kyle Clifford refused to attend his sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court (PA)
“They’re going to roll the red carpet out for you. The person you could have been will meet the person you are, and you will realise your miserable fate will last for eternity.”
The court previously heard the murders were fuelled by the “violent misogyny promoted” by Andrew Tate, after it emerged that Clifford searched for the controversial social media influencer’s podcast less than 24 hours before the attacks.
Cambridge Crown Court was told Clifford had been seen by a friend of Louise viewing a Tate video “which showed animals who had been drugged”, which the killer found “funny”.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told the court: “Andrew Tate can properly be described as a poster boy for misogynists, a poster boy for those who view women as possessions to be controlled.
Kyle Clifford is interviewed by police after spending 10 weeks in hospital after he shot himself with a crossbow (PA)
“In that context, and in light of all the other background material, it is no coincidence, the prosecution submit, that it was Andrew Tate that the defendant turned to the night before he would go off to commit these acts of violence against women.”
On the evening of 8 July, Clifford had searched online for a podcast made by Tate, while his work supervisor said he was “unhappy with the way that the defendant spoke about women”.
During his 18-month relationship with Louise, she had told friends that he had a “nasty temper” and behaved in an “aggressive manner”. Her family and friends had hoped the relationship would end as they had become concerned about his behaviour, with her sister Hannah viewing him as “disrespectful, rude and arrogant”.
Five days before the murders, Louise made a note on her phone titled “When you’re sad, look” which set out how Clifford was “racist”, commented he “did not like transgender people” and used “belittling language”.
The packaging of the butcher’s knife used to kill Carol Hunt
The killer had also hidden the fact that he had relationships with other women during his time with Louise and was signed up to the dating apps Hinge and Bumble.
Before meeting Louise, Clifford had been in the army for two years. His former commander concluded that he was “wholly unsuited to military employment and has no care nor concern beyond himself”.
Stating that Louise had said “enough is enough”, Mr Hunt said: “When I challenged myself about how you were able to deceive us all, I simply say that you are a psychopath who, for the duration of your time together with Louise, was able to disguise yourself as an ordinary human being.”
He added that Carol had shown compassion towards Clifford in her final moments, urging him to seek relationship help and guidance just seconds before he stabbed her eight times.
Mr Hunt said the impact of the deaths would stay with him to the grave.
“But on the way there, I want you to know that I stand strong before you today, as you, Kyle, are consigned to a fate far greater than death.
Kyle Clifford searched online for an Andrew Tate podcast less than 24 hours before the murders (PA)
“I can draw on the love and strength that I still (have) from my girls in every moment of every day.”
His eldest and only surviving daughter Amy Hunt called Clifford a “monster” and said that what he did “to my baby sister is nothing short of demonic”.
She broke down and wept part of the way through her victim impact statement, as she said Clifford’s “monstrous, selfish actions” had devastated the loved ones of Carol, Hannah and Louise.
“You planned to take the lives of three women who have never done anything to hurt you and for what – you got dumped,” she said.
In the days leading up to the attacks he researched how to buy a crossbow and accessed pornography, including a video of former HMP Wandsworth prison officer Linda De Sousa Abreu, who admitted having sex with a prisoner.
Mr Justice Bennathan called Clifford a ‘jealous man soaked in self-pity’ (PA)
He had also told his brother Bradley Clifford, who is in prison serving a life sentence for murder, that he had bought a crossbow, but didn’t reveal that he intended to harm anyone.
He fled the scene after the murders, which led to a 22-hour manhunt before firearms officers located him in a wooded area in Enfield. He shot himself with the loaded crossbow and is now confined to a wheelchair after paralysing himself from the chest down.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan continued: “Your brutal and cowardly attack had been planned over about 11 days.
“You conducted extensive research into the movements of Louise’s father John, into her mother’s Facebook page, into buying a crossbow, a knife and an air pistol, and even into the weather on the day of the attack.”
