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Sunday, 23 August 2026
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Sunday, 23 August 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

YouTube

Video platform owned by Google, facing scrutiny over young user protection, algorithm recommendations, and social media regulation.

2026-04-272026-08-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. Joy Online

    Gonzalez Rogers also oversees related multidistrict ​litigation by more than 2,600 individuals, school districts and local governments over whether social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google and YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok addict children.

    Meta loses bid to dismiss US states’ claims that Facebook, Instagram addict children
  3. Joy Online

    If you have consistent access to a device and data, consider Canva for graphic design, CapCut for basic video editing, or free coding courses on platforms like freeCodeCamp, Alison, Coursera, and YouTube.

    2026 WASSCE: What SHS graduates should do while waiting for their results
  4. Joy Online

    Google’s YouTube has settled a social media addiction case brought by a 15-year-old in Florida, in a fresh legal blow for online platforms accused of fuelling a mental health crisis among children.

    Google’s YouTube settles social media addiction case with teen
  5. Joy Online

    The video, which premiered on June 20, 2026, via his official YouTube channel, features collaborations with P4 Prince and TYE SINGS.

    Tai Chi Worldwide drops cinematic “MAMACITA” video featuring P4 PRINCE and TYE SINGS
  6. Joy Online

    NetChoice, whose members include TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube, and Facebook and Instagram owner Meta, had argued the law was unconstitutionally vague and improperly restricted children’s access to content protected by the First Amendment.

    US court rules Ohio can restrict children’s use of social media
  7. The Chronicle

    Australia was the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them last December from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook.

    UK announces sweeping social media ban for under-16s
  8. Joy Online

    The Sunday Times reported that the prime minister was set to announce a ban covering the same 10 platforms now prohibited for under-16s in Australia: TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, as well as YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, X, Threads, Facebook and Kick.

    Starmer set to ban under-16s from major social media platforms
  9. Business & Financial Times

    Social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube allow organisations to communicate directly with audiences without relying on traditional media gatekeepers.

    PR CORNER with Prosper Delali AYAYEE: Choosing the right communication tool: Matching the message to the moment in public relations
  10. Joy Online

    Meanwhile, social media companies, including Instagram-parent Meta, Snap Inc, TikTok, and Google’s YouTube, are facing a barrage of lawsuits from states, school districts, and individuals alleging they design their products to be addictive.

    OpenAI let ChatGPT aid and abet mass shooters, Florida lawsuit claims
  11. Joy Online

    Drawing on 10,000 mentions across Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, web sources, news feeds, and other digital platforms, the analysis found that public conversations are increasingly focused on governance outcomes, policy delivery, economic credibility, international engag

    IMANI PULSE: Ghana’s Political conversation is shifting from personalities to performance
World & Region

US teen drops social media addiction lawsuit ahead of trial

The News

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

Friday 21 August

  1. US teen drops social media addiction lawsuit ahead of trial

    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

Monday 17 August

  1. Meta faces trial over targeting young users, privacy violations

    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

Friday 14 August

  1. Ayra Starr returns to performances after major surgery recovery

    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

  2. Social media firms resist Australia under-16 ban enforcement push

    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

  3. Meta reports removing 756,000 suspected underage Australian accounts

    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

Saturday 8 August

  1. U.S. Democrats plan Trump investigations if they gain House control

    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

Wednesday 5 August

  1. Disney and TikTok agree licensing deal for creator content

    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

  2. Disney allows TikTok creators to use film and TV clips legally

    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

  3. Paramount CEO defends $110bn Warner Bros takeover merger

    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

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Ariana Grande steps back from public visibility after body scrutiny

    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

Thursday 30 July

  1. Russia charges Telegram founder Durov with aiding terrorism

    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

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Netflix surpasses BBC as UK viewers' first choice

    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

Tuesday 28 July

  1. UK rapper Yung Filly testifies he had consensual encounter with accuser

    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

Thursday 23 July

  1. Burna Boy first male artist to top Spotify's Global Music Video Chart

    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

Wednesday 22 July

  1. Florida teenager drops social media addiction lawsuit against Meta

    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

Tuesday 21 July

  1. France becomes first EU country to ban social media for under-15s

    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

Monday 20 July

  1. Musk's X settles music copyright dispute with major labels

    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

Friday 17 July

  1. Netflix forecast falls short of Wall Street targets

    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

Wednesday 15 July

  1. UK proposes midnight social media curfew for teenagers aged 16-17

    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

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Ghana's NFA pledges tougher measures against illegal movie broadcasts

    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

Monday 13 July

  1. YouTube recommending eating disorder videos to teens despite new rules

    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

Thursday 9 July

  1. Haaland says pressure rests on England before World Cup quarter-final

    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

  2. Bonnie Tyler, gravel-voiced "Total Eclipse" singer, dies aged 75

    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

Tuesday 7 July

  1. British singer Lauren Bennett dies at age 37

    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

  2. Meta faces $1.4 trillion penalty claim in US youth safety trial

    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

Friday 3 July

  1. Loan apps in Ghana use tech ads, issue aggressive debt-collection threats

    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

Thursday 2 July

  1. EU court upholds €4.1bn Android antitrust fine against Google

    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

  2. Michael Jackson biopic surpasses Oppenheimer as highest-grossing

    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

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Trump earned over $1bn from crypto in 2025, disclosure shows

    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

  2. Trump earned over $1bn from crypto in 2025, financial report shows

    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

YouTube — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute