The Download: rethinking child safety and fossil-fueled farming

This is today’s edition of The Download , our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Child-monitoring apps might need a reboot Digital harms have become the defining fear of American parents. In response, they’re increasingly turning to content-monitoring apps that scan their children’s texts, photos, emails, and chats, issuing alerts whenever an algorithm flags something it deems dangerous. These tools have had genuine successes, preventing suicide attempts, intercepting predators, and averting school shootings. But they can also cause harm themselves, from false alarms and unnecessary interventions to damaged trust and anxiety. Child-safety researchers say better approaches exist. Here’s what they think those could look like . —Kelly Clancy This article is from our latest print magazine, which is all about kids. Subscribe now to get every issue as soon as it lands. Agriculture relies on fossil fuels. It’s costing us. Fertilizer prices have been on a roller coaster this year, driven in part by trade disruptions and high natural-gas prices. That’s because natural gas is both an energy source and a chemical input in the production of ammonia, a key fertilizer ingredient. The war in Iran has pushed natural-gas prices higher and disrupted fertilizer trade through the Strait of Hormuz—and its closure could make access harder still for some of the world’s poorest countries. Let’s take a closer look at the surging fertilizer prices, and how a few climate-friendly alternatives could bring farmers some relief . —Casey Crownhart This story is from The Spark, our weekly climate tech newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 New York City has banned AI in elementary and middle schools The one-year moratorium will affect 600,000 students. ( Politico ) + It applies to any software