The judge added that Clifford wrote letters to his own family that were “dripping with self-pity”.
Addressing the victim impact statements made by John and Amy Hunt, he added: “They showed a gentle heroism of which you, Kyle Clifford, can only dream.”
Commenting on the sentencing of Kyle Clifford, Abigail Ampofo, Interim CEO at Refuge said: “The fact that this was a targeted attack by someone known to the victims – Louise’s ex-partner – highlights the very real danger posed by those who use violence to exert control over their intimate partners.
“This is a stark reminder that the risks of domestic violence do not end with a breakup or separation.
“It is shocking to many that dangerous weapons, like crossbows, can be accessed without proper registration or licensing, and we welcome the government’s continued consideration of tightening laws around such weapons.”
A pregnant woman is feuding with her mother-in-law after the older woman has continually chided her for working out while pregnant, even going so far as to claim she is putting her unborn child in danger.
The anonymous, 28-year-old woman shares her situation in a post on Reddit, writing: “I am currently pregnant and have been staying active by going to the gym, as my doctor has assured me it’s perfectly safe.”
“I don’t do anything extreme—just light weights, walking, and stretching to stay healthy for myself and the baby,” she adds.
But her mother-in-law has “been making constant comments about how I’m ‘selfish’ and ‘putting my baby in danger’ by working out. She even told me I’m ‘asking for a miscarriage’ by not just sitting at home and ‘acting like a proper pregnant woman.’ ”
The woman adds that she has tried explaining to her mother-in-law that her doctor is supportive of her workouts, “but she won’t listen.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“Today, she pushed it too far, saying I was going to ‘regret it when something happens,’ ” the woman continues in her post. “I snapped and told her to piss off and stop sticking her nose in my business. Now she’s playing the victim, saying I was ‘disrespectful’ and that I should apologize. My husband is on my side but thinks I could’ve handled it more calmly.”
Fellow Reddit users are arguing that the woman was not in the wrong, with one writing that the mother-in-law was “rude, intrusive, and ignorant.”
“You don’t prophesize a miscarriage to a pregnant woman. Like never. Your reaction was even too calm,” adds another.
Others argues that the woman’s husband needs to intervene so the mother-in-law doesn’t get worse once the child is born.
“HE now needs to take over this situation and have a sit down with her where HE makes it abundantly clear to her that SHE is the ONLY one in the wrong and he expects HER to apologize to you. Anything less than this is not acceptable,” writes one commenter. “It’s not your problem that she is ignorant and stuck in the past. And this won’t be the last thing she criticizes you for, it’s only the first.”
LOS ANGELES — TikTok is expanding its Family Pairing feature with new tools designed to give parents more control and ensure a safer experience for teens on the platform, the company announced Tuesday.
TikTok first rolled out the Family Pairing feature in 2020. The safety feature “allows parents, guardians, and teens to customize their safety settings based on individual needs,” according to the company’s website. Parents and guardians can link their account to their teen’s account in order to set controls such as screen time, direct messaging, content filters and more.
The latest updates introduce two key features: the ability to block access to TikTok during specific times and increased visibility into a teen’s follower list, according to the company’s announcement Tuesday.
“Since launching Family Pairing – TikTok’s parenting controls – five years ago, we’ve continually added new features based on feedback from families, as well as guidance from leading experts,” the announcement read. “With increased visibility into their teen’s network, parents will be better equipped to have ongoing conversations and help their teens develop the digital literacy skills they need.”
One of the standout additions is the Time Away feature, allowing parents to set specific periods when their teen can’t access the app.
Whether it’s during family meals, school hours or bedtime, the customizable tool helps ensure breaks from the platform. Teens can request extra time, but the final decision remains with parents.
The update also offers greater transparency into teens’ social connections. Parents can now see who their teen is following, who follows them and which accounts have been blocked. This added visibility aims to foster open discussions about online interactions and help teens manage their digital relationships safely, the company said.
TikTok also said it is introducing new features, including a wind-down function, to promote healthier digital habits.
This will prompt teens under 16 with full-screen reminders and calming music if they’re still on the app past 10 p.m. The company is also testing meditation exercises to encourage better bedtime routines.
The wind-down feature will be available Tuesday, but the meditation component will roll out in a few weeks, with the exact date to be announced.
Since the launch of Family Pairing, TikTok has continued to expand its parental controls.
Parents now have access to over 15 adjustable settings, including options to enable a STEM-focused feed, customize screen time limits for weekdays and weekends, and reset a teen’s account to private if it was previously public.
Looking ahead, TikTok said it plans to introduce even more safety measures, including a feature that allows teens to notify a trusted adult when reporting content that may violate platform guidelines.
By prioritizing safety and well-being, TikTok said it aims to create a more balanced online environment for young users while providing parents with better oversight.
As these features roll out, the company said it remains committed to refining its approach based on feedback and expert recommendations.
“We constantly work to simplify things for caregivers so they can feel confident supporting their teen,” the company said in the announcement. “It’s intentionally not specific to any single app or service and includes suggested agreements for when devices and parental supervision tools are used. Throughout 2025, we’ll continue to make deliberate decisions to prioritize teen safety and well-being to continue to keep TikTok safe, especially for teens.”
TikTok and other social media platforms have come under criticism in the past for the potential negative risks they may pose for young people, particularly when it comes to mental health and privacy issues.
Scrutiny increased in 2021, after an internal Facebook study was leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen that showed the detrimental effects certain types of Instagram content had on teen girls. That same year, an investigation by the Wall Street Journal found TikTok’s algorithm had “exposed numerous teenagers to videos that encourage drastic, unhealthy weight-loss measures and eating disorders,” and “over time, increasingly shows teen users unmoderated content, oftentimes related to self-harm and suicide.”
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded to the whistleblower allegations in a blog post at the time, claiming that accusations the company prioritized “profit over safety and well-being” were “just not true.”
“We care deeply about issues like safety, well-being and mental health,” the statement read. “It’s difficult to see coverage that misrepresents our work and our motives. At the most basic level, I think most of us just don’t recognize the false picture of the company that is being painted.”
Meanwhile, a TikTok spokesperson said at the time that the Journals experiment doesnt reflect the experience most people have on their site, but that even one person having that experience is one too many.
TikTok has a minimum age requirement of 13, however no parental consent verification is required. On its website, the social media platform states that in which they are given private accounts that are unable to “comment, share, or send and receive messages.” Videos produced under these accounts can be created but not posted, according to the company, and screen time is limited to one hour.
TikTok says it also restricts certain content for users under 18, including content dealing with disordered eating and body image, dangerous activities and challenges, nudity and sexually suggestive content, graphic or shocking content, gambling, and alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
The Justice Department previously sued TikTok in August last year, accusing the company of “knowingly” permitting children to “create regular TikTok accounts and to create, view, and share short-form videos and messages with adults and others on the regular TikTok platform.” The department also accused TikTok of collecting and retaining “a wide variety of personal information from these children without notifying or obtaining consent from their parents.”
“Even for accounts that were created in ‘Kids Mode’ (a pared-back version of TikTok intended for children under 13), the defendants unlawfully collected and retained children’s email addresses and other types of personal information,” the Justice Department said at the time. “Further, when parents discovered their children’s accounts and asked the defendants to delete the accounts and information in them, the defendants frequently failed to honor those requests.”
DOJ officials also accused TikTok of having “deficient and ineffectual internal policies and processes for identifying and deleting TikTok accounts created by children.”
A TikTok spokesperson disputed the allegations at the time, saying in a statement that many “relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed.”
“We are proud of our efforts to protect children, and we will continue to update and improve the platform,” the statement read. “To that end, we offer age-appropriate experiences with stringent safeguards, proactively remove suspected underage users, and have voluntarily launched features such as default screentime limits, Family Pairing, and additional privacy protections for minors.”
