WEATHER ALERT
MrBeast probe ends with some employees fired but finds no proof of sexual misconduct allegations
Read full article: MrBeast probe ends with some employees fired but finds no proof of sexual misconduct allegationsOnline video production company MrBeast says it has fired somewhere between 5 to 10 employees following an investigation into the YouTube empire’s workplace culture.
Tech firms remove social media accounts of a Russian drone factory after an AP investigation
Read full article: Tech firms remove social media accounts of a Russian drone factory after an AP investigationGoogle, Meta and TikTok have removed social media accounts belonging to an industrial plant in Russia’s Tatarstan region aimed at recruiting young foreign women to make drones for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Arkansas sues YouTube over claims that the site is fueling a mental health crisis
Read full article: Arkansas sues YouTube over claims that the site is fueling a mental health crisisArkansas has sued YouTube and its parent company Alphabet, saying the video-sharing platform is deliberately addictive and fueling a mental health crisis among youth.
MrBeast and Amazon sued by competitors from his $5M reality show over alleged 'unsafe' conditions
Read full article: MrBeast and Amazon sued by competitors from his $5M reality show over alleged 'unsafe' conditionsMrBeast is accused of creating “unsafe” employment conditions and misrepresenting contestants’ odds at winning his new Amazon reality show’s $5 million grand prize.
Trump courts conservative male influencers to try to reach younger men
Read full article: Trump courts conservative male influencers to try to reach younger menDonald Trump’s campaign has fully embraced the bravado-filled, macho, often contrarian online spaces of younger men on livestreaming platforms.
MrBeast wants 'full assessment' of internal culture amid allegations of impropriety and unsafe sets
Read full article: MrBeast wants 'full assessment' of internal culture amid allegations of impropriety and unsafe setsA confidential memo shows that MrBeast has ordered a full assessment of the internal culture in his YouTube empire and an investigation into “allegations of inappropriate behavior by people in the company."
MrBeast's giant reality competition faces safety complaints from initial contestants
Read full article: MrBeast's giant reality competition faces safety complaints from initial contestantsYouTube’s biggest star MrBeast is facing complaints about the safety of contestants from the preliminary round of his ambitious “Beast Games” game show, which boasts 1,000 competitors hoping for a $5 million grand prize.
MrBeast, YouTube's biggest star, acknowledges past 'inappropriate language' as controversies swirl
Read full article: MrBeast, YouTube's biggest star, acknowledges past 'inappropriate language' as controversies swirlMrBeast, YouTube’s biggest star and a philanthropic force with nearly unrivaled influence among young audiences, acknowledged Wednesday that he used inappropriate language in his early online days, as numerous controversies bubbled up around him and a former collaborator.
The distributor of a popular Hong Kong protest song will remove it from all platforms, creator says
Read full article: The distributor of a popular Hong Kong protest song will remove it from all platforms, creator saysThe distributor of a popular protest song in Hong Kong has decided to remove the music from all platforms because of a court ban in the city, the group that created the song says.
Hong Kong will keep watching internet platforms for non-compliance with ban on protest song
Read full article: Hong Kong will keep watching internet platforms for non-compliance with ban on protest songHong Kong’s leader says his government will keep monitoring for any non-compliance with a court order that bans a popular protest song.
YouTube blocks Hong Kong protest anthem after court injunction bans song in the city
Read full article: YouTube blocks Hong Kong protest anthem after court injunction bans song in the cityYouTube has blocked access to videos of a protest song in Hong Kong to comply with a removal order, days after a court approved an injunction to ban the song in the city.
As India votes, misinformation surges on social media: 'The whole country is paying the price'
Read full article: As India votes, misinformation surges on social media: 'The whole country is paying the price'Misinformation about India's election is surging online as the world's most populous country votes.
Instagram, YouTube the biggest likely winners of TikTok ban but smaller rivals could rise too
Read full article: Instagram, YouTube the biggest likely winners of TikTok ban but smaller rivals could rise tooWhile a bill to ban TikTok if it doesn't change owners has received President Joe Biden's signature, it could still be years before the popular video-sharing app is actually blocked from U.S. app stores — if it is blocked at all.
