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Yahoo
07-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Is the American dream still achievable for today's youth?
Young Americans are redefining the American dream, trading white picket fences for mental health and financial security, according to a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles. The study reveals while 86% of young people want to achieve the American dream, 60% doubt they will ever get there. It's not a lack of ambition but worries about money that stand in their way, LA Post reports. UCLA's Center for Scholars & Storytellers asked 1,500 people ages 14 to 27 about their hopes and fears. The group matched U.S. Census figures for race and gender. Money stands in their way, the study found. Those with less money were likelier to say the American dream is out of reach. "Young people today still really want financial security and independence, but many feel like the cards are stacked against them and the system is rigged," said Yalda Uhls, who runs the center and teaches psychology at UCLA. Half the young people said social media, primarily Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, shapes how they see the American dream more than TV, movies, or news. Social media influences young people's perspectives on the American Dream by showcasing opulent lifestyles and establishing unrealistic expectations. Although it promotes alternative career paths and financial literacy, the constant display of curated success leads to frustration and self-doubt among young people. When asked who they look up to, they often name Elon Musk and Donald Trump. They also named Kim Kardashian, Mr. Beast, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Mark Cuban as their role models. Young people want different things than their parents did. Good health and financial stability are at the top of their list. Buying homes, getting married, and having kids matter less to them now. "For many people in my generation, homeownership feels completely out of the realm of possibility, and the idea of having kids when we cannot afford to take care of ourselves seems ridiculous, if not immoral," Atlas Burrus, who wrote about the study, said. Three in four young people agreed it's harder for their generation to find happiness than it was for past generations. They want to see this struggle shown on TV and in movies. More than half said they are tired of seeing fake, easy lifestyles on screen. Many face real money problems, said Alisha Hines, who led the research. "The reality is approximately one in three adolescents live in families at less than twice the federal poverty line, and over half of Gen Zers say they are extremely worried about not having enough money and feel anxious or on-edge nearly every day," she said. Money worries hit some harder than others. Young people from poorer families were less hopeful about reaching the American dream, matching what Pew Research found about low-income Americans of all ages. To attain financial stability, people should prioritize financial literacy, develop high-income skills, and explore supplementary income streams, according to Forbes. Budgeting, investing, and maintaining good credit are crucial components of financial health. This story was produced by LA Post and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Teens rate social media as most authentic media form: UCLA study
Adolescents view social media as the most authentic form of media, surpassing traditional entertainment platforms in perceived genuineness, according to a new study from the University of California, Los Angeles. According to the study, social media emerged as the frontrunner for authenticity, with 31% of participants rating it higher than video games, streaming services, and live-streaming platforms, LA Post reports. UCLA's Center for Scholars and Storytellers (CSS) research surveyed more than 1,500 children and young adults between ages 10 and 24 as part of its annual "Teens and Screens" report. "Social media is often just directly to regular people," said CSS research manager Atlas Burrus. "It feels more inherent, more connected." The survey results indicate teenagers value social media's user-generated content over professionally produced entertainment. UCLA researchers found this preference stems from young people's desire to see content created by their peers rather than adult interpretations of teenage life. CSS researchers designed the study to amplify youth perspectives by expanding the scope of their questions compared to previous years. The center presents its findings in an accessible format to reach media industry decision-makers. "You cannot find a lot of directors who are willing to sit down for a couple hours and read heavy, intense academic articles," Burrus said. "But a nicely designed thing with maybe a tip sheet at the end and the big findings right up top - we feel like it can make a lot more change." The study identified stress relief as a primary motivator for social media use among adolescents. Researchers also found young people generally prefer fantasy content over reality-based media, which Burrus attributes to recent global events. According to the report, YouTube ranked as the most authentic social media platform (38.8%), followed by TikTok, surpassing its previous ranking. This may be attributed to teenagers' desire for deeper connections, as this need is not easily fulfilled through the short-form video format that TikTok is known for. The CSS research team hopes their findings will encourage media companies to consider young people's perspectives more carefully in content development. "I hope it really encourages folks to listen to more adolescents, to seek their expertise, and to uplift their own voices," Burrus said. "Above all else, I really just want young folks to know that their voices are incredibly powerful and to encourage them to use it." The Center for Scholars and Storytellers conducts youth-focused media research within UCLA's psychology department. This is the only program that gives the teen voices to give real feedback. This story was produced by LA Post and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
