Video platform owned by Google, facing scrutiny over young user protection, algorithm recommendations, and social media regulation.
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Joy Online
A teen girl whose lawsuit was a test case in litigation accusing social media companies of deliberately addicting young people and fueling a mental health crisis dropped her claims against the owners of Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat on Thursday, according to a court …
US teen drops lawsuit against Meta, Google and Snap ahead of trialJoy Online
… Kaley, a young woman who prevailed in her lawsuit against Meta earlier this year, described during court testimony how she created dozens of accounts on YouTube and Instagram. …
If Meta loses this trial, Instagram and Facebook could change foreverJoy Online
… Discovered singing covers on YouTube at the age of 18, she became the first African woman to win best international act at the Mobo Awards, and the first Nigerian woman to surpass one billion video views on YouTube. …
Ayra Starr on her secret relationship and teasing Stevie WonderJoy Online
… Local heads of YouTube owner Google, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, Snapchat and TikTok fronted a Senate inquiry as lawmakers pressed them on multiple studies, including from Australia’s internet regulator, showing some 80% of minors were still on social media months after …
Social media firms urge caution on early Australia under-16 ban dataJoy Online
… PARLIAMENTARY HEARING ON FRIDAY Representatives of Meta, TikTok, YouTube owner Google and Snap’s Snapchat are scheduled to give evidence in a parliamentary inquiry about the changes on Friday, as are regulatory and government officials. …
Meta says it has taken down 756,000 Australian teen accounts as ban enforcement loomsJoy Online
… Discovery deal as well as video platform YouTube and parent company Alphabet over the company’s $24.5 million settlement with Trump in September. …
Democrats plan Trump investigations over impeachment if they win House, sources sayJoy Online
… Last year, a report from Oxford Economics said YouTube content creators contributed £2.2bn to the UK economy in 2024 and supported 45,000 jobs. …
Disney agrees deal to let TikTokers use its films and TV shows in videosJoy Online
… Last year, a report from Oxford Economics said YouTube content creators contributed £2.2bn to the UK economy in 2024 and supported 45,000 jobs. …
Disney agrees deal to let TikTokers use its films and TV shows in videosJoy Online
… would remain non-partisan and stay positioned to “tell it straight down the middle.” To counter antitrust concerns, Ellison pointed out that a merged Paramount-Warner would account for less than 20% of US television watch time – dropping to around 13% when accounting for YouTube …
Paramount chief executive David Ellison breaks silence on Warner Bros mega mergerJoy Online
… The comments and screengrabs flooded social media over the weekend. ‘Specimen in a petri dish’ The top comment under the Petal video on YouTube said: “It’s not about wanting the old Ariana back. …
Ariana Grande has had enough of body comments, but ‘scrutiny’ will lingerA 15-year-old girl from New Jersey dismissed her claims against Meta, Google, and Snap, which alleged the platforms' owners contributed to her social media addiction, depression, and self-harm. Her attorney said the plaintiff chose to dismiss the remainder of her claims to resume her life, though she had sought to hold social media companies accountable.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
A 15-year-old girl from New Jersey dismissed her claims against Meta, Google, and Snap, which alleged the platforms' owners contributed to her social media addiction, depression, and self-harm. Her attorney said the plaintiff chose to dismiss the remainder of her claims to resume her life, though she had sought to hold social media companies accountable.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
A jury trial beginning Tuesday, filed by 30 US states including California and New York, claims Meta violated federal and state privacy laws for children. The states seek over $1 trillion in damages and demand changes to Instagram and Facebook, including ending "like" counts, infinite scroll, autoplay video, filters, and other features they say manipulate young users into prolonged engagement.
17 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr underwent major surgery two weeks before releasing her album Starrgirl and returned to performing within days, telling the Today show: "I'm healing. I have strength today."
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Top social media platforms urged the Australian government not to rely heavily on early evidence that most children still use their products despite a landmark under-16 ban introduced in December, as lawmakers consider doubling maximum penalties to A$99 million and expanding regulators' investigative powers. Australia's eSafety Commissioner reported that roughly 80% of minors were still on social media months after the ban took effect but noted modest declines in underage accounts and said enforcement would drive further change.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Meta said Thursday it had taken down more than 750,000 accounts suspected to be held by Australians under 16 since the country's social media ban went live in December, with 462,000 Instagram and 294,000 Facebook accounts deactivated through June. The action comes as Australia's internet regulator considers an enforcement lawsuit against platforms for insufficient compliance, though independent studies showed more than eight in 10 under-16s remained on social media in the ban's first three months.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
U.S. House Democrats are developing an investigative strategy targeting companies and financial firms surrounding President Trump, using hearings, subpoenas, and document requests rather than pursuing immediate impeachment. Democrats say this approach, informed by lessons from Trump's first term, aims to build evidence of whether Trump used his power to benefit himself, allies, or donors.
8 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Disney and TikTok have agreed a deal allowing creators to use clips from Disney films and TV shows, including franchises like Star Wars, Toy Story, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in their videos. The scheme will launch in the US before rolling out to other countries.
5 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Disney and TikTok have agreed a deal allowing creators to use clips from Disney films and subsidiaries—including Star Wars, Toy Story, and Marvel—in their videos, which will also be shared on Disney's short-form video platform Verts. The scheme launches in the US before rolling out to other countries.
