Tinted screens
Re: "We don't need Seven Dangerous Days", (Opinion, Feb 27).
I would suggest changing yesterday's headline "Seven Dangerous Days" to "365 Dangerous Days".
All the authors' concerns, though, are valid and every paragraph built up a dystopian scenario of our daily endeavour to get from A to B without ending up either dead or at the very least in a hospital. The usual suspects such as alcohol, drugs, using your mobile or just plain tiredness will be high on the list. One aspect undiscussed is tinted windscreens. These tinted screens make it harder to drivers, pedestrians and point to detect and observe behaviour.
Ian Dann
Lisbon leads
Re: "Portugal calls for global unity, multilateralism", (Opinion, Feb 27).
At a time when multilateralism is conspicuously absent from much of today's political and diplomatic commentary, the message from Portugal in this article is refreshing, topical and necessary.
As geopolitical rivalries intensify and respect for international law is openly challenged, the reaffirmation of the actuality of the UN Charter is not rhetorical nostalgia, but a sign of strategic realism.
In an era tempted by unilateral impulses and transactional diplomacy, this article rightly reminds that durable peace, sustainable development, and effective responses to shared threats -- from climate change to disinformation -- can only be secured through principled multilateral engagement.
Precisely because multilateralism is in decline, voices defending it deserve greater prominence in mass media.
Ioan Voicu
Gen brain damage
Re: "Should social media be banned for under-16s?", (Online, March 3).
The British government should be applauded for opening discussion on potentially restricting access to social media. History will conclude that unfettered access to social media has already rendered catastrophic mental, social, and physical damage to millions of Millennials and Gen Zers, and is now extending its corrupting assault on Generation Alpha.
Research has overwhelmingly confirmed the debilitating effects of excessive use of social media, including increased rates of anxiety and depression, shortened attention spans, body dissatisfaction, social isolation, and addiction. Social media provides a ready mechanism for cyberbullying, disrupts sleep, and promotes unrealistic life comparisons. Even more horrendous are the cases of sexual predation, abductions, and encouraged suicide facilitated by social media.
Responsible governments around the world strive to protect their citizens, especially the young and innocent. Considering the damage being inflicted on young people by social media, it is long past time for governments to regulate access.
Just as most countries restrict young people's access to other destructive influences such as smoking and drinking, age restrictions on the use of social media are reasonable. Social media platforms could also be shut down for all users from midnight to eight in the morning local time. Individuals -- and society more broadly -- would undoubtedly be healthier as a result.
Samanea Saman
