Washington, D.C., Dec 9, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) released new research today examining how parents and children in the United States and Australia view social media bans for anyone under 16. The findings reveal strong parental support for such bans, in contrast with widespread concern from children who fear losing friendships and support systems that exist primarily online.The research arrives as Australia implements a national under 16 social media ban, placing global attention on how the policy will affect youth and their families. FOSI's study surveyed 4,000 parents and children ages 10 to 17 to understand how both groups feel about restrictions, enforcement, and the broader impact of social media on daily life.Support for the Ban: Parents vs ChildrenParents Support the Ban65% of Australian parents support a national under 16 ban58% of U.S. parents support itChildren Do NotOnly 38% of Australian children support a banOnly 36% of U.S. children support itChildren, who are most directly affected by the restrictions, are less likely to support them. This gap raises a central question for policymakers. Why do parents and children view the potential impact so differently, and what might be lost if children's concerns are overlooked?Connection Concerns: Children Feel the Most at RiskChildren Fear Losing Essential Connections53% of U.S. children fear a ban would disconnect them from important cause them to lose connections and support56% of Australian children feel the sameParents Show Lower Concern35% of U.S. parents36% of Australian parentsFor many children, social media can play a meaningful role in their daily lives, offering a place to stay connected, share experiences, and feel part of a wider community. Losing access to those spaces raises important questions about how young people will continue nurturing the relationships and support system they rely on. This cultural context along with the findings above highlights an emotional dimension of the ban that many parents may underestimate.Families are divided on the mental health impact of a banSome parents support a ban because they hope it will protect children's mental health. However, parents and children disagree on whether this will actually happen. A total of 52% of U.S. parents and 42% of Australian parents agree that a ban will help protect the mental health and well-being of children. Children are less convinced, as only 43% of U.S. and 33% of Australian children hold this view. These mixed views show that families see the mental health conversation as complicated and deeply personal.Screen Time Reduction is Expected but Not GuaranteedParents and children share similar beliefs about whether a social media ban would reduce overall screen time. A total of 55% of U.S. parents and 47% of Australian parents believe screen time would decrease, and nearly half of children in both countries agree. While reducing screen time is one of the most common arguments for the ban, it is important to note that not all screen time is equal. Many children use social media not only for entertainment, but for communication, schoolwork, creativity, and support. Additionally, many children, 64% in the U.S. and 59% in Australia, say they would spend more time on other digital platforms, including video games or text messaging, indicating the total screen time may remain the same.Many believe kids will find a way around the banParents and children are closely aligned when it comes to one concern. More than half of parents believe that children will find ways to circumvent the new restrictions. In the United States, 53% and in Australia, 54% of parents believe their children could work around the ban. When it comes to children ages 10 to 15 (those affected by the Australian ban), 45% of Australian children and 53% of U.S. children claim they could find a way around a ban.These findings reflect a common perception that tech-savvy teens will find ways to bypass age restrictions if motivated to do so.High support for teen accountsOne of the strongest areas of consensus across all four groups is the idea of creating special teen accounts with stronger protections and guardrails. A total of 77% of U.S. parents, 74% of Australian parents, 80% of U.S. children, and 77 % of Australian children support this approach. These findings suggest that families are looking for solutions that prioritize safety without removing social media altogether. The strong support for teen accounts indicates that both parents and children prefer safer, age-appropriate options rather than an outright ban."Children will be the most affected by this ban, yet only one third support it," says Alanna Powers O'Brien, Director of Research and Education at FOSI. "Many are worried about losing friendships and support they rely on every day. Their concerns should not be overlooked. As policies evolve, it is important that we listen to how young people experience the online world and ensure they feel informed, supported, and included in these conversations."For more information and to download the Children and Parents' Perceptions of Social Media and Classroom Smartphone Bans in the U.S. and AustraliaAbout the Family Online Safety InstituteThe Family Online Safety Institute is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to making the online world safer for children and families. Through research, education, resources, and collaboration with industry, government, and civil society, FOSI promotes responsible digital parenting and healthier online experiences for all.This data was collected by Ipsos, the third largest market research company in the world, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people. The survey involved 4,000 respondents, evenly split between the United States and Australia, including 1,000 parents and 1,000 children aged 10-17 in each country. Participants qualified if they or their children used the internet for at least three hours weekly. This survey was conducted from October 2nd to October 20th, 2025. No post-hoc weights were applied to this study, and the findings reflect the opinion of survey respondents only.This research is supported by Disney's Digital Wellness Grant Program and TikTok.Media Contact:Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)Amy Bartkoamy@fosi.org | www.fosi.org | 480-201-6733SOURCE: FOSI Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