When betrayal works in our favor: New UCLA study reveals the complexity of trust
Would you trust someone who betrayed others—if it worked in your favor? New research challenges conventional wisdom about trust and betrayal, finding that people may still trust someone who has betrayed others if they personally benefit from the betrayal, LA Post reports The study, published in Evolution and Human Behavior by psychologists from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma State University, reveals that while people generally view betrayers as untrustworthy, they make exceptions when the betrayal works in their favor. "Making decisions about whom to trust based only on whether that person has betrayed someone else might not be the best way to determine whether or not I can trust someone," said Jaimie Krems, study co-author and UCLA professor of psychology. The research team conducted experiments examining how people evaluate trustworthiness in various relationships, including friendships, romantic partnerships, and professional contexts. Their findings suggest that judgment of trustworthiness depends on a person's past behavior and how their actions affect the person making the assessment. Krems illustrated this concept with an example: "Think about that friend who always tells you other friends' secrets but does not share yours. This friend is betraying other people but enriching you with information." The researchers designed three distinct experiments to test their hypothesis. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of three vignettes describing their interaction with a target in each experiment. One experiment focused on secret-sharing among friends, while another examined romantic infidelity. A third scenario placed participants in the role of CIA agents attempting to develop a relationship with a French official as an intelligence source. In the vignettes, targets exhibited one of three behaviors: they did not betray anyone when they had the opportunity, they betrayed another person to the participant, or they betrayed the participant to someone else. After reading these scenarios, participants rated the target's trustworthiness on a seven-point scale, responding to questions such as "I would trust the target to keep my secrets." The results showed a consistent pattern across all relationship types. Participants gave higher trustworthiness ratings to individuals who demonstrated loyalty by not betraying anyone. However, when the betrayal benefited the participant directly, they rated the betrayer as similarly trustworthy, despite knowing about their capacity for disloyalty. This finding held true whether the scenario involved sharing confidential information among friends, romantic relationships, or professional intelligence gathering. The research suggests people's assessments of trustworthiness are not solely based on moral character but are influenced by self-interest and personal benefit. The study builds on previous research indicating that trust decisions are typically influenced by a person's reputation and past behavior. The researchers' said their main contention was while the mind should be attuned to whether someone has a reputation for betrayal, it should also consider how someone's betrayal affects the individual making the assessment. The study's implications extend beyond personal relationships into professional and organizational contexts, where trust and loyalty play crucial roles in decision-making and relationship-building. The findings show that while people might start with lofty ideals when it comes to trusting people, what they do in practice is often based more on self-interest. The research team emphasized that their findings upheld their hypothesis that judgments of trustworthiness partly reflect the person's disposition and idiosyncratic factors specific to the participant and the person at hand. This story was produced by the LA Post and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How multilingualism may boost cognitive skills in children with autism
Recent research suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder may experience significant cognitive benefits from growing up in multilingual environments, according to a study by University of California, Los Angeles Health researchers. The study, published in Autism Research, reveals that children from multilingual households, both with and without autism, demonstrated enhanced executive function capabilities compared to their peers in monolingual households. These improvements encompassed crucial skills such as attention control, cognitive flexibility, and social perspective-taking, LA Post reports Dr. Lucina Uddin, professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA Health and director of the UCLA Brain Connectivity and Cognition Laboratory, led the investigation. "Speaking multiple languages, whether or not you have a diagnosis of autism, is associated with better inhibition, better shifting or flexibility, and better ability to take perspective," Dr. Uddin said. The research team examined more than 100 children between the ages of seven and 12, including both autistic and non-autistic participants from monolingual and multilingual households. Most multilingual families in the study communicated in Spanish and English at home. Parents assessed their children's executive function abilities through comprehensive surveys. The assessment focused on three key areas of