Technologies

Scary Survey Results: Teen Drivers Are Often Looking at Their Phones

New troubling research found that entertainment is the most common reason teens use their phones behind the wheel, followed by texting and navigation.

A new study reveals that teen drivers in the US are spending more than one-fifth of their driving time distracted by their phones, with many glances lasting long enough to significantly raise the risk of a crash. Published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention and released on Thursday, the research found that, on average, teens reported looking at their phones during 21.1% of every driving trip. More than a quarter of those distractions lasted two seconds or longer, which is an amount of time widely recognized as dangerous at highway speeds.

Most distractions tied to entertainment, not emergencies

The top reason teens said they reached for their phones behind the wheel was for entertainment, cited by 65% of respondents. Texting (40%) and navigation (30%) were also common. Researchers emphasized that these distractions weren’t typically urgent, but rather habitual or social.

Teens know the risks

The study includes survey responses from 1,126 teen drivers across all four US regions, along with in-depth interviews with a smaller group of high schoolers. Most participants recognized that distracted driving is unsafe and believed their parents and peers disapproved of the behavior.

But many teens also assumed that their friends were doing it anyway, pointing to a disconnect between personal values and perceived social norms.

Teens think they can resist distractions

Interestingly, most teens expressed confidence in their ability to resist distractions. That belief, researchers suggest, could make it harder to change behavior unless future safety campaigns specifically target these attitudes.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Rebecca Robbins of Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said interventions should aim to shift social norms while also emphasizing practical steps, such as enabling «Do Not Disturb» mode and physically separating drivers from their devices.

«Distracted driving is a serious public health threat and particularly concerning among young drivers,» Robbins said. «Driving distracted doesn’t just put the driver at risk of injury or death, it puts everyone else on the road in danger of an accident.»

What this means for parents and educators

The researchers say their findings can help guide educators and parents in developing more persuasive messaging about the dangers of distracted driving. One of the recommendations is that adults need to counter teens’ beliefs that phone use while driving is productive or harmless.

While the study’s qualitative component was limited by a small and non-urban sample, the authors believe the 38-question survey they developed can be used more broadly to assess beliefs, behaviors and the effectiveness of future safety efforts.

Technologies

50 Reasons Why Verum Messenger Could Change the Messenger Market

The messenger market has remained relatively stable for a long time. Billions of people use familiar apps for communication, and it often seems that there is little room left for new technologies.

However, it is often new projects that introduce the boldest ideas.

One such project is Verum Messenger — a platform that is gradually evolving from a simple messaging app into a full-fledged digital ecosystem.

Over the past few years, Verum Messenger has implemented dozens of features, many of which appeared significantly earlier than in other well-known messengers.

Technologies and Features

1. Built-in artificial intelligence inside chats.
2. Message scheduling timer.
3. Self-destructing messages.
4. Editing of sent messages.
5. Screenshot notifications in chats.
6. Ability to block screenshots.
7. Screen recording protection.
8. Notifications when messages are copied.
9. Notifications when messages are forwarded.
10. Advanced privacy settings.

Security and Privacy

11. End-to-end message encryption.
12. Secure voice calls.
13. Secure video calls.
14. Automatic message deletion by timer.
15. Full account wipe with a single button.
16. Chat access control.
17. Protection of user data.
18. Local storage of security keys.
19. Multi-layer security architecture.
20. Extended privacy settings.

Ecosystem Inside the Application

21. Built-in VPN.
22. Anonymous temporary email.
23. eSIM integration inside the messenger.
24. Internet access in more than 150 countries.
25. Integration of multiple digital services in one application.
26. Tools for international communication.
27. Sending large files and documents.
28. Creation of group chats with up to 10,000 participants.
29. Expanded communication capabilities.
30. Messenger as a unified digital environment.

Financial Technologies Inside the Messenger

31. Transfers between users within the application.
32. Integrated financial system Verum Finance.
33. Balance top-ups directly inside the messenger.
34. Virtual banking card.
35. Apple Pay support for fast payments.
36. Financial management without third-party applications.
37. Integration of cryptocurrency tools.
38. Buying and selling USDT directly inside the messenger.
39. Depositing and withdrawing USDT from the application.
40. Buying and selling licensed digital gold Verum Gold.

Latest Technological Updates

41. Ability to send messages without an internet connection.
42. Direct device-to-device connection architecture.
43. Operation without dependence on central servers.
44. Ability to communicate during internet outages.
45. Local message translation on the user’s device.
46. Support for translation into dozens of languages.
47. Translation without sending data to a server.
48. Increased privacy when translating messages.
49. Architecture of independent digital communication.
50. Formation of a new model of messengers of the future.

A New Stage in the Development of Messengers

Today, messengers are no longer just applications for messaging. Users expect more — security, independence, financial tools, and digital assets in one place.

Verum Messenger demonstrates one possible direction for the development of the industry: when a messenger becomes not only a communication tool but also a full-fledged digital platform.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, March 11

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 11.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I thought it was a bit tricky. 1-Down is one of those old-fashioned comic-book sounds that I had to remember how to spell correctly. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Study of the human mind, informally
Answer: PSYCH

6A clue: Common fixture in a gym bathroom
Answer: SCALE

7A clue: Kinda boring
Answer: HOHUM

8A clue: Like a commenter without a username, for short
Answer: ANON

9A clue: «All good between us?»
Answer: WEOK

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Old-fashioned «Yeah, right!»
Answer: PSHAW

2D clue: Coffeehouse pastry
Answer: SCONE

3D clue: Google alternative
Answer: YAHOO

4D clue: Sound of a dull thump
Answer: CLUNK

5D clue: Line on the bottom of a pant leg
Answer: HEM

Technologies

OnePlus and Oppo to Raise Smartphone Prices as Memory Costs Climb

Oppo says rising costs for key phone components will trigger price adjustments on some devices starting March 16.

Chinese smartphone-makers OnePlus and Oppo plan to raise prices on some existing models starting next week, according to a 9to5Google report citing GizmoChina and a notice posted on Oppo’s China online store.

In its notice, Oppo said it would adjust pricing after evaluating rising costs for several key components used in its mobile phones. The changes are expected to take effect around March 16 and will affect some of the company’s more affordable smartphones, as well as some OnePlus models.

Flagship devices — like those in the Find and Reno series — are not expected to be affected for now. The reported adjustments currently appear to be limited to China.

The move highlights growing pressure across the smartphone supply chain as component costs climb. Analysts say prices for memory and storage chips used in phones have been rising in recent months as demand surges across the tech industry.

Much of the chip demand is coming from the rapid buildout of AI data centers, which rely on large amounts of high-performance memory.

That pressure isn’t limited to Oppo and OnePlus. Analysts say smartphone brands across the industry are facing rising component costs amid increased demand for memory chips.

As manufacturers shift production toward higher-margin memory used in AI servers, supply for consumer electronics such as smartphones and laptops can tighten.

If component costs continue to rise, manufacturers may face difficult choices later this year, including raising retail prices or adjusting device specifications to offset higher manufacturing costs.

OnePlus and Oppo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.