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- Thursday June 11
- 11:00 pmStudy Links Smartphones With Declining Fertility Rates
Two recent studies argue that smartphones may have contributed to falling birthrates by reducing in-person social interaction, sexual frequency, and other conditions tied to unintended pregnancies. "One of the studies published in May is called 'The Collapse of Teen Fertility in the Digital Era' and the other, published just Monday, is titled 'Is the iPhone Birth Control? Causal Evidence from AT&T's 2007-2011 Carrier Monopoly,'" reports KTLA. "Both were chronicled in a New York Times piece by political writer Sabrina Tavernise on Monday." Slashdot reader sabbede submitted the story. From the report: The one from May, authored by two University of Cincinnati professors, posits that teen fertility "collapsed globally" starting around 2007 -- the same year the first iPhone was released. "Smart phones changed how teens spend time with each other ... this change in turn drove the collapse in teen fertility," the study's abstract reads. "Once enough teens are on the phone, being on the phone is where the peer network is; in-person time falls sharply, and with it the unstructured contact in which most unintended teen conceptions occur." The study claimed that countries "across the income and policy spectrum" were affected by the teen fertility drop, and that researchers used data from multiple countries, including the U.S., England and Wales, to rule out "country-specific contraceptive access and welfare reform stories." "This model predicts that the shift towards the phone-mediated equilibrium affects multiple aspects of teen behavior," the abstract continues, concluding that "the same instrument that produces a collapse in teen fertility produces a surge in teen suicides." The study published on Monday looks more closely at the United States, explaining that nationwide general fertility rates have fallen 22% since 2007. "[This is] a sustained decline not readily explained by economic conditions, contraceptive use, housing or childcare costs, or other commonly cited factors," the National Bureau of Economic Researchers study states. "We assess the potential role of a different shock: the diffusion of the smartphone." As mentioned before, the first iPhone was rolled out in 2007, and this study makes use of that timeframe as "a natural experiment" by using data from 2007 through 2011, when iPhones were only sold on AT&T. "From June 2007 through February 2011, the device was sold only on AT&T, allowing us to identify its effect from variation in AT&T's mobile broadband coverage," the study says. "Entropy-balanced Poisson and synthetic difference-in-differences event studies imply that access to the iPhone reduced births by 4.5-8.0% at ages 15-19 and 3.2-6.6% at ages 20-24, with statistically significant but smaller declines among older cohorts. Placebo analyses applied to Verizon and Sprint's pre-2011 coverage footprint are null. Taken together, these cohort effects imply that the diffusion of the iPhone deepened the decline in births among women under 30 while suppressing the rise in births among older women." "Overall, the diffusion of the iPhone explains 33-52% of the decline in the general fertility rate among women aged 15-44," researchers continued. "National-survey evidence on time use and sexual behavior is consistent with the iPhone reducing in-person interactions, increasing pornography use and reducing sexual frequency." Read more of this story at Slashdot.10:54 pmBipartisan lawmakers reintroduce bill to limit Big Tech gatekeeping, Apple shoots back
After a bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA) today, reviving an effort that could have major implications for Big Tech if enacted into law, Apple issued a strong rebuttal of the proposal. Here are the details.10:23 pmCrossOver, a Windows to Mac gaming tool, goes Apple Silicon only
If you're a CrossOver user on Intel or use 32-bit gaming bottles, your time is up with version 27. 64-bit bottles and Apple Silicon are now required.CrossOver is going Apple Silicon onlyGaming on Mac has always been a bit of a wasteland, but that doesn't stop some folks from trying. The CrossOver app for Mac brings Windows games to the platform, and it gets better with each update.However, the latest update, CrossOver 27, will have to make some sacrifices to make development a little more streamlined. It is getting ARM64 builds for both Mac and Linux, but CrossOver 27 will only work on macOS Sonoma or newer. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:56 pmDesign resources for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate now available
Apple has released the Sketch files for three of the new systems it announced during WWDC26, alongside the updated App Icon Template in several file formats. Here are the details.09:49 pmApple executive: 'We don't do AI for AI's sake'
