Gender

Despite longer lifespans, many people keep feeling “time poor,” often struggling to complete daily tasks. This challenge is most pronounced among women, who frequently have disproportionate domestic labor responsibilities, and low-income individuals, who frequently lack the resources to outsource time-intensive activities. As time poverty reinforces and perpetuates social inequalities, policies to alleviate it, such as reducing time spent on errands like queuing for goods and services, can play a key role in addressing these disparities.

AI has been trained on biased data that can reinforce harmful stereotypes and spread misinformation about LGBTQ+ people, said GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. AI is increasingly embedded across platforms, and companies must ensure it is trained responsibly because the harm can extend far beyond digital communications.

Adrianne Benton Furniss is the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society’s new Chair of its Board of Directors. Succeeding Austin L. Hirsch, Furniss steps into her new role after a ten-year tenure as Benton’s executive director ended in 2025. For over a decade, Furniss has focused the organization on ensuring that the benefits of robust, affordable broadband service deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities around the nation. In the past year, Furniss has focused on Benton’s community engagement and other education and outreach work in the Institute’s home state of Illinois.

Girl Scouts of the USA is sounding the alarm: more than half (56%) of girls, ages 5 to 13, are spending time online to fight boredom, with many (52%) feeling overlooked as parents remain glued to their own devices. New research released today highlights the need for families to reset digital habits and model healthier online behavior. There is pressure and a pull to be online because girls don’t want to miss out, but they’re also online because they’re bored.

In response to a request from the Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) staff, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) provided non-confidential information on application and enrollment data as it relates to the Safe Connections Act (SCA) of 2022. As of November 30, 2025, 5,429 applications were created for the emergency Lifeline benefit through the SCA.

Another operator bites the dust on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as AT&T joined Verizon and T-Mobile in formally ending its DEI-related policies. In a letter dated December 1 to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), AT&T stated it “does not and will not have any roles focused on DEI,” removed workforce DEI training as well as any DEI references from its internal and external messaging.

For better or for worse, generative AI is already reshaping how work is done, who advances, and whose perspectives guide the next generation of tools. Generative AI tools deliver incredible efficiency gains. A study by The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that the majority of respondents who used generative AI tools in the past week saved between 2-4 hours with more frequent users reporting even greater time savings.

In 2023, Virginian John Boyd’s combine caught fire while harvesting grain, and he was in a dead zone. He had to walk a mile and a half just to find cellular service. By then, the fire had destroyed his combine. “A complete loss, and insurance wouldn’t pay,” Boyd said. Internet access is more than a convenience for farmers and ranchers. It’s become critical infrastructure, and not only for emergency situations.

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI released the first detailed study of what its users do with the popular chatbot and who they are, providing an unprecedented look at how people use the artificial intelligence tool and what they talk to it about. ChatGPT now has more than more than 700 million weekly users. The company reports that most ChatGPT users are women and that the majority of requests sent its way are not work-related.

The denial of equitable access has been a defining feature throughout American history.