The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) has launched the COVID-19 Response Fund primarily to provide relief to people in the entertainment industry who are most vulnerable to the effects of this economic crisis. Funds also will support the public health response to the threat posed by this virus including the prevention, detection, and treatment of new cases of COVID-19. Donations can be made here.
“As a partner to the entertainment industry, we are here for those in need in a time of crisis, whether it be a natural disaster or a global pandemic,” said EIF president and CEO Nicole Sexton. “Together, we can help to ease the financial pressure that is felt by so many in our community and beyond as we navigate these next few weeks and months.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, productions have halted, many displaced workers have found themselves without pay or medical care, and live entertainment is at a standstill. Every aspect of the entertainment business has been disrupted.
EIF is also activating its relationships in the wake of this health threat to provide vital information to help people keep themselves and their families healthy. At the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation, EIF created 30- and 60-second radio spots recorded by Dr. Phil which were delivered to more than 12,000 radio stations across the U.S. and just days later were picked up by three of the largest radio networks in the country for immediate airing.
Via social media posts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, EIF has communicated to those in the industry, as well as the public, to stay informed of the latest recommendations on keeping safe and healthy by utilizing the following resources:
Centers for Disease Control – for the most up-to-date safety information
World Health Organization – for daily situation reports
Johns Hopkins University – for up-to-date statistics
California governor signs law to protect children from social media addiction
California will make it illegal for social media platforms to knowingly provide addictive feeds to children without parental consent beginning in 2027 under a new law Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Friday.
California follows New York state, which passed a law earlier this year allowing parents to block their kids from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm. Utah has passed laws in recent years aimed at limiting children's access to social media, but they have faced challenges in court.
The California law will take effect in a state home to some of the largest technology companies in the world. Similar proposals have failed to pass in recent years, but Newsom signed a first-in-the-nation law in 2022 barring online platforms from using users' personal information in ways that could harm children. It is part of a growing push in states across the country to try to address the impacts of social media on the well-being of children.
"Every parent knows the harm social media addiction can inflict on their children — isolation from human contact, stress and anxiety, and endless hours wasted late into the night," Newsom said in a statement. "With this bill, California is helping protect children and teenagers from purposely designed features that feed these destructive habits."
The law bans platforms from sending notifications without permission from parents to minors between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., and between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays from September through May, when children are typically in school. The legislation also makes platforms set children's accounts to private by default.
Opponents of the legislation say it could inadvertently prevent adults from accessing content if they cannot verify their... Read More