By Lily Hautau, CNN

(CNN) — While most youth around the world are happier today than they were 20 years ago, it’s not true for the United States, other English-speaking countries and parts of Western Europe.

That’s according to the latest World Happiness Report, which is released annually on the International Day of Happiness, designated by the United Nations as March 20.

Social media may be in part to blame, and this year’s happiness report found that youth who used social media more than five hours daily reported a lower level of well-being.

The survey covers 96% of the world’s population in at least 140 countries annually, using a mix of in-person and phone interviews conducted in respondents’ native languages, Ilana Ron-Levey, managing director at Gallup, told CNN.

Researchers saw “declines in youth well-being in a subset of developed countries, particularly the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand,” Ron-Levey said. The survey data also revealed some declines in France, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Ron-Levey found it interesting that youth well-being and happiness have risen in some central European countries, despite high internet penetration and widespread social media use, hypothesizing that it could be due to strong family relationships and strong social connections.

While the report does not conclude that social media is the dominant or only factor explaining these differences in youth well-being, it’s at least one of the factors, Ron-Levey said.

The report — produced with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and an independent editorial board — may be best known for its annual ranking of the world’s happiest countries. But researchers also focus on issues affecting the well-being of different groups of people each year.

This year’s target is social media’s impact on well-being — and what researchers reported could change the way people think about how they use it.

Social media and the ‘trap’ effect

People are aware of the negative impacts such as feeling sad and anxious due to social media, coauthor Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School, told CNN. So he wanted to explore why people can’t stop using it.

He analyzed three studies and found that “a lot of young people spend time on social media platforms only because other young people spend time on social media platforms — and they wish those platforms did not exist,” he said via email.

So why stay on these apps? One reason is social pressure and the fear of being the only one to opt out, his analysis showed.

Sunstein also found that people would not pay a lot to use social media platforms for a month but would need to be paid a lot of money to stay off them for the same period of time — even though it made them feel better.

“When people stay off Facebook for a month, they are happier, less anxious, and less depressed,” he said. “Even so, they would have to be paid about $85 to be off Facebook for another month,” and college students would need to be paid a fair bit to be off platforms like TikTok or Instagram for a month. Interestingly, they would pay for their peer group to be off the same apps.

“Social media should be considered an adult product regardless of cir

By Milena Lazazzera, CNN

(CNN) — Gemini? Scorpio? Sagittarius? What is your moon sign? And your sun? These are not, it seems, trivial questions for Gen Z. For a growing number, an astrological profile has become a way to express individuality in a generation that places particular value on self-definition.

“It has become increasingly common for (social media) users to reference their sign — Aries, Capricorn and the like — in their bios and content, allowing it to shape perception and a simple, powerful way to define oneself,” said Laurent François, a creative consultant and author of the book and Substack “Alive in Social Media.”

Astrology has become “a significant part of digital culture,” he added, pointing to the millions of screenshots users shared from the horoscope app Co-Star and the rise of TikTok’s #witchtok community, which has generated more than 6 million videos exploring spirituality, astrology and mysticism.

And, as is often the case, trends in the digital world intertwine with the physical one. In this instance: a zodiac-themed jewelry revival.

Luxury Parisian jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels may be best known for its signature Alhambra motif of a four-leaf clover, but it has also increasingly built a devoted following for Zodiaque: a collection of zodiac-themed medals, pendants and bracelets that interpret the twelve astrological signs. In what is perhaps a testament to their growing popularity, it’s now being redesigned and relaunched this year at a more accessible price point in a bid to attract a new generation of fans.

The house first began sketching zodiac symbols as early as 1906, before unveiling a fully-fledged astrological collection in the 1950s — a line that reached peak popularity in the 1970s. A first relaunch in 2021, featuring new versions set with semi-precious stones such as malachite, turquoise and obsidian and priced at around £20,900 ($23,500), proved so successful that five years later it prompted the maison to broaden the offering once again. The latest iteration features the designs on yellow- and white-gold medallions, available as bracelets and necklaces and styled on both men and women, with prices starting from £2,290 ($2,740).

