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:
Awful Announcing
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 …
Discussion:
ZeroHedge News, JURISTnews, Mashable, PCMag, TechCrunch, @commonsense, @agounardes, Dexerto, Governor Kathy Hochul, Interesting Engineering, WPTZ, @ianopolous.bsky.social, New York Sun, @stephenjwild.bsky.social, @periapocalipticdad …, @charlesgaba.com, @paulbernal.bsky.social, Al Jazeera, WFAA-TV, VINnews, WNYT-TV, WRGB, @mmasnick.bsky.social and Reuters
The Guardian:
The UK has spent more than £500K since 2024, including £350K by the Department for Education, on 215 influencers to promote government campaigns — 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:
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.
Aishvarya Kavi / New York Times:
A US judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from detaining CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed, one of the Europeans the US barred on claims of promoting censorship — Imran Ahmed, who runs an organization that chronicles disinformation, was among five Europeans the State Department had barred, claiming they promote censorship.
Discussion:
MS NOW, @natematias@social.coop, @joepublic.bsky.social, Breitbart, TechCrunch, The Gateway Pundit, JURISTnews, The Guardian, @counterhate.com, PBS NewsHour, UPI, American Thinker, Sky News, Reuters, MediaPost, Washington Examiner, ZeroHedge News, @jason_kint, WinBuzzer, @donmoyn.bsky.social, The Indian Express, The Guardian, The Standard, The Independent, The Verge, Agence France-Presse, Telegraph, The Verge, The Times, Daily Mail, Reuters, Center for Countering …, @imranahmed.bsky.social and @normeisen.bsky.social