5 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Paramount Skydance chief executive David Ellison has defended the company's $110bn takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery in a New York Times op-ed, rejecting antitrust concerns by arguing the combined entity would account for less than 20% of US television watch time and would compete against tech giants with greater resources.
5 August 2026 · Joy Online →
After years of social media speculation about her body and health, Ariana Grande's spokesperson said she will take a step back from public-facing work after finishing her current tour. Her new album Petal addresses pressures of fame, with its title track video depicting rejection and criticism of various personas.
4 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Russian authorities have charged Pavel Durov, cofounder of the encrypted messaging platform Telegram, with "aiding terrorism" and issued an international arrest warrant, alleging his company failed to remove channels and bots used by Ukrainian special services and terrorist organisations to coordinate attacks in Russia.
30 July 2026 · The Chronicle →
Netflix has overtaken the BBC as Britons' first choice for television viewing, with 26% of viewers turning to the U.S. streaming service first compared with 25% for the BBC, according to Ofcom's annual Media Nations report, which also found broadcaster-owned streaming services rose 9% year-on-year.
29 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Rapper Yung Filly told a Western Australian court on Monday that "vibes were good" between him and a woman who accuses him of rape after a 2024 Perth nightclub performance. The 30-year-old, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, has pleaded not guilty to six counts of sexual penetration without consent, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of strangulation.
28 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Nigerian singer Burna Boy became the first male artist to reach number 1 on Spotify's newly launched Global Music Video Chart with his World Cup song "Dai Dai" featuring Shakira. The song also peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and is the most-streamed music video of 2026 on YouTube.
23 July 2026 · Joy Online →
A 15-year-old plaintiff dropped his lawsuit against Meta over alleged addiction to Instagram, following earlier settlements with TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. His lawyers said he wanted to focus on recovery and therapy, while Meta denied the claims had merit.
22 July 2026 · Joy Online →
French lawmakers voted to ban social media use for children under 15, with the bill set to take effect this school year after President Emmanuel Macron signs it into law. The ban makes France the first EU country to impose such a restriction, following Australia's implementation of a ban for under-16s last year.
21 July 2026 · Joy Online →
X Corp and major music publishers including Universal Music Group and Sony Music have agreed to end their legal dispute over music use on the X platform, with both parties asking federal courts in Tennessee and Texas to dismiss the labels' copyright infringement lawsuit and X's countersuit.
20 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Netflix forecast third-quarter revenue of $12.86 billion and diluted earnings per share of 82 cents, below Wall Street targets of $13 billion and 84 cents; shares fell nearly 8.6% in after-hours trading as the company shifts focus to advertising, live events and video games for growth.
17 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The UK government announced plans for a midnight to 06:00 social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds, with apps like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube unavailable by default during those hours; users could opt out by changing settings. The government also plans to disable "addictive" features such as auto-play and infinite scroll, citing benefits to focus, sleep and family life, though campaigners argue the opt-out option makes the measure insufficient.
15 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's National Film Authority Deputy Executive Secretary James Gardiner has assured filmmakers that authorities are working on tougher measures to curb illegal broadcast of movies by television stations, following complaints from Nollywood producer Uchenna Mbunabo about Ghanaian stations downloading films from YouTube and airing them without permission or compensation.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Research by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate found that one in 10 videos recommended by YouTube's algorithm to a simulated 13-year-old girl featured thinspiration, extreme calorie restriction or other harmful material. This occurred a year after new rules were introduced to curb harmful online content, though the situation had improved over the past two years.
13 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Norway striker Erling Haaland says all the pressure is on England ahead of their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday in Miami. Norway, competing at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, has beaten Ivory Coast and Brazil to reach the final eight, while England have not won the World Cup since 1966.
9 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer best known for the 1980s hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died aged 75. Born Gaynor Hopkins in a Neath council house, she was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell in a Swansea club and went on to a 50-year career dubbed the "female Rod Stewart" for her husky vocals.
9 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Lauren Bennett, a British singer who featured on LMFAO's 2011 hit "Party Rock Anthem," has died aged 37, according to an announcement from her former group G.R.L. on Instagram. The cause of death was not revealed.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Meta disclosed in a court filing that four US states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties over allegations the company designed Facebook and Instagram to addict young users and misled the public about their safety, ahead of an August trial in Oakland, California.
7 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Joy Online's investigation found that digital lending applications downloaded from sponsored advertisements on YouTube and Facebook issued threatening messages to borrowers, including references to curses, death, and harassment of family members, within days of download and before repayment deadlines.
3 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Europe's top court has dismissed Google's appeal and upheld a €4.1bn fine imposed by the European Commission for using Android to block rivals through practices including requiring pre-installation of Google Search and Chrome, making exclusive payments to manufacturers, and preventing sales of alternative Android versions.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Michael Jackson movie has become the highest-grossing biopic of all time after earning $977 million at the worldwide box office, surpassing director Christopher Nolan's 2023 film about theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer.
2 July 2026 · Joy Online →
US President Donald Trump reported more than $1bn in cryptocurrency earnings in 2025, including $635m in royalties from a Trump meme coin and over $500m from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm founded by his sons and children of his special envoy. The White House denied any conflict of interest.
1 July 2026 · Joy Online →
US President Donald Trump reported more than $1bn in cryptocurrency income for 2025, including $635m in royalties from a Trump meme coin and over $500m from World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm founded by his sons. The White House denied any conflict of interest.
1 July 2026 · Joy Online →