香港, 2025年12月9日 - (亚太商訊) - 香港交易及结算所有限公司（以下简称“香港交易所”）正式推出香港交易所科技100指数，并宣布已与易方达基金签订授权协议。香港交易所科技100指数是香港交易所推出的首条港股指数，是其指数及数据业务发展的一个重要里程碑。该指数涵盖多个重塑港股市场格局的创新行业，突显了香港市场在推动新兴产业发展方面的关键角色，可以为投资者提供了一个有效且全面的投资工具，帮助他们把握科技和新兴领域的投资机遇。具体来看，香港交易所科技100指数跟踪100家在香港交易所上市的市值最大的科技公司的表现。这些公司的行业涵盖六大创新主题，分别为：人工智能、生物科技及制药、电动汽车及智能驾驶、资讯科技、互联网和机器人。指数成份股均符合南向交易资格，可以满足中国乃至全球投资者的投资需求。香港交易所集团行政总裁陈翊庭表示，与易方达基金达成的授权安排，将进一步推动港股相关产品在中国内地市场的发展，满足内地投资者捕捉港股市场科技投资机遇的强烈需求。“我们期待与易方达及其他业界伙伴紧密合作，共同开发创新的指数和产品，以满足投资者不断变化的需求，推动市场提供更丰富的投资工具。”易方达基金董事长刘晓艳表示：“我们很高兴也很荣幸获得香港交易所授权，在中国内地市场开发跟踪香港交易所科技100的ETF产品。该指数是表征香港上市科技企业的重要宽基指数，汇聚了100家香港交易所上市的创新企业。我们很期待设立跟踪该指数的ETF产品，让投资者分享香港上市科技企业的投资机遇，同时赋能实体经济，助力新兴产业的培育与发展。” Copyright 2025 亚太商讯 via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
SINGAPORE, Dec 9, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is pleased to announce the election of two newly elected Board Directors, K. Aravamudhan, Executive Vice President, Public Policy & Legal, JioStar and Vivek Couto, Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Director, Media Partners Asia. Their extensive experience and deep understanding of the media landscape will bring valuable insights to AVIA’s strategic direction and industry advocacy efforts.K. Aravamudhan and Vivek CoutoThe association is also pleased to confirm the re-election of Emily Yri, Vice President, International Marketing, Pubmatic, Desmond Chan, GM – TVBI & Deputy GM (Legal & Int’l Operations), TVB, Joe Welch, Vice President, Global Public Policy, Asia Pacific, The Walt Disney Company and Shonali Bedi, Head of Strategy, Partnerships & Insights – APAC, Warner Bros. Discovery. Their continued counsel and commitment will help continue to guide AVIA through a period of rapid transformation and opportunity for the video ecosystem.At the same time, AVIA extends its appreciation to previous Directors, Agnes Rozario, Chief Content Officer, Astro and Greg Armshaw, former Senior Director Strategy APAC, Brightcove,for their contributions.Board of Directors and Candidacy StatementsAbout the Asia Video Industry AssociationThe Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.For media enquiries and additional background please contact:Charmaine KwanHead of Marketing and CommunicationsEmail: charmaine@avia.org | Website: www.avia.org LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia | Twitter: @AsiaVideoIATan Teck WeeSenior Marketing and Communications ExecutiveEmail: teckwee@avia.org Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
BANGKOK, Dec 9, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) has officially announced the unprecedented success of gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025, marking a historic milestone for the Southeast Asian gaming industry. Held from October 16-19 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, this strategic alliance between gamescom asia, the Asia-Pacific's premier B2B exhibition, and Thailand Game Show, Southeast Asia's largest B2C event, has firmly positioned Thailand as the region's new gaming industry hub.The event shattered previous records, generating a combined economic value exceeding THB 1.2 billion. It attracted 206,159 visitors to the Entertainment Area and welcomed 5,590 business professionals, developers, and investors from 81 countries in the Business Area. These figures underscore Thailand's transformation from a robust consumer market into a global "Game Provider," capable of offering end-to-end services ranging from content creation to full-scale production.The event served as a catalyst for international collaboration, featuring participation from over 18 countries and regions, including Japan, South Korea, China, the US, and Australia. The exhibition floor hosted industry giants such as Bandai Namco, CAPCOM, HoYoverse, KONAMI, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Ubisoft, Xbox, Epic Games, and Xsolla.Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President/CEO of depa, emphasized that the event's success reflects the strength of Thailand's gaming ecosystem, currently valued at THB 35 billion. To sustain this growth, the government is advancing the Gaming Industry Promotion Act, designed to systematically enhance investment incentives, intellectual property protection, and talent development."With high-speed internet coverage exceeding 98% nationwide, stable 5G connectivity, and a domestic market of over 40 million gamers, we offer the ideal environment for investment," stated Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuttapon. "We are supporting this with concrete incentives, including Smart Visas for tech experts, tax exemptions for studio establishment, and streamlined ease-of-doing-business measures."The overwhelming response from global partners affirms Thailand's potential not just as a market, but as a production base rich in high-quality human resources specializing in Animation, CG, VFX, and Game Development. The success of gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025 demonstrates Thailand's readiness to drive the digital economy forward, creating long-term sustainability and opening global doors for Thai entrepreneurs.For updates, visit www.depa.or.th or follow Facebook: depa Thailand Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com
