I’m a pediatrician. Loss of human connection is the biggest threat to kids, not AI | Megan Moreno

13 October 2026 at 07:00

Amid worries about children’s relationship to tech, the solution is often spending more time talking openly with each other

We have become obsessed with the idea that screens are destroying human connection.

The evidence seems to be everywhere. Each week headlines warn of teenagers addicted to phones, a loneliness epidemic and the dangers of AI. The release of The Social Reckoning leads us to ask, “How bad were those guys at Meta?” and then ultimately wonder, “How bad am I if I still use Instagram?” In our day-to-day, we observe workers eating lunch alone while scrolling and friends choosing online games over offline gatherings.

Women ‘more likely to be told autoimmune conditions are psychological’

The Guardian

By: Andrew Gregory Health editor

13 October 2026 at 00:00

Cambridge University study suggests stark gender divide in misdiagnosis, with women also waiting longer for treatment

Women with autoimmune conditions are up to 74% more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic, and face much longer waits for a diagnosis and treatment, a study suggests.

Hundreds of millions of people – about one in 10 globally – are affected by autoimmune conditions, which can cause a range of health issues including fatigue, muscle pain and rashes.

Clinical Trial Indicates A.I. Chatbots Could Aid Urgent Care

NYT: Technology

By: Cade Metz

8 October 2026 at 18:48

Nearly 100 patients discussed their maladies with a Google bot, called AMIE, before meeting with physicians.

After scheduling a visit with the hospital’s urgent care facility, the patients discussed their ailments with a Google chatbot before meeting with their doctors.

Texas Pediatricians Face Paxton Investigations for Vaccinating Children

NYT: Science

By: Christina Jewett

5 October 2026 at 11:46

Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate, has alleged a sprawling profit-driven conspiracy. Pediatricians say the accusations are an attempt at intimidation.

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