Cruelty for clicks: Cambodia is investigating YouTubers' abuse of monkeys at the Angkor UNESCO site
Read full article: Cruelty for clicks: Cambodia is investigating YouTubers' abuse of monkeys at the Angkor UNESCO siteCambodian authorities are investigating the abuse of monkeys at the famous Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site.
WWE kicks, punches, slams marketing efforts into high gear ahead of WrestleMania, its big event
Read full article: WWE kicks, punches, slams marketing efforts into high gear ahead of WrestleMania, its big eventThis year’s WrestleMania is just days away, but WWE’s marketing campaign for its biggest premium live event of the year was kicked into overdrive months ago.
Deepfake AI brings ‘new wave’ of cyber attacks. This new tool is fighting back
Read full article: Deepfake AI brings ‘new wave’ of cyber attacks. This new tool is fighting backTwo graduates have teamed up to develop a system to flag deepfake technology appearing on social media platforms from Facebook to YouTube.
WWE, a social media powerhouse, tops 100 million subscribers on YouTube
Read full article: WWE, a social media powerhouse, tops 100 million subscribers on YouTubeAs WWE gears up for its biggest annual premium live event next month, the company continues to harness the power of its social media presence to reach its fans.
Mexican president slams YouTube for taking down his video that shared a journalist's phone number
Read full article: Mexican president slams YouTube for taking down his video that shared a journalist's phone numberMexico’s president has again lashed out at social media platform YouTube for taking down part of his daily news briefing where he revealed a reporter’s phone number.
Florida school district sue social media platforms, say they ‘put profits over children’s mental health’
Read full article: Florida school district sue social media platforms, say they ‘put profits over children’s mental health’A Central Florida school district is suing several social media companies, accusing them of creating a mental health crisis in children that the district now has to spend money to handle.
A beheading video was on YouTube for hours, raising questions about why it wasn't taken down sooner
Read full article: A beheading video was on YouTube for hours, raising questions about why it wasn't taken down soonerA graphic video from a Pennsylvania man accused of beheading his father that circulated for hours on YouTube has put a spotlight yet again on gaps in social media companies’ ability to prevent horrific postings from spreading across the web.
A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media
Read full article: A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social mediaA federal judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law that would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps.
A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Ohio over new law limiting kids' use of social media
Read full article: A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Ohio over new law limiting kids' use of social mediaA trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies has sued Ohio over a pending law that requires children to get parental consent to use social media apps.
YouTube mom who gave parenting advice, Ruby Franke, pleads guilty in child abuse case
Read full article: YouTube mom who gave parenting advice, Ruby Franke, pleads guilty in child abuse caseA Utah mother of six who gave parenting advice via a once-popular YouTube channel called “8 Passengers” has pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse for physically and emotionally abusing two of her children.
YouTuber MrBeast can’t use ‘Deez Nutz’ name to sell candy bars after Florida company sues
Read full article: YouTuber MrBeast can’t use ‘Deez Nutz’ name to sell candy bars after Florida company suesThe legal battle between a Jacksonville-based peanut company, Dee’s Nuts, and YouTube superstar Jimmy Donaldson has come to an end — and Dee’s Nuts got what it wanted.
Pew survey: YouTube tops teens' social-media diet, with roughly a sixth using it almost constantly
Read full article: Pew survey: YouTube tops teens' social-media diet, with roughly a sixth using it almost constantlyTeen usage of social media hasn’t dropped much, despite rising concerns about its effects on the mental health of adolescents.
'Past Lives,' 'May December' and 'American Fiction' lead Spirit Award nominations
Read full article: 'Past Lives,' 'May December' and 'American Fiction' lead Spirit Award nominationsCeline Song’s “Past Lives,” Todd Haynes’ “May December” and Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction” got a leading five nominations, including best feature, from the Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Your Florida Daily: Video shows wanted felon ‘intentionally’ slamming into deputy vehicle, hurricane season ends today
Read full article: Your Florida Daily: Video shows wanted felon ‘intentionally’ slamming into deputy vehicle, hurricane season ends todayDeputies say he accelerated into a parked car and a sheriff's office truck.
