It's hard to escape AI these days. Apple just made Apple Intelligence opt out, and Google Workspace users are now seeing big, hard-to-dismiss Gemini buttons all over their apps. The world's biggest tech companies are doing their best to sell you on a generative AI future, but even when you can't turn AI off, there are steps you can take to fight back.Even outside of Workspace, Google is one of the most egregious AI pushers around. The company has tried to push its Gemini AI in almost all of its properties, even though it's shown inaccurate search results recommending everything from eating rocks to adding glue to pizza. Even if you have no interest in AI search results, you'll still be forced to see elements of Google's Gemini all over Gmail and its other web apps. If that gets your goat, no worriesyou can use Hide Gemini, a Chrome extension that hides Google Gemini elements from various Google sitesto pretend you live in the good older days of 2020.Hide Gemini removes the Ask Gemini button from Gmail and uses CSS to hide other egregious Gemini elements across Google's various sites, even the dreaded AI Overview box. Once you install it, the extension starts taking effect immediately. With these types of extensions, there's sometimes a worry that they may negatively impact the functionality of your service. An extension that blocks one element could sometimes inadvertently stop you from accessing other essential features. Fortunately, there are no such side effects associated with Hide Gemini. Since it uses CSS blocking, it merely hides unwanted AI elements without affecting any other functionality.Note that this extension, just like AI, isn't magic. It only hides persistent AI elements (such as the aforementioned Ask Gemini button), but not temporary promotional ones. If you've never used Gemini, you may see a Try Gemini button, which this extension does not hide. The developer says this is to avoid causing compatibility issues. Similarly, it doesn't block the "Help me write" prompt that may appear in Google Docs while you're working on a document. These minor limitations seem reasonable to me, and I'm happy to recommend Hide Gemini. It makes Google products a lot less annoying to use, even if it doesn't block the AI itself so much as makes it invisible.

OpenAI is officially rolling out its latest model, o3-mini, starting today, Friday, Jan. 31. The company shared the news in a blog post on its website, just over a month after officially announcing the model during its "12 Days of OpenAI."As with each refreshed generative AI model, o3-mini is an improvement over o1-minibut not by as much as you might think. OpenAI says the two models perform the same in math, coding, and science, but o3-mini offers quicker answers to user queries24% faster, in A/B testing. According to the company, testers comparing the models found o3-mini produces "more accurate and clear answers, with stronger reasoning abilities." And, with "medium reasoning effort," o3-mini matches o1 in certain reasoning and intelligence evaluations. Like o1-mini, o3-mini is a reasoning model, a type of AI model that "thinks" through answers before responding to them. o3-mini has three different reasoning "efforts" depending on the use case: low, medium, and high. In mathematics testing, for instance, o3-mini's medium and high effort reasoning out erforms o1-mini, while high effort even outperforms o1 (the more powerful version of o1-mini). All three efforts beat o1-mini in PhD-level science questions, but o1 outperforms them all.o3-mini replaces the o1-mini model for all users. OpenAI doesn't explicitly state why you can't use o1-mini going forward, but touts that o3-mini has higher rate limits and lower latency than the previous model.At launch, only ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users can access o3-mini. OpenAI says Enterprise users can access the model in a week. (In addition, Plus and Team users will see their daily rate limits jump from 50 messages on o1-mini to 150 messages.) That said, free users will be able to try o3-mini in a limited capacity, either by choosing the "Reasoning" option in the message composer, or regenerating a response. OpenAI says it's the first time free users have had access to a reasoning model in ChatGPT, which comes one day after Microsoft offered o1's reasoning to Copilot users for free.You can learn more about o3-mini in our post here. But as the model is only rolling out today, we won't know exactly how it performs until real-world testers start to use it.

