Mediagazer: FOI data: the UK has spent £500K+ since 2024 on 215 influencers to promote government campaigns, including £350K by the Department for Education (The Guardian)

4:00 AM ET, December 29, 2025

Top News:

Mark Sweney / The Guardian:

Ampere Analysis: UK streaming subscribers on ad-supported tiers will reach 26.5M by the end of 2025, surpassing the 23.1M ad-free subscribers for the first time — Viewers hoping to cut bills driving switch from once-normal advert-free subscriptions now charging a premium

Discussion: NZ Herald, @samuelwroberts.bsky.social, Miami Herald and Tom's Guide

Ben Strauss / Washington Post:

A profile of Pablo Torre, whose podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” became a 2025 phenomenon for aggressive reporting that uncovered seismic stories in US sports — NEW YORK — One day last month, Tom McMillen, a 73-year-old retired NBA player and former congressman, got an email.

Discussion: @washingtonpost.com, @scottnover.bsky.social, @royalpratt.bsky.social, @jeffjarvis.bsky.social and Awful Announcing

DataBreaches.Net:

A hacker published 2.3M Wired user records, and claimed to have downloaded all 33M Condé Nast users' information, including email, name, phone, and usernames — Over the years, DataBreaches has been contacted by many people with requests for help notifying entities of data leaks or breaches.

Discussion: BleepingComputer, Security Affairs, Cyber Security News, Hackread and CyberInsider

Andre Revilla / Engadget:

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul signs a law requiring social platforms with features like addictive feeds to show warning labels about mental health impacts on young users — The warnings will appear when users interact with a feature the state deems addictive. — The State of New York …

The Guardian:

FOI data: the UK has spent £500K+ since 2024 on 215 influencers to promote government campaigns, including £350K by the Department for Education — Figures from FoI request show increase in ministerial use of social media personalities to present campaigns

Discussion: @erinaceinae24.bsky.social, Rae McGrath on LinkedIn and @socialmedialab.ca

Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:

As the BBC fights Trump's $10B lawsuit and ITV plans to combine its broadcasting business with Sky in 2026, a look at the slow death of the UK's TV channels — Amid the rise of streaming, younger viewers barely watch the broadcasting that once dominated Christmas schedules

Discussion: The Guardian and Daily Mail

Cecilia D'Anastasio / Bloomberg:

Five FaZe Clan influencers exit after failed contract talks with new management; Matt Kalish, who invested $10M, calls FaZe's current structure “unsustainable” — The future of the popular influencer group FaZe Clan is in flux once again after several members announced …

Discussion: Tubefilter, @fazeadapt, TechCrunch, @banks, Dexerto, @lacyhimself, @banks, @jasontheween, @silkyszn, @stableronaldo, @slasher, @banks, AfroTech and Distractify

Naomi Nix / Washington Post:

Internal documents show Instagram's aggressive campaign to win back teens, including by boosting teen-friendly influencers, adjusting its algorithm, and more — The company pursued a yearslong strategy to win teens back even after critics said it wasn't safe, records show.