YouTube creators will soon have to disclose use of gen AI in videos or risk suspension
Read full article: YouTube creators will soon have to disclose use of gen AI in videos or risk suspensionYouTube is rolling out new rules for AI content, including requiring creators to reveal whether they’ve used generative artificial intelligence to make realistic looking videos.
‘Is this real life?!:’ Nearly 15 years after viral video, ‘David After Dentist’ reflects on internet fame
Read full article: ‘Is this real life?!:’ Nearly 15 years after viral video, ‘David After Dentist’ reflects on internet fameThe year was 2009 and David DeVore’s dad just posted a video of him to YouTube after leaving the dentist. That moment would go mega-viral.
News 6 photographer, ‘Black Men Sundays’ host holds Thanksgiving turkey drive
Read full article: News 6 photographer, ‘Black Men Sundays’ host holds Thanksgiving turkey driveNews 6 investigative photographer and host of the "Black Men Sundays" podcast Corie Murray is partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida to help families in need ahead of the holidays.
Your Florida Daily: Chitwood threatened, sports betting heads to state supreme court
Read full article: Your Florida Daily: Chitwood threatened, sports betting heads to state supreme courtA man already facing charges in a double murder in Alaska is now federally indicted on charges of threatening to kill Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.
Tech companies try to take AI image generators mainstream with better protections against misuse
Read full article: Tech companies try to take AI image generators mainstream with better protections against misuseArtificial intelligence tools that can conjure whimsical artwork or realistic-looking images from written commands started wowing crowds last year.
YouTube suspends Russell Brand from making money off the streaming site after sex assault claims
Read full article: YouTube suspends Russell Brand from making money off the streaming site after sex assault claimsYouTube says Russell Brand will no longer make money from the video streaming site after several women made allegations of sexual assault against the comedian-turned influencer.
Google brings its AI chatbot Bard into its inner circle, opening door to Gmail, Maps, YouTube
Read full article: Google brings its AI chatbot Bard into its inner circle, opening door to Gmail, Maps, YouTubeGoogle is introducing its artificially intelligent chatbot named Bard to other members of its digital family — including Gmail, Maps and YouTube — as it seeks to ward off competitive threats posed by similar technology run by Open AI and Microsoft.
India launches a spacecraft to study the sun after successful landing near the moon's south pole
Read full article: India launches a spacecraft to study the sun after successful landing near the moon's south poleIndia has launched its first space mission to study the sun, less than two weeks after a successful uncrewed landing near the south pole region of the moon.
Children's advocates ask FTC to investigate Google for targeting ads to kids
Read full article: Children's advocates ask FTC to investigate Google for targeting ads to kidsChildren's advocacy groups including Fairplay and Common Sense Media are asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google, saying the tech giant serves personalized ads to kids on YouTube despite federal law prohibiting the practice.
Georgia kids would need parental permission to join social media if Senate Republicans get their way
Read full article: Georgia kids would need parental permission to join social media if Senate Republicans get their wayChildren in Georgia would need their parents' permission to create social media accounts if some top Republicans in the state get their way next year.
YouTuber Kai Cenat hosts video game console giveaway in NYC, drawing chaotic crowds
Read full article: YouTuber Kai Cenat hosts video game console giveaway in NYC, drawing chaotic crowdsThe crowd was apparently gathered for Cenat’s giveaway. The crowds caused a response from police, who worked to secure the area and make arrests.
Capitol riot suspect arrested near Obama's home will remain jailed until trial, judge rules
Read full article: Capitol riot suspect arrested near Obama's home will remain jailed until trial, judge rulesA man charged in the Capitol riot who had guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his van when he was arrested near former President Barack Obama’s Washington home will remain in jail while he awaits trial.
YouTube changes policy to allow false claims about past US presidential elections
Read full article: YouTube changes policy to allow false claims about past US presidential electionsYouTube says it will stop removing content that falsely claims the 2020 election and other past U.S. presidential elections were marred by widespread fraud, errors or glitches.
Using 'he/him,' 'she/her' in emails got 2 dorm directors fired at small New York Christian college
Read full article: Using 'he/him,' 'she/her' in emails got 2 dorm directors fired at small New York Christian collegeThe firing of two employees at a religious school in western New York is fanning the culture wars roiling parts of the United States.