The launch underscores the growing appeal of zodiac motifs in jewelry. Astrological, zodiac and celestial pieces are among the strongest-performing designs of the fine jewelry category at luxury retailer Mytheresa, according to its chief buying and group fashion ventures officer Tiffany Hsu. And fine jewelry is currently growing on the platform at triple-digit rates, said Hsu, attributing the momentum to the intimacy and styling versatility of such pieces. They “allow customers to express themselves, while still maintaining a classic, sophisticated look,” she said.

Dominic Jones, creative director of sustainable luxury jewelry brand 886 by Britain’s Royal Mint, has seen similar success. The jewelry brand’s Zodiac collection, launched in 2024, quickly became its second bestselling line after the coin-inspired Tutamen collection. Similarly, at the French jewelry house Goossens, zodiac symbols incorporated into its round, organic-shaped Astro collection, launched in 2020, ranks among its top five designs across Europe and Asia.

A resurgence among Gen Z and Millennials

The growing popularity of zodiac jewelry reflects younger generations’, and particularly Gen Z’s, broader interest in astrology and symbolism, as François suggests. Likewise, Millennial and Gen Z jewelry designers have e

CNN

By Lisa Respers France, CNN

(CNN) — Picking Taylor Frankie Paul to be the next star of “The Bachelorette” was always a spicy choice. The reality star’s tribulations in life and love, including a violent incident with a former boyfriend for which she faced charges, were central to the plot of the other reality show in which she appears, Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Housewives.”

For days before what was supposed to be the new season premiere of the fervently followed, long-running ABC series, there was a drip-drip of details about the incident that led to her 2023 arrest. Then, on Thursday, TMZ published a video.

In the footage, Paul is seen physically fighting the former boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. They share one child, born in 2024.

At one point, Paul appears to kick Mortensen and forcefully grab his head. At another, she throws what appears to be a barstool at him and is also seen moving to strike him with one

Mortensen is heard yelling at Paul, “Your daughter is sitting right there!” After he walks toward a couch, a child can be heard crying.

CNN has not independently verified the video’s authenticity. TMZ reported that the video was part of legal proceedings.

The incident depicted in the video mirrors the one relating to Paul’s arrest in February 2023, which was detailed in a report by the Salt Lake Tribune. CNN has reached out to Herriman City Police Department for comment.

On Thursday, in an unprecedented move, ABC said it would not move forward with airing the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette,” which had been scheduled to debut Sunday.

CNN has reached out to representatives for Paul, Mortenson, ABC and Hulu (which air ‘The Bachelorette” and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” respectively) for comment.

In a statement to People on Thursday, Paul’s representative said the reality star “is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security.”

“After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm,” the statement added.

Mortensen told E! News in a statement Thursday that “as anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation, I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny.”

A history of controversy

‘The Bachelor’ has faced controversy before, but never like this.

In 2018, it was revealed that then “Bachelorette” contestant Lincoln Adim had been convicted of indecent assault and battery just prior to coming on the show.

The year before, Lee Garrett, who had been competing for the heart of Rachel Lindsay, the first Black “Bachelorette,” found himself in a firestorm after racist and sexist tweets from his s

Por Kocha Olarn y James Legge, CNN

Era exactamente lo que él había temido, pero aun así el ataque llegó sin previo aviso.

“Oí un estallido fuerte”, recordó Samut, quien se encontraba entre los 23 miembros de la tripulación a bordo del Mayuree Naree, un buque de carga tailandés que había entrado en el estrecho de Ormuz hace poco más de una semana, a pesar del riesgo de ataques iraníes.

“Hubo dos fuertes estallidos, uno tras otro, tal vez con dos segundos de diferencia”, relató a CNN, hablando bajo un seudónimo por temor a su seguridad.

