Should children under the age of 16 be banned from social media, or is a delay with stronger safeguards the better answer?

In this special roundtable episode of The News Navigators, the conversation explores the growing debate around a possible social media ban for young people, inspired by moves in places like Australia and wider discussions in the UK and US.

The discussion looks at the real harms linked to youth social media use, including addiction, anxiety, low self-esteem, cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, online grooming, sleep disruption, and the pressure of algorithm-driven validation.

A key theme is that social media platforms are designed to keep young users engaged, often exploiting developing brains that are more vulnerable to impulse, comparison, and peer approval.

Rather than supporting a simple ban, the main view in this episode is that the issue is more complex. The focus shouldbe on whether children are emotionally and developmentally ready for social media, and on building a stronger system of protection around them.

That includes parent education, digital literacy, resilience training for young people, school and community support,government action, and greater accountability for tech companies and platforms.

The episode also explores the tension between child safety, freedom, parental responsibility, platform responsibility, and government regulation.

While age restrictions may help, the panel argues that bans alone are unlikely to work because young people often findways around them. The stronger solution may be a combination of education, open communication, digital wellness, and platform reform.

This is a thoughtful discussion on one of the biggest parenting and policy questions of our time: how to protect childrenonline without pushing the problem further underground.

Tell us what you think: email [email protected]

In this episode Jonathan and Jeremy agree to disagree over the Caricom Green Paper published by the Bermuda Government – find out why.

Does it set out the pros and cons? Does it do enough to inform people? Is it a Government fait accomplis and really a White Paper in disguise?

Also, homelessness in Bermuda is on the rise again. We talk about the need to get behind the Plan to End Homelessness, which appears to have dropped off the radar, and how Government need to get a champion to ensure all ministries are working as one to ensure an end to this issue.

In this episode of The News Navigators, Jeremy Deacon and Jonathan Starling start with the Iran war and what it couldmean for Bermuda.

Jonathan argues the conflict is an illegal “war of choice” that undermines international law and future diplomacy, whileJeremy agrees on the illegality but pushes back on whether the nature of Iran’s regime matters.

They then move from geopolitics to pocketbook impact: longer fighting in the Middle East could drive up oil andnatural gas prices, disrupt key shipping routes (including the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea risks), and push up the cost of importing goods into Bermuda.

The hosts warn that higher fuel costs would likely raise the Belco bill, increase grocery and commodity prices, and squeeze households—especially working people.

They also discuss knock-on effects for tourism: more expensive flights and cruises, plus less disposable income insource markets like the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe, could mean fewer visitors.

They speculate about elevated security and cyber-risk in a wider conflict environment, and note Bermuda’s vulnerability as a “price taker,” arguing for more energy resilience, local food production where possible, and diversified import routes.

Next, they unpack the AllShores decision to restrict where certain high-cost prescriptions can be filled—directing clientsto Phoenix pharmacies for medicines such as GLP-1 treatments (e.g., Ozempic/Mounjaro/Wegovy), biologics, and oncology therapies.

They outline AllShore’s justification that these drugs drive a large share of costs despite a small share of prescriptions, but highlight concerns raised by independent pharmacies anddoctors about patient choice, medication safety, administrative burden, and the risk of further market concentration.

They also point to Bermuda’s lack of modern antitrust/competition legislation as a recurring issue.

Finally, they tee up the OBA’s budget reply and whether it can win an election and believe that although it has some goodpoints, it is in the shadow of a sweetheart, stimulus budget delivered by the Government.

In this wide-ranging interview, Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, is pressed on two political talking points: the PLP leadership transition and the still-simmering Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) controversy.

On PLP leadership, Mr Darrell says the party leader, David Burt, will be missed but stresses the PLP has depth andpublic confidence after recent election wins.

He notes the leader is not stepping down immediately, pushing back on the idea that “he’s going tomorrow”, and acknowledges how early announcements can create a vacuum and speculation.

Asked if he will run, Mr Darrell is clear: he is not putting his name forward. Instead, he frames leadership as daily service — running a large ministry, appointing multiple boards, and working his constituency regularly — while keeping his support behind the current leader for the months remaining.

He also reacts to the emerging leadership picture, calling the Hayward/De Silva move  “bold” and describing the jockeying and “will you, won’t you” politics that typically surrounds leadership contests. While he avoids endorsing anyone, he confirms the party’s formal process will determine the field and timing.

On the BTA row, Mr Darrell defends why concerns were escalated, saying he acted because he was hearing distressdirectly from people and felt it was his duty to ensure complaints reached the board. He rejects the “threatening” label but admits he was firm, and he reiterates that the BTA board operates independently once appointed.

As the Minister responsible for road safety, he is also put on the spot about what the Government is doing. See if you agree with what he said.

In this wide-ranging interview, Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, is pressed on twopolitical talking points: the PLP leadership transition and the still-simmering Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) controversy.

On PLP leadership, Mr Darrell says the party leader, David Burt, will be missed but stresses the PLP has depth andpublic confidence after recent election wins.

He notes the leader is not stepping down immediately, pushing back on the idea that “he’s going tomorrow”, andacknowledges how early announcements can create a vacuum and speculation.

Asked if he will run, Mr Darrell is clear: he is not putting his name forward. Instead, he frames leadership as dailyservice — running a large ministry, appointing multiple boards, and working his constituency regularly — while keeping his support behind the current leader for the months remaining.