It's time for another edition of Engadget's weekly deals roundup where we bring together worthwhile tech deals from the past week. If you're in the market for home entertainment gear, you're in luck thanks to Super Bowl-adjacent sales. Even if you don't care about the repeat clash between the Eagles and Chiefs, you can still save up to 25 percent on Sonos speakers and get discounts on a number of decent TV sets. You can check those out in our separate TV deals roundup or browse a few highlights below. As for non-sports-related tech deals, a bunch of Apple gear is on sale right now, including AirTags, the Apple Watch and three models of iPads (the Pro, Air and mini). Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.Sonos Era 100SonosSonos Era 100 smart speaker for $199 ($50 off) at Sonos: One of our favorite smart speakers has returned to its lowest price yet. As part of a wider sale at both Sonos and Amazon, the Era 100 is $50 off. We gave it a score of 88 in our review thanks to its great audio that can reach loud volumes. We're also fans of connectivity options that include Bluetooth and line-in. Sonos simplified its Trueplay tuning feature that optimizes the audio output for the room and the speaker will work with Alexa and Sonos' own voice assistant (which just handles music duty, and the speaker doesn't support Google Assistant).Sonos Beam Gen 2 for $399 ($100 off) at Sonos: We named the Beam the best midrange soundbar and right now it's $100 off. That's $30 more than it was for Black Friday, but still a decent deal on a quality TV speaker that will make movies more immersive and dialogue more clear. You can also pick up the original Arc soundbar for $250 off that version is likely being discontinued in favor of the Arc Ultra, which unfortunately is still full price.Apple AirTag (4-pack) for $70 ($29 off) at Amazon: A new model of Apple's AirTag is likely coming this year with predicted upgrades that include a longer range. But as it stands now, these are the best way for iPhone users to keep track of their bags, keys, luggage and more, according to our testing. AirTags rely on other iPhones to anonymously ping lost tags and we found that system almost spooky in its accuracy. This is a return to the record-low price the 4-pack of tags has hit many times over the past few months. Also at Best Buy.Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro) for $399 ($100 off) at Amazon: We saw this deal a couple weeks ago and now it has returned. It represents an all-time low on Apple's latest small-scale tablet. The iPad mini 7 is our pick for the best compact iPad in part because it's the only one and we gave it a score of 83 in our review. Apple refreshed it last October with a faster chip and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. This configuration has 128GB of storage and Apple's A17 Pro chip. It also boasts 8GB of RAM, which is enough to support Apple Intelligence features.Apple iPad Air M2Photo by Nathan Ingraham / EngadgetApple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 128GB) for $499 ($100 off) at Amazon: This is a great time to grab our pick for the best iPad for most people. This is just a dollar off from the record low of $498 we've seen previously. We gave the M2 iPad Air a score of 91 in our review when the tablet came out last May. We think it hits the sweet spot between performance, features and price particularly right now. The 13-inch Air is also $100 off. Both deals are also available at Best Buy.Apple iPad Pro 13-Inch (M4, 256B) for $1,099 ($200 off) at Amazon: Apple's latest high-end iPad is back down to a record-low price. The smaller 11-inch M4 iPad Pro is on sale for $899, though it's been that price for much of the past few months. The M4 is Apples latest chipset Apple put it in the iPad Pro before putting it in a MacBook. The Pro is an absurdly powerful tablet, handling tasks as demanding as video editing alongside the usual streaming, gaming and browsing people usually use tablets for. In our review, we called it one of the nicest portable screens weve seen with extremely fast performance, but also called it "prohibitively expensive," especially when you factor in the accessories needed to get the most out of its potential.Apple Watch Series 10Photo by Cherlynn Low / EngadgetApple Watch Series 10 for $329 ($70 off) at Amazon: This is a return to a record-low price for Apple's latest smartwatch. The Series 10 is our pick for the best smartwatch overall . It has everything we like about the Series 9 but has a bigger screen thats easier to see from different angles and an overall thinner design. It received a score of 90 from us in our review. Also at Best Buy.Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor for $765 ($435 off with code) at Dell: Enter the code MONITORS15 at checkout for an additional 15 percent off the $900 sale price. The 34-inch model is $250 off, but there's no available coupon code. This is one of our favorite gaming monitors and we called it an incredible ultrawide OLED. The curved QD-OLED panel features 4K resolution and a max refresh rate of 240Hz.Google Nest Pro Wi-Fi routersEngadget/Daniel CooperGoogle Nest WiFi Pro 6E mesh router for $120 ($80 off) at Amazon: Here's a 40 percent discount on the Fog colorway other hues are full price. This made our list of the best mesh routers because it's reliable, easy-to-use and is perfect for those who want a mesh system that you can set up and then forget about. Also at B&H Photo.Google 2024 Nest Learning Thermostat for $240 ($40 off) at Amazon: The latest iteration of Google's smart thermostat is $40 off, which is about $10 more than the lowest price we've seen. Google says this latest model delivers more accurate readings thanks to the help of AI, offering suggestions on how to lower your energy usage and automatically adjusting your settings based on schedules, ambient temp, weather and more.Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $28 ($17 off) at Amazon: A couple of Anker's Soundcore speakers made our list of the best Bluetooth speakers, proving that the company is good at making more than just charging accessories. This one has an IPX7 waterproof rating, 24-hours of play time on a charge and 12 watts of output. The sale price is a return to a low we've tracked many times over the past year or so.Anker USB C to USB C cable for $7 ($2 off) at Amazon: If your puppy also likes to chew on cables she finds on the floor, you may be in the market for a new one (cable, not puppy). Anker accessories number among our favorites on countless buying lists and this one is down to just $7. The 60 watt rating should be more than enough to fast charge any smartphone or tablet out there.Anker USB C Charger (Nano 65W) for $30 ($26 off) at Amazon: For an equally speedy wall adapter, you can snag this 65 watt Anker charger for nearly half price. The compact brick sports three ports, two USB-C and one USB-A so you can charge up three different devices at once.Crucial X9 Pro portable SSDPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetCrucial X9 Pro 1TB Portable SSD for $70 ($30 off) at Amazon: Our favorite portable SSD is back to an all-time low price. It's rugged and compact and performs well for its 10 Gbps speed class and offers fast-enough transfer speeds for most uses.Sasmsung PRO Plus microSD Memory Card for $90 ($30 off) at Amazon: Our pick for the best microSD card is once again 25 percent off. We like this one for its consistent and quick read/write performance and excellent value, particularly when it's on sale. Just note that there are faster cards out there, but this should serve you well if you're looking for a good pick to free up more space on your Switch or add some speedy storage to a camera.Anker PowerConf C200 2K Webcam for $48 ($12 off) at Amazon: Our favorite budget webcam is even more budget friendly with a $12 discount. We like the crisp 2K resolution, dual mics and customization options. If you need something to make your video meetings look better, this is a good place to start.TV deals ahead of the Super BowlLGEngadget's Jeff Dunn put together a roundup of TV deals that retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and others are offering ahead of the Super Bowl. These sales aren't necessarily tied to the game TV prices often fall around this time of year as manufacturers get ready to reveal new models in the spring. Still, there are some decent prices on TVs from LG, Sony, Samsung, TCL and Hisense that other trusted reviewers have deemed worthy (we don't formally review TVs here at Engadget). A few picks are detailed here, but you can head here to see full list.LG B4 OLED TV (48") for $600 at Best Buy ($200 off MSRP): This ties the lowest price we've seen for the 48-inch LG B4, which is the entry-level model in LG's 2024 OLED lineup. While it's not as bright or color-rich as some higher-end alternatives, it still offers the essential perks of any good OLED TV: superb contrast with deep black tones, clear motion, wide viewing angles and the like. It's also a nice value for gaming, as it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 120Hz. It's just better off in a darker room, and this particular model is relatively small. Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter, Buying AdviceHisense U7N QLED TV (65") for $698 at Amazon ($300 off): Several reviewers we trust say that the U7N delivers better brightness, contrast and HDR performance than most TVs in its price range. It's built with most of the features expected from pricier LED sets, including quantum-dot color, mini-LED backlighting and a 144Hz refresh rate. It also runs on the handy Google TV platform. Its viewing angles are poor, so it's not great for watching shows with a large group, and you may need to tinker with settings to get an optimal image. But the 65-inch model should be a strong value at this price, which is only about $20 more than the all-time low we saw briefly around Cyber Monday. Also at Walmart and Best Buy. J.D.Samsung The Frame TVAmy SkorheimSamsung The Frame 2024 QLED TV (55") for $868 at Woot ($630 off): This deal from Amazon subsidiary Woot has been live for a few weeks, but it ties the best price to date for the 55-inch version of Samsung's stylish Frame TV outside of a one-off eBay coupon deal. You'd buy this set for its design above all else: It can't match the contrast and color volume of other TVs in its price range, as it lacks local dimming altogether, but it's convincingly built like a framed piece of wall art that can blend in with your home decor. Its matte panel helps it fend off glare in a bright room, and you can display actual artwork onscreen when you're not watching something. It's worth noting that Samsung unveiled a new and improved "Frame Pro" TV at CES, but we'd expect that to cost more whenever it arrives. J.D.Deals from last week that are still live todayWe assemble this deals roundup each week and sometimes discounts from the previous week are still going strong when we put together the new one. If you didn't catch last week's post or were waiting to jump on an item or two, here are the sales that are still active today:Crucial X9 Pro (1TB) for $70 at Amazon ($31 off MSRP): The X9 Pro is our pick for the best portable SSD, as it combines steady performance for most needs with a rugged, super-compact design that's easy to take on the go. We saw this deal earlier this month, but it matches the largest discount for the 1TB model since late 2023. Also at Best Buy. Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter, Buying AdviceMeta Quest 3S (256GB) + $15 Newegg gift card for $350 at Newegg ($65 off): The Quest 3S is the budget recommendation in our guide to the best VR headsets. While its older fresnel lenses aren't as crisp or clear as the pancake lenses in the superior Quest 3, they're good enough for most people just getting started with VR, and the headset as a whole is just as fast as the pricier model. More importantly, it supports all the same apps and games. The 256GB model has been $50 off at several retailers for a little over a week, but at Newegg you can now get a $15 gift card thrown in for no extra cost. Also at Amazon, Meta and others without the gift card. Meta says the price drop will end on February 8. J.D.Astro A40 TR gaming headsetPhoto by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetAstro A40 TR gaming headset for $100 at Amazon ($30 off): The Astro A40 TR is the top wired choice in our guide to the best gaming headsets. Its open-back design helps it sound wider and more spacious than most options in this market, which makes it better for picking out enemies in online shooters or just feeling more immersed in a big action game. Being open-back means it leaks and lets in a good chunk of outside noise, so you shouldn't buy it if you often play in a noisy environment. The built-in mic isn't the best, either. Still, the enveloping sound makes it worthwhile. This deal is only $10 more than the all-time low we saw around Black Friday. Also at Logitech and Newegg. J.D.SanDisk Ultra (1TB) microSD card for $69 at Amazon ($16 off): The SanDisk Ultra is slower than the top recommendations in our microSD card buying guide, especially when it comes to write speeds, so you wouldn't want to stress it with large file transfers. If you can afford one of our main picks, get that instead. But if all you want is a big chunk of storage for as little cash as possible, it should be fine enough in a cheap tablet or gaming handheld. This ties the lowest price we've seen for the 1TB model. It's a dollar more at SanDisk and B&H. J.D.Red Dead Redemption 2 (PC) for $15 at Steam ($45 off): Its mission structure is dated, the movement is clunky and some of the writing can be, let's say, less than graceful. But Rockstar's Old West epic remains an achievement in maximalist world design: painstakingly detailed (literally), filled with stories and shot with unusually cinematic flair. You may not finish it until 2026, but if you've been waiting to take the plunge, this is a new low for the Steam copy and only $2 more than the lowest price we've seen overall. Other Rockstar games are also on sale. J.D.Halo: The Master Chief Collection (PC) for $10 at Steam ($30 off): We've seen this deal multiple times over the past year, but it ties the all-time low for Microsoft's Halo compilation, which gathers six of the iconic FPS series' essential games in one package. (Well, five essentials, plus Halo 4.) We include this one in our list of the best couch co-op games, but note that the PC version here only supports online co-op, not local play. J.D.Super Mario RPG for $30 at Target: Super NES classic Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars didn't necessarily need a remake, but this Switch version thankfully adheres the original's oddball spirit while sprucing up the visuals for true 3D. If you're in the market for a breezier, lower-stress RPG, it should fit the bill. This deal matches its all-time low. J.D.The ASUS ROG AllyPhoto by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetASUS ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) gaming handheld for $450 at Best Buy ($200 off): The original ROG Ally isn't as powerful or long-lasting as the newer ROG Ally X, and all Windows gaming handhelds are saddled with less optimized software than Valve's Steam Deck, which remains the top pick in our buying guide. However, when it's discounted to this extent, the older Ally is worth considering if you really want a handheld PC that can play games from any client, be it Steam, the Epic Games Store or the Xbox app. It's still a touch more powerful than the Deck, too, and its 120Hz VRR display does wonders to keep games looking smooth. And for as slipshod as Windows can be, ASUS has made its Armoury Crate app at least a little easier to navigate over time. Just don't expect more than a couple hours of battery life, and don't bother using the microSD slot. This deal ties the all-time low for the model with a Z1 Extreme chip. J.D.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-four-apple-airtags-for-70-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-180954439.html?src=rss