Las alarmas sonaron a todo volumen y el humo invadió cada pasillo. Todo el barco quedó sumido brevemente en la oscuridad, antes de que se activara el sistema de energía de emergencia.

“Una vez que fuimos impactados, no teníamos ni idea de dónde provenían los disparos, quién estaba disparando o si había algún buque de guerra por la zona; así que nadie se atrevió a salir al exterior. Todos corrieron directamente hacia el puente de mando”.

Cuando llegaron allí, contó, el capitán hizo un recuento de la tripulación “y faltaban tres personas”.

Las tres se encontraban en la sala de máquinas, donde el fuego ardía con furia.

Entre los desaparecidos figuraba Chawarit Chaiwong, de 35 años y oriundo de la provincia occidental tailandesa de Tak, quien lleva más de 10 años trabajando en el mar.

Al igual que Samut, Chawarit había tenido sus recelos respecto a atravesar el estrecho, según relató a CNN su esposa, Suchawadee Malikaeo.

Desde que Estados Unidos e Israel lanzaron su guerra con Irán el 28 de febrero, Teherán había reafirmado su control sobre esa crucial vía navegable —por la cual transita una quinta parte del petróleo mundial—, amenazando con atacar a cualquier buque de naciones aliadas de EE.UU. que pasara por ella. Varios ya habían sido alcanzados.

Aquello dejó al Mayuree Naree —un granelero de 180 metros de eslora— atrapado en el golfo Pérsico, anclado cerca de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos mientras la guerra arreciaba a su alrededor.

La tripulación podía oír los cohetes cruzando sobre sus cabezas, relató Suchawadee, citando conversaciones telefónicas con Chawarit, con quien contrajo matrimonio hace cinco años.

“Pero la cuestión es que, en realidad, él no podía ver de dónde provenían ni quién los estaba disparando”, agregó.

En los días previos al ataque, Chawarit le contó que había visto un dron merodeando alrededor del buque.

“Dijo que parecía que un dron estaba inspeccionando el barco, pero que en realidad no pasó nada”, relató Suchawadee a CNN.

El 10 de marzo, los propietarios del buque —la compañía Precious Shipping— decidieron cruzar el estrecho para completar el viaje de la embarcación hacia Kandla, una ciudad portuaria en el oeste de la India. Allí, el barco, que viajaba vacío, debía cargar arroz.

Incluso en tiempos de paz se requiere una gran destreza para navegar por el angosto canal del estrecho. Sin embargo, esta travesía suponía una prueba especialmente exigente para las habilidades del capitán.

Según una fuente con conocimiento directo de la planificación del viaje, Precious Shipping instruyó al capitán para que abandonara el fondeadero alrededor de la medianoche.

Debía navegar a velocidad normal, con todas las luces innecesarias apagadas, y exhibir la bandera tailandesa de manera destacada. Asimismo, se le ordenó comunicarse cada 30 minutos a través de WhatsApp, además de informar a las autoridades pertinentes durante todo el trayecto.

Tenían previsto cruzar el estrecho de Ormuz alrededor de las 7:00 a.m., hora local.

Precious Shipping declaró en un comunicado que, antes de la partida, “llevó a cabo una evaluación exhaustiva de la situación en consulta con asesores profesionales de seguridad marítima, sus aseguradores y otras partes interesadas pertinentes”.

“Basándose en la información y

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Santa Barbara Humane returned to your Morning News with Pugsley the pug who is ready to light up your world!

Chief Operating Officer, Dory Villalon, sat down with Mackenzie Lake to talk about upcoming events happening with Santa Barbara Humane and all the available cats and dogs ready for the fur-ever home.

For more information about Pugsley, how to adopt and upcoming events, visit Santa Barbara Humane's website.

The post Meet Pugsley, the pug you’ll want to take home immediately appeared first on News Channel 3-12.