Frontiers

New fossil evidence challenges the story of mammalian birth

The microscopic structure of fossilized bones helps solve ‘inscrutable mystery’ about the reproduction of ancestor of true mammals

UK may ban social media for under‑16s

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reported to be set to announce a policy banning social media use for children under 16. Reports say the ban would mirror Australia's list of covered platforms — including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Facebook, X, Threads, Snapchat, Twitch and Kick — while excluding most gaming apps from an outright ban but restricting features such as chatting with strangers for younger users. The policy would also bar users under 18 from accessing romantic or sexual chatbots and seek to limit late‑night scrolling. Some enforcement could use existing regulatory powers, though new legislation may be required. Supporters cite child safety and mental‑health concerns; critics warn of privacy risks, child isolation, and limited evidence of benefits.

AT&T Launches Xandr: Revolutionizing Targeted Advertising

AT&T unveiled Xandr, the branding for its advertising and analytics unit, at the Relevance Conference in Santa Barbara, following two multibillion-dollar acquisitions and an ongoing DOJ lawsuit. Xandr aims to offer a data-rich, cross-channel platform by combining AT&T’s 170 million subscribers with WarnerMedia’s content to deliver targeted, measurable ads. AT&T has inked deals with Altice USA and Frontier Communications to aggregate and sell addressable TV inventory, signaling a broader marketplace vision. Central to Xandr is AppNexus, acquired for about $1.6 billion in June, which will power the programmatic marketplace and help automate linear TV buying, scaling AT&T’s roughly $2 billion addressable business to be fully programmatic. The company seeks a marketplace where media owners augment their data with AT&T data and advertisers run their own measurement models. Regulatory considerations and premium inventory access are noted challenges, but with leadership support from Randall Stephenson and Brian Lesser, Xandr intends to reshape TV advertising.