Kids are outsmarting social media bans. That’s not a problem we need to solve.

Q: Social media bans are being enacted across France, UK, EU, and Australia, but early evidence shows k

Social media bans are being enacted across France, UK, EU, and Australia, but early evidence shows kids easily circumvent them.

Q: Form Energy is developing iron-air batteries that use reversible rusting, aiming to provide 100-hour

Form Energy is developing iron-air batteries that use reversible rusting, aiming to provide 100-hour renewable energy storage.

Q: Samuel King used a generative AI model to propose genetic blueprints for viruses, a topic explored i

Samuel King used a generative AI model to propose genetic blueprints for viruses, a topic explored in an MIT Technology Review subscriber roundtable.

·Friday, October 16, 2026·7 min read

Technology Regulation Science

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AI Summary

This MIT Technology Review newsletter argues that age-based social media bans are ineffective because kids easily circumvent them, advocating for better approaches to child safety online. It also covers the pet life extension sector (drugs, cloning, cryonics) and Form Energy's iron batteries for long-duration renewable energy storage. Plus, it highlights a subscriber roundtable on AI-designed viruses and a roundup of tech news.

Key Facts

✓Social media bans are being enacted across France, UK, EU, and Australia, but early evidence shows kids easily circumvent them.

✓Form Energy is developing iron-air batteries that use reversible rusting, aiming to provide 100-hour renewable energy storage.

✓Samuel King used a generative AI model to propose genetic blueprints for viruses, a topic explored in an MIT Technology Review subscriber roundtable.

Author Takes

Skeptical

Social media bans

Age-based social media bans are easily circumvented and not the right approach; we need better strategies to keep kids safe online.

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