He also reacts to the emerging leadership picture, calling the Hayward/De Silva move  “bold” and describing the jockeying and “will you, won’t you” politics that typically surrounds leadership contests. While he avoids endorsing anyone, he confirms the party’s formal process will determine the field and timing.

On the BTA row, Mr Darrell defends why concerns were escalated, saying he acted because he was hearing distressdirectly from people and felt it was his duty to ensure complaints reached the board. He rejects the “threatening” label but admits he was firm, and he reiterates that the BTA board operates independently once appointed.

As the Minister responsible for road safety, he is also put on the spot about what the Government is doing. See if you agree with what he said.

Jason Hayward Launches PLP Leadership Bid — is a Hayward–DeSilva Ticket Forming?

In what looked like a carefully choreographed political launch, Jason Hayward — Bermuda’s Minister of Labour and the Economy — has announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Progressive Labour Party.

And the optics afterwards were just as telling.

In photos following the announcement, Hayward stood hand-in-hand with Housing Minister Zane DeSilva — who announced his own leadership ambitions on this podcast last year, but now appears to have stepped aside.

So are we looking at a Hayward/DeSilva ticket — Leader and Deputy Leader?

If so, that kind of unified front can do two things at once: project inevitability, and squeeze other contenders outbefore the race even begins.

Which raises the obvious question: who else could realistically enter?

Curtis Dickinson, the former Finance Minister, tried before — and lost. Does he have another run in him, or has thatwindow closed?

Then there’s the bigger issue: what kind of leader would Jason Hayward actually be — and by extension, what kind ofPremier?

And how will the One Bermuda Alliance respond?

Will they welcome this matchup… or will they go straight for the attacks — including resurfacing that old “Union Thug”t-shirt controversy (which Hayward said was meant to be ironic) in an effort to discredit him?

Because that can be a dangerous game.

Politics has a way of backfiring — and in Bermuda, “be careful what you wish for” isn’t just a saying, it’s a warning.

And whoever becomes Premier will inherit more than a title.

They’ll be taking office on the crest of a stimulus-driven Budget — with the public expecting that momentum to translate into real outcomes, not headlines.

The pressure will be immediate: keep the stimulus from evaporating, prove it’s creating growth, and show people they can actually feel the difference.

So the real story here isn’t just who runs.

It’s what kind of Bermuda they’re promising to deliver — and whether the next leader can turn a stimulus moment intolong-term stability.

·       Apologies for the audio disappearing at the end, there was a techhiccup.

With a forecast for government revenue to surpass $2 billion, it was no surprise that the Budget was a bit of a sweetheart budget – or more to the point, a great big giveaway budget.
It hit all the right spots – putting money into people’s pockets, addressing cost of living issues, pleasing workers and businesses and putting in fiscal guidelines for the use of corporate income tax revenue to pay off debt over the next three years.
David Burt, the minister of finance and Premier, also committed to paying off more than $600 million in debt, freeing up $25 million in interest payments.
In what was a 2-hour budget speech, Mr Burt outlined a raft of investments – roads, the hospital, health care, infrastructure like Tynes Bay and housing, which, in per centage terms, got one of the largest budget increases, some 42 per cent.
But is there a fly in the ointment? It was a short mention, three paragraphs in a nearly 60 page speech: labour reform and the relaxation of protected job categories.
One short line acknowledged the danger of wage inflation – but there is also the issue of supply. If there is little to no labour supply (because everyone is working) it could also stymy projects.
Next week the One Bermuda Alliance will deliver its Budget reply – what will they find to criticize?
https://youtu.be/NQDzn4zGsvw?si=Jkgi-cVSqIKjbmUS

Budget day is tomorrow and the Finance Minister will have around $600m extra to play with thanks to the corporate income tax revenue.

Cost-of-livingwill be at the forefront and expect to see measures to put more money in ourpockets as well as efforts to include more items in the duty-free bucket.

But what else? What long-term planning will we see – there is money for it – how much of the CIT revenue be used to pay off the debt?

Why are judges talking about their pay? Well, it is about judicial independence, especially as they witness more cases of citizens vs the government in the courts.

They also raise the epidemic of violent crime, insisting that life skills work should start with children aged as young as 5.

·       Listening to the Budget tomorrow – let us know your thoughts, email [email protected] or Whatsapp 534 2205

Can the One Bermuda Alliance rebuild public trust? Is the UK quietly questioning Bermuda’s governance? And why are more than 1,100 Bermudians still unhoused?In this episode, we break down the growing trust deficit in Bermuda politics, examine renewed scrutiny from the UK House of Lords over the Overseas Territories, and confront the harsh reality of Bermuda’s homelessness crisis amid rising cost-of-living pressures.As temperatures drop and political rhetoric heats up, we ask the uncomfortable but necessary questions about accountability, leadership, and whether real solutions are on the table.If trust is gained in teaspoons and lost in buckets — where does Bermuda stand today? Listen in to another episode of The News Navigators, Bermuda's only current affairs podcast!

As the One Bermuda Alliance caucus backs Ben Smith as leader of the party and leader of the opposition, attention turns to him to perform in the role he coveted. Will he live up to expectations?

What will Robert King do now? He is unlikely to get a good - if any - shadow cabinet role. Will he be faithful to the party or a loose cannon on the backbench?

And still no proper explanation for the coup - how bad is the rebels' messaging? Very bad indeed and it will keep the story running and running .....

There will be more on this, there is no doubt, as shadow cabinet appointments are made, people are frozen out, a new senate team is sworn in and, without a doubt, the Progressive Labour Party will have a field day.