Kid News Daily: A Roundup of September 18th, 2024

This summary covers the key events discussed in the September 18th episode of Kid News, ranging from significant digital safety changes to unusual athletic mishaps.

Instagram Implements Major Safety Changes for Teens

In a "seismic shift" for the platform, Instagram is rolling out new privacy features for users under 18. Starting this week, the app will automatically transition these accounts to "private," meaning followers must be approved before interacting with a teenager. Furthermore, the platform is introducing a "sleep mode" that will "mute notifications" between 10 PM and 7 AM. CEO Adam Mosseri acknowledges that these changes might impact business growth but emphasizes the priority of regaining the "trust of parents" concerned about the "mental health" of their children. To prevent users from bypassing these rules, the company plans to deploy AI next year to catch individuals who "lie about their age."

Historic Rainfall in North Carolina

Coastal North Carolina recently faced a "once in a thousand year rain event." An intense storm system dropped a staggering "18 inches" of rain in just 12 hours. The flooding resulted in "impassable" roads and forced schools to close early. In one notable instance, emergency responders had to use "high water vehicles" to evacuate students and "ferry them to their families" when parents were unable to reach the campus due to the severe weather conditions.

Miley Cyrus Faces Copyright Lawsuit

Pop star Miley Cyrus is currently entangled in a legal battle over her hit song, Flowers. Tempo Music Investments, which holds a share of Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man, alleges that Cyrus "intentionally" copied the melody and chord progression of the 2012 hit. The lawsuit claims it is "undeniable" that Flowers would not exist without the inspiration from the Bruno Mars track. This marks the fourth time Cyrus has faced copyright infringement accusations, though she has successfully resolved previous cases through settlements or dismissals.

The Rise of Kitchen Automation

Robotics are increasingly entering the food service industry. Chipotle is testing an "autocado" machine in California, which can "cut, core and peel" avocados in half the time required by a human worker. This innovation is vital for a company expecting to utilize "129.5 million pounds of avocado" this year. Beyond Chipotle, other chains like McDonald's, Sweetgreen, and White Castle are integrating "self-serve kiosks" and "collaborative robots" (cobots) to streamline food preparation and service.

Tom Cruise’s Free Olympic Stunt

Actor Tom Cruise famously participated in the Olympic closing ceremony, performing a high-stakes stunt involving a parachute jump and a flight to Los Angeles. Despite the complexity of the mission, it was revealed that Cruise did the work for "free." He insisted on performing the stunts himself rather than using stunt doubles, managing a grueling schedule that involved flying back and forth between London and Los Angeles to ensure the footage was perfect.

A Gross Moment on the Gridiron

In a bizarre turn of events during a Green Bay Packers game, center Josh Meyers experienced an unfortunate accident. While preparing to "hike the ball," Meyers "threw up on it." The rookie quarterback, Malik Willis, received the "slick snap" and, rather than attempting a pass, wisely chose to tuck the ball and run. Meyers later attributed the incident to the heat and an excess of "electrolyte drinks," offering an apology for the "pretty gross" moment.