Top News:
Josh Taylor / The Guardian:
Australia's ban on social media for users aged under 16 comes into effect; platforms that do not comply risk fines of up to AU$49.5M — Accounts held by users under 16 must be removed on apps that include TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch and Threads under ban
Discussion:
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The Guardian:
Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says under-16s slipping through the cracks of the social media ban will be “booted off” the platforms in time — Albanese says commencement of ban a ‘proud day’ for him as prime minister, while eSafety commissioner unconcerned by reports of children bypassing restrictions
Discussion:
Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald, Telegraph and ABC, more at Techmeme »
Nic Fildes / Financial Times:
As Australia enacts the world's first under-16 social media ban on December 10, a look at the implications, reaction from parents and teens, and more — Under-16s will no longer be able to subscribe to popular apps under groundbreaking Australian law — Kirstin Hunter was picking …
Discussion:
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Tim Wu / New York Times:
WBD merging with either Netflix or Paramount should be challenged by US antitrust authorities and would be bad for US streaming market competition — Business leaders are fond of saying that if there's one thing they want from the law, it is certainty — clear rules to plan around.
Discussion:
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Christopher Palmeri / Bloomberg:
Money manager Mario Gabelli said it's “highly likely” he will tender his clients' WBD shares to Paramount in an effort to spark a bidding war for WBD
Discussion:
Blockchain.News, Financial Times, Screen Rant and Techdirt
Washington Post:
Right-wing influencers such as Benny Johnson, Laura Loomer, and Jack Posobiec campaign against Netflix's bid for WBD, casting Netflix as a Democratic stronghold
Right-wing influencers such as Benny Johnson, Laura Loomer, and Jack Posobiec campaign against Netflix's bid for WBD, casting Netflix as a Democratic stronghold
Financial Times:
Inside Paramount's new WBD bid: after six failed proposals across 12 weeks, and alleging WBD's board ignored a final offer, Paramount went hostile to buy WBD
Inside Paramount's new WBD bid: after six failed proposals across 12 weeks, and alleging WBD's board ignored a final offer, Paramount went hostile to buy WBD
Discussion:
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Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney nominates former Apple COO Jeff Williams to its board; he retired from Apple in November after overseeing the design team, supply chain work, and more — Williams retired from the tech giant earlier this year. — The board of directors of The Walt Disney Co. is getting a veteran tech executive.
Discussion:
The Wrap, Variety, Reuters, 9to5Mac, Deadline, MacRumors, Business Wire, Bloomberg and AppleInsider
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
Email: USA Today EIC Caren Bohan has abruptly left the company, the second editor in chief to do so in less than two years; she became EIC in September 2024 — Caren Bohan, who was named editor in chief in September 2024, will no longer continue in her role “effective immediately,” the company told employees.
Wall Street Journal:
Chernin Group agrees to take a minority stake in Entangled Publishing, a publisher of romance-fantasy books; sources say the deal values Entangled at ~$400M — Deal values publisher of popular ‘Fourth Wing’ books at $400 million — Media executive Peter Chernin's private-equity firm …
Luke Bouma / Cord Cutters News:
Crunchyroll announces it is shutting down its free ad-supported streaming option on December 31; Crunchyroll subscriptions start at $7.99/month or $79.99/year — Crunchyroll will eliminate its ad-supported free tier on December 31, 2025, ending the last remaining way to legally watch anime …
Discussion:
Screen Rant, CNET, Anime Mojo, PCMag, Mashable, Android Authority and The Streamable, more at Techmeme »
Reporters Without Borders:
At least 53 of the 67 journalists killed in the past 12 months were victims of war or criminal networks; 503 journalists are detained globally, 121 in China — Organisation: — RSF_en — Journalists do not just die - they are killed. The number of murdered journalists has risen again …
Discussion:
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Barbara Moens / Financial Times:
The European Commission opens an investigation into Google to assess possible anticompetitive conduct by Google in “the use of online content for AI purposes” — Investigation is the bloc's latest challenge to American Big Tech companies — Brussels has launched an investigation …
Discussion:
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Emily Sundberg / Feed Me:
Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie says Substack is starting to test native sponsorships with some writers but won't take a cut for now — “During the pilot, Substack is simply facilitating payments and is not taking a cut.” — ∙ Paid — Hello everyone.
Discussion:
Substack, @emily_sundberg, Adweek and @alexeheath, more at Techmeme »
Michael Luo / @michaelluo:
The New Yorker adds Jason Zengerle and Ruby Cramer as staff writers for politics and Jon Allsop as a contributing writer; Emily Nussbaum will be theater critic — News from @NewYorker! Welcome to @zengerle @rubycramer @jon_allsop. New beat for @emilynussbaum. Also, belated welcome to @RuthMarcus @lsjamison and Manvir Singh. [image]
Discussion:
The Hollywood Reporter
Jaspreet Singh / Reuters:
Spotify rolls out music videos to Premium subscribers in the US and Canada, following a beta launch in nearly 100 markets last year — Spotify (SPOT.N) said on Tuesday it is making music videos available to premium subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, as the Swedish streaming giant challenges YouTube for market share.
Discussion:
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