executive function: inhibition control, working memory, and cognitive shifting. Researchers also evaluated core autism-related traits, including social communication skills and repetitive behavior patterns. Data analysis revealed that multilingual exposure correlated with enhanced inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility across both autistic and non-autistic groups. Dr. Uddin explained the mechanism behind these improvements: "If you have to juggle two languages, you have to suppress one in order to use the other. That's the idea, that inhibition might be bolstered by knowing two languages." The findings challenged previous concerns about potential language development delays in autistic children exposed to multiple languages. Instead, the research indicated no adverse effects and suggested possible developmental advantages. "The big takeaway is we do not see any negative effects of speaking multiple languages in the home," Dr. Uddin said. "It is actually beneficial to celebrate all the languages associated with your culture." Building on these promising results, Dr. Uddin and her team are expanding their research. A new study will involve approximately 150 children with autism and incorporate additional executive function assessments, language evaluations, and brain imaging techniques to deepen understanding of how multilingualism affects neurodevelopment in autism. The research contributes to a growing body of evidence supporting the cognitive benefits of multilingual exposure during childhood development, particularly for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This story was produced by the LA Post and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Protect your packages: Tips to prevent 'porch pirates'
Package theft, often referred to as "porch piracy," remains a significant concern in the United States. The rise of e-commerce has led to a substantial increase in residential deliveries, resulting in troubling rates of stolen packages, LA Post reports. There were over 120 million reported package theft incidents in 2023. However, the real number is likely higher due to underreporting, as victims forgo filing reports due to the slim chances of recovery or arrest. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service , or USPIS, reports mail and package theft is a persistent issue. Between 2018 and 2023, postal inspectors arrested nearly 9,000 suspects related to mail and package theft crimes. Additionally, USPS handles billions of mail items annually, making theft a notable concern, especially in densely populated areas like Los Angeles and New York City. The best protection against porch piracy is vigilance, creative preventive measures, and collective action within their communities. As people across the U.S. continue to embrace online shopping, package theft remains a persistent threat, calling for heightened community awareness, and preventive action. Policymakers and law enforcement are urged to develop targeted strategies to curb this rising crime, while consumers must adapt by safeguarding their deliveries more effectively. To protect yourself from future package theft, consider investing in secure delivery solutions. Options include using a lockable parcel box, requesting delivery to an alternative secure location'—like a workplace or a nearby Amazon Hub locker—or requiring a signature for delivery. Home security systems, such as doorbell cameras, can also act as both deterrents and evidence collectors. Regularly monitoring delivery updates and promptly retrieving packages can further minimize the risk. Additionally, utilizing services like USPS Hold for Pickup or arranging delivery times when you're home can reduce the chances of theft. If you discover that a package has been stolen, the first step is to check your surroundings thoroughly to confirm it wasn't delivered to a hidden or alternative location. Then, contact the delivery company immediately to report the theft and provide tracking information. Many companies—like Amazon, FedEx, and USPS—offer policies or programs that may refund or replace stolen packages if theft is verified. Additionally, it's recommended to file a police report for documentation purposes—while it may not lead to immediate recovery, it helps local law enforcement track patterns of theft. If the package was insured, contact the insurer to initiate a claim. To avoid packages being stolen, it's recommended to install security cameras, require delivery signatures, use parcel lockers, or arrange alternative delivery locations, which can reduce the likelihood of theft. Community watch initiatives and shared neighborhood surveillance also help in monitoring suspicious activity. Certain cities face disproportionate risk. The top 10 worst cities for package thefts are San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, L.A., Fresno, Milwaukee, Portland, Sacramento, New Orleans, and Hartford. Many people rely on surveillance cameras, yet arrests remain rare. For example, despite dozens of video-captured thefts, L.A. Police Department data reveals there were only 25 arrests in 2023 related to package theft. However, efforts like deploying "bait packages" equipped with GPS trackers have shown promise in catching repeat offenders but remain limited in scope. Deliveries from major carriers like Amazon, USPS, and FedEx are frequently targeted due to their ubiquity. The rise of e-commerce, with a projected 17.9% increase in online orders in 2024, exacerbates this problem. The problem tends to be worse during holidays—like Christmas and Valentine's Day – when the volume of online shopping surges. An estimated 210 million packages are stolen annually across the U.S., costing consumers over $19.5 billion. This story was produced by the LA Post and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