If it's your turn to host a Super Bowl party this year, you might be looking to beef up your sound system before all of your guests turn up. Perhaps with something like that in mind, Sonos is running a sale on its speakers and soundbars on both Amazon and its own website. One of its products, the Era 100, has dropped to an all-time-low price of $199. The speaker will typically run you $249. The Era 100 is our pick for the best midrange smart speaker and we gave it a score of 88 in our review. It delivers great audio and can reach loud volumes, while Bluetooth and line-in support are certainly welcome. With the Era 100, Sonos has simplified its Trueplay tuning feature by making use of built-in microphones to optimize audio output for the room the speaker is in. On the downside, while the Era 100 works with Alexa and Sonos' own voice assistant, it doesn't support Google Assistant. Like other Sonos speakers, the Era 100 can be used as part of a whole home audio system. So you'll be able to set up units in other rooms so that even when they're away from the TV, your guests can still hear all of the action at the same time as everyone else. It's also possible to set up two Era 100 units as rear speakers in a home theater setup. If that's the route you wish to go down, you might want to have a soundbar in place too. As it happens, several of Sonos' models are on sale. The original Arc soundbar is down to $649, which is $250 off. As for the Beam Gen 2, that can be yours for $100 less than usual at $399. We reckon the Beam is the best midrange soundbar. However, the Arc Ultra, our recommendation for the best premium soundbar, isn't on sale this time, unfortunately. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonos-speakers-and-soundbars-are-up-to-250-off-right-now-155920350.html?src=rss

The worlds smallest GSMA-compliant eSIM is smaller than a grain of rice and reduces PCB space by 37 times compared to Nano SIMs.

Apples reported work on a pair of AR smart glasses that would have connected to a Mac for power has been canceled or shelved this week, according to new reporting from Bloombergs Mark Gurman.

Go behind the scenes of the creatures and space environments of Fede lvarezs film.Big things have changed at VFX Notes! We are now season-based, which means youll be able to watch collections of episodes around a single theme. Our first new theme is the 2025 VFX Oscar nominees. Each week ahead of the Oscars, youll be able to watch new episodes on the nominees for the visual effects Oscar. Thats right, weve got 5 individual eps on Alien: Romulus, Better Man, Dune: Part Two, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Wicked.PLUS, a very special thing were doing with seasons is launching a dedicated VFX Notes Patreon! Its a way of supporting what Hugo and I are doing with VFX Notes. Sign up and get a WHOLE BUNCH of bonus content each week. Youll get: Early access to upcoming VFX Notes episodes Your name on the credits of the Podcast Bonus episodes from Hugo and Ian Extra VFX content Access to the Patreon community to chat with Hugo and Ian, and other Patreon members Youre able to give us direct suggestions for themes and episodes Access to special Zoom Patreon drop-ins that will be hosted by Hugo and IanTheres just one simple tier to choose from! Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/VFXNotes.In the meantime, heres our first episode of the 2025 VFX Oscar nominees season on Alien: Romulus. Weve gone deep into the practical creatures, the digital visual effects, sims, ML tools, and all the incredible work on this film. Thanks for watching!The post Our VFX Oscar nominees season of VFX Notes is here, starting with Alien: Romulus appeared first on befores & afters.

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In a push to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the government, the Trump administration ordered federal employees at multiple agencies to remove gender pronouns from their email signatures by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, according to internal memos obtained byABC News.Those agencies include, but are not limited to, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Transportation (DOT), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and Department of Energy (DOE), according to ABC.The memos are said to reference two executive ordersPresident Donald Trump signed on day one of his second term, seeking to gut DEI at government agencies and in its programs.Pronouns and any other information not permitted in the policy must be removed from CDC/ATSDR employee signatures by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Jason Bonander, the CDCs chief information officer reportedly wrote. Staff are being asked to alter signature blocks . . . to follow the revised policy.On Thursday, employees at the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation received similar orders, the latter while they were scrambling to respond to Wednesdays deadly crash of an American Airlines jet, which collided with a Navy Black Hawk helicopter in D.C., plunging into the Potomac river near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and killing all 67 people aboard. (Trump has lashed out against FAA workers, falsely blaming the crash on DEI.)DOE employees were told the pronoun changes were required by the executive order which requires [DEI] language in Federal discourse, communications and publications be removed.These directives come a week after Trump ordered all federal DEI staff to be put on leave, calling diversity and inclusion programs discrimination.