Apple's executives say the new-and-improved Siri won't try to be your friend or your partner, because it's only there to help you as efficiently as it can.Craig Federighi (left) and Greg Joswiak (right) discuss Apple's approach to Siri AI. Image Credit: Mostly Human PodcastApple's latest attempt at modernizing its virtual assistant was the star of the show at WWDC 2026. Siri AI now supports natural language, contextual awareness, and advanced in-app actions, along with a chatbot-style experience.However, even with its improved capabilities, Siri will always be different from existing AI assistants, thanks to Apple's approach. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums09:30 pmBeyond AI, Apple’s macOS 27 Golden Gate includes several subtle-but-helpful improvements | Mac Daily NewsBeyond AI, Apple’s macOS 27 Golden Gate includes several subtle-but-helpful improvements
In his latest hands-on with the macOS 27 Golden Gate beta, Ars Technica’s Andrew Cunningham steps away from the heavy AI focus of WWDC 2026… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.09:12 pmWhatsApp rolling out multi-account support more widely on iOS
WhatsApp is finally rolling out multi-account support on iPhone, bringing one of its most requested features to iOS. Here are the details.08:49 pmiPhone Ultra is coming: Six new features in Apple’s top-tier model
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is coming this fall, and rumors say it will be called iPhone Ultra. Here are six features to expect from Apple’s new high-end iPhone Ultra.08:45 pmAre you a developer? Apple wants your thoughts on WWDC26
Apple has published a survey invitation on its Developer blog, asking developers for their thoughts on this year’s WWDC. Here’s how you can participate.08:39 pmAll 264 Items on Apple’s WWDC26 “Sweating the Details” Slide
At WWDC26, Apple flashed a slide listing hundreds of small refinements coming to OS 27. We captured, OCRed, and categorized every item so you can actually read everything that Apple included.08:32 pmApple TV just won a highly coveted film deal that had 40 other bidders
Apple TV has been ramping up its film efforts, and Deadline reports today on a high-profile new acquisition—One Month Mark—that had near-unprecedented levels of Hollywood interest.08:30 pmApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today | Mac Daily NewsApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today
Ronald Wayne once owned 10% of Apple. Today, that stake would be worth roughly $400 billion. Instead, he sold it for $800… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:30 pmApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today | Mac Daily NewsApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today
Ronald Wayne once owned 10% of Apple. Today, that stake would be worth roughly $400 billion. Instead, he sold it for $800… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:30 pmApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today | Mac Daily NewsApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today
Ronald Wayne once owned 10% of Apple. Today, that stake would be worth roughly $400 billion. Instead, he sold it for $800… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:30 pmApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today | Mac Daily NewsApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today
Ronald Wayne once owned 10% of Apple. Today, that stake would be worth roughly $400 billion. Instead, he sold it for $800… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:30 pmApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today | Mac Daily NewsApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today
Ronald Wayne once owned 10% of Apple. Today, that stake would be worth roughly $400 billion. Instead, he sold it for $800… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:30 pmApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today | Mac Daily NewsApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today
Ronald Wayne once owned 10% of Apple. Today, that stake would be worth roughly $400 billion. Instead, he sold it for $800… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:30 pmApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today | Mac Daily NewsApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today
Ronald Wayne once owned 10% of Apple. Today, that stake would be worth roughly $400 billion. Instead, he sold it for $800… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.08:30 pmApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today | Mac Daily NewsApple co-founder Ronald Wayne doesn’t regret selling his stake for $800, even though it’d be worth $400 billion today
Ronald Wayne once owned 10% of Apple. Today, that stake would be worth roughly $400 billion. Instead, he sold it for $800… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.07:56 pmCraig Federighi and Greg Joswiak talk Siri AI and more in new interview [Video]
On the heels of Apple’s WWDC keynote this week, Greg Joswiak and Craig Federighi sat down with Laurie Segall on the Mostly Human podcast. During the conversation, Federighi and Joz talked in-depth about Apple’s new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence announcements, the company’s broader approach to AI, and more.