Apple has removed at least 11 of the 17 most downloaded parental and screen-time control apps from its App Store, according to the New York Times. The move comes after the company began making stricter rules on iPhones’ ability to control other smartphones, the use of certain APIs and the release of its own screen-time monitor. Screen-time control apps seem to be counterproductive for Apple; however, the company said that it does not want people using iPhones all the time. “This has never been an objective for us,” Apple CEO, Tim Cook, said at the TIME 100 Summit earlier this month. An Apple spokeswoman told the New York Times that the company has removed some apps because they collect too much user data, which violates the company’s rules. “We treat all apps the same, including those that compete with our own services,” Tammy Levine, the Apple spokeswoman. “Our incentive is to have a vibrant app ecosystem that provides consumers access to as many quality apps as possible.” Apple’s...

In the digital age, the term “popcorn brain” has emerged as a metaphor for how our attention shifts from one thing to another, like the popping kernels in a bag of popcorn. Coined by researcher David Levy in 2011 , it explains the overstimulation caused by technology , leading to constant distraction and difficulty in focusing. Popcorn brain describes how our attention rapidly shifts from one thought to another. Similar to our day-to-day lives, the metaphor mirrors the fast-paced environment created by the digital world. Our minds become overwhelmed by the constant influx of information from various sources, resulting in stress and restlessness. What Is The Average Attention Span? According to CNN , Dr. Gloria Mark, a leading expert in informatics at the University of California, Irvine, states that our ability to concentrate is declining. In her book, “ Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity,” Dr. Mark emphasizes decades of research in...

When Regina Hall first debuted on the soap opera, “Loving,” few if any believed that she’d ever break out of the world of daytime drama. But she not only survived the daytime world, but thrived thereafter. Since 1997 — when she booked her first commercial — Hall has appeared in countless films and television shows. But it wasn’t until her 2001 role on “Ally McBeal” that she finally broke out into the mainstream. She also made an impact on the big screen, as well. Regina Hall has had roles in such big-time movies as “The Hate U Give,” “The Best Man,” and the “Scary Movie” franchise of films. Despite her success, though, Hall didn’t always set out to be an actress. Initially, she enrolled at NYU and got her master’s degree in journalism. But when her father died of a stroke in her first year of graduate school, everything changed. “It was sudden. And I think when sudden events that are painful happen in your life, you know, they redirect your course,” Hall said in an interview with...

A new study by the University of Calgary shows that children 2-5 years old who engage in more screen time are more likely to receive lower performance scores on development screening tests. “What sets this study apart from previous research is that we looked specifically at the lasting impacts of screen time,” said Dr. Sheri Madigan , Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. “What these findings tell us is that one reason there may be disparities in learning and behavior at school entry is because some kids are in front of their screens far too often in early childhood.” Ninety-eight percent of children in the United States under 8-years-old live in a home with an internet-connected device and spend an average of two hours a day on screens, according to a report by Common Sense Media. One out of every four children entering school is inadequately prepared for learning and academic success, a gap that widens over time if not addressed....