After many years of partisan politics, increasingly divisive language, finger-pointing, and inflammatory speech have contributed to an environment of fear and uncertainty, affecting not just political dynamics but also the priorities and perceptions of young people.As a developmental psychologist who studies the intersection of media and adolescent mental health, and as a mother of two Gen Z kids, I have seen firsthand how external societal factors can profoundly shape young peoples emotional well-being.This was brought into sharp relief through the results of a recent survey my colleagues and I conducted with 1,644 young people across the U.S., ages 10 to 24. The study was not designed as a political poll but rather as a window into what truly matters to adolescents. We asked participants to rate the importance of 14 personal goals. These included classic teenage desires such as being popular, having fun, and being kind.None of these ranked as the top priority. Instead, the No. 1 answer was to be safe.What was once taken for grantedThe findings are both illuminating and heartbreaking. As a teenager, I did countless unsafe things. My peers and I didnt dwell on harm; we chased fun and freedom.Whereas previous generations may have taken safety for granted, todays youth are growing up in an era of compounded crisesschool shootings, a worsening climate crisis, financial uncertainty, and the lingering trauma of a global pandemic. Even though our research did not pinpoint the specific causes of adolescent fears, the constant exposure to crises, amplified by social media, likely plays a significant role in fostering a pervasive sense of worry.Despite data showing that many aspects of life are safer now than in previous generations, young people just dont feel it. Their perception of danger is further shaped by events like the recent fires that devastated Los Angeles, reinforcing a belief that danger, possibly caused by global crises like climate change, lurks everywhere.This shift in perspective has profound implications for the future of this generation and those to come.Especially vulnerable timeAdolescence, like early childhood, is a pivotal period for brain development. Young people are particularly sensitive to their surroundings as their brains evaluate the environment to prepare them for independence.This developmental stagewhen the capacity to regulate emotions and critically assess information is still maturingmakes them especially vulnerable to enduring impacts.Studies show that adolescents struggle to put threats into context. This makes them particularly vulnerable to fear-driven messaging prevalent in both traditional and social media, which is further amplified by political rhetoric and blame-shifting. This vulnerability has implications for their mental health, as prolonged exposure to fear and uncertainty has been linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and even physical health issues.So when the various media that Gen Z consumes are dominated by fearbe it through headlines, social media posts, political rhetoric, or even storylines in movies and TVit could shape their worldview in ways that may reverberate for generations to come.Enduring generational impactHistorical events have long been shown to shape the worldview of entire generations.For instance, the Great Depression primarily impacted the daily lives of the Silent Generation, those born between 1928 and 1945. Moreover, its long-term effects on financial attitudes and security concerns echoed into the baby boomer generation, influencing how those born between 1946 and 1964 approached money, stability, and risk throughout their lives.Similarly, todays adolescents, growing up amid a series of compounded global crises, will likely carry the imprint of this period of heightened fear and uncertainty well into adulthood. This formative experience could shape their mental health, decision-making, and even their collective identity and values for decades to come.In addition, feelings of insecurity and instability can make people more responsive to fear-based messaging, which could potentially influence their political and social choices. In an era marked by the rise of authoritarian governments, this susceptibility could have far-reaching implications because fear often drives individuals to prioritize immediate safety over moral or ideological ideals.As such, these dynamics may profoundly shape how this generation engages with the world, the causes they champion, and the leaders they choose to follow.Room for optimism?Interestingly, being kind was rated No. 2 in our survey, irrespective of other demographics. While safety dominates their priorities, adolescents still value qualities that foster connection and community.This finding indicates a duality in their aspirations: While they feel a pervasive sense of danger, they also recognize the importance of interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.Our findings are a call to look at the broader societal context shaping adolescent development. For instance, the rise in school-based safety drills, while intended to provide a sense of preparedness, may unintentionally reinforce feelings of insecurity. Similarly, the apocalyptic narrative around climate change may create a sense of powerlessness that could further compound their fears and leave them wanting to bury their heads in the sand.Understanding how these perceptions are formed and their implications for mental health, decision-making and behavior is essential for parents, storytellers, policymakers, and researchers.I believe we must also consider how societal systems contribute to the pervasive sense of uncertainty and fear among youth. Further research can help untangle the complex relationship between external stressors, media consumption, and youth well-being, shedding light on how to best support adolescents during this formative stage of life.Yalda T. Uhls is a founder and executive director of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers and an assistant adjunct professor in psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.