Meta and YouTube found liable in landmark social media addiction trial
A woman has been awarded $6m in a verdict that could have implications for hundreds of other cases in the US.
Tag: YouTube
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YouTube Music paywalls lyrics with limit for free users
In a move that mirrors past controversial shifts in the streaming industry, YouTube Music has begun moving its lyrics feature behind its Premium paywall. Previously available for free since its introduction in 2020, the “Lyrics” tab now presents free-tier users with a stark warning: “Unlock lyrics with Premium.” Read: iPhone 17e to retain $599 entry…
Meta, TikTok, YouTube to stand trial on youth addiction claims
Meta Platforms, TikTok and YouTube will face courtroom scrutiny this week over allegations that their platforms are fuelling a youth mental health crisis, as a debate about kids’ screen time enters a new phase. The trial in California is a test case for thousands of other lawsuits seeking damages for social media harms, in a…
Google, YouTube to pour R688m into SA’s media sector
The Competition Commission found that Google and YouTube reproduce South African news content, but provide no remuneration to local publishers. Google and YouTube have agreed to establish a combined R688 million media support package to fund national, community and vernacular media in SA. This is one of the key recommended remedies in the Competition Commission’s…
WeBuyCars earns top honours at YouTube Awards
WeBuyCars’ win at the YouTube Works Awards South Africa 2025 shows the power of consistency that South Africa’s premier vehicle trading platform has used to stand out in a competitive market for eyeballs and attention. The popular “Rev-Jou-Jeep” video, a satirical take on the Afrikaner refugees who recently started relocating to the US, has garnered…
How Creators Pivoted to YouTube And What It Means for African Film and TV
Over the years, African film and television have undergone a significant trend: filmmakers are shifting away from conventional distribution avenues and streaming platforms. They are increasingly embracing YouTube as a primary distribution channel. As streaming platforms reduce their investments in African originals, and infrastructure remains limited, many filmmakers are taking distribution into their own hands…
YouTube to pay Trump $24.5 million to settle lawsuit over suspension
U.S. President Donald Trump reacts, as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., September 26, 2025. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit involving the suspension of President Donald Trump’s account following the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021. The settlement “shall not constitute an…
YouTube to be part of Australia’s youth social media ban
YouTube will be included in Australia’s world-first social media ban for children under 16, after the government ditched a previous exemption for the platform. The video sharing site was set to be excluded from the ban – which will limit TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat and is due to start in December. Under the…
AI slop goes mainstream as YouTube cashes in
There’s a prevailing wisdom that AI-generated content, or “slop” as it’s colloquially known, should make our skin crawl. AI models tend to generate uncanny faces, mangled hands and fantastical scenarios. Take this YouTube Short video of a baby that finds itself being shimmied up a baggage loader onto a jumbo jet, before donning an aviation…
YouTube Shorts to integrate Veo 3 AI video generation
YouTube Shorts will soon incorporate Veo 3, YouTube’s advanced AI video generation model, later this year. This announcement came from YouTube CEO Neal Mohan during a keynote at Cannes Lions. Read: iPadOS 26 unleashes Mac-like productivity Currently, Shorts creators can utilize the previous-generation Veo 2 model for features like generating backgrounds with Dream Screen and…