YouTube sends gun videos to 9-year-olds: ‘It’s not the kids. It’s the algorithms,’ study finds
Read full article: YouTube sends gun videos to 9-year-olds: ‘It’s not the kids. It’s the algorithms,’ study findsYouTube is great at sending users videos that it thinks they'll like based on their interests.
Webby Award nominations for Harry Styles, Lizzo, Post Malone
Read full article: Webby Award nominations for Harry Styles, Lizzo, Post MaloneHarry Styles, Post Malone, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, the cast of “Ted Lasso” and the web series that gave us a kid loving corn are among the nominees for this year’s Webby Awards.
Supreme Court wrestles with lawsuit shield for social media
Read full article: Supreme Court wrestles with lawsuit shield for social mediaIn its first case about the federal law that is credited with helping create the modern internet, the Supreme Court seems unlikely to side with a family wanting to hold Google liable for the death of their daughter who was killed in a terrorist attack.
Supreme Court weighs liability shield for internet giants
Read full article: Supreme Court weighs liability shield for internet giantsA lawsuit against YouTube from the family of an American college student who was killed by Islamic State gunmen in Paris in 2015 is at the center of a closely watched Supreme Court case being argued Tuesday.
School lawsuits over social media harm face tough legal road
Read full article: School lawsuits over social media harm face tough legal roadLike the tobacco, oil, gun, opioid and vaping industries before them, the big U.S. social media companies are now facing lawsuits brought by public entities that seek to hold them accountable for a huge societal problem in the mental health crisis among youth.
Seattle schools sue tech giants over social media harm
Read full article: Seattle schools sue tech giants over social media harmThe public school district in Seattle is suing the tech giants behind TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat, seeking to hold them accountable for the mental health crisis among youth.
Social media platforms brace for midterm elections mayhem
Read full article: Social media platforms brace for midterm elections mayhemSocial media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Twitter say they're taking steps to prevent the spread of misinformation about voting and elections ahead of next month's midterms.
Armenia, Azerbaijan report 99 troops killed in border clash
Read full article: Armenia, Azerbaijan report 99 troops killed in border clashFighting on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan has killed about 100 troops and fed fears of broader hostilities breaking out between the longtime adversaries.
'Pre-bunking' shows promise in fight against misinformation
Read full article: 'Pre-bunking' shows promise in fight against misinformationGoogle and a team of university researchers have hit on what they say could be an effective way to make people more impervious to the harmful impact of online misinformation.
WATCH: ‘Solutionaries: Safer Streets’ | Find out how experts plan to make roads safer
Read full article: WATCH: ‘Solutionaries: Safer Streets’ | Find out how experts plan to make roads saferThere were more than 41,000 traffic deaths in 2021 alone, but experts are creating solutions. Don’t miss the innovations keeping drivers and pedestrians safe.
YouTube to remove videos spreading abortion falsehoods
Read full article: YouTube to remove videos spreading abortion falsehoodsYouTube will begin removing misleading videos about abortion in response to falsehoods being spread about the procedure that is being banned or restricted across a broad swath of the U.S. The move announced Thursday by the Google-owned video site comes about a month after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the case that had protected the legality of abortion in the country for nearly 50 years.
Orlando officials to host community seminar for meningococcal, monkeypox outbreaks
Read full article: Orlando officials to host community seminar for meningococcal, monkeypox outbreaksRep. Carlos Smith, D-Orlando, is set to host an online “community health update” on meningococcal disease and monkeypox outbreaks in Florida.
Ludacris' manager and 2 others shot, 1 fatally, in Georgia
Read full article: Ludacris' manager and 2 others shot, 1 fatally, in GeorgiaA man was killed and two others were injured, including rap star Ludacris’ manager, in a parking lot shooting in an upscale neighborhood north of downtown Atlanta on Sunday night.
EXPLAINER: How platforms dealt with 'RINO hunting' video
Read full article: EXPLAINER: How platforms dealt with 'RINO hunting' videoWhen a GOP Missouri U.S. Senate candidate released a video Monday in which he cocked a gun after calling for a hunt of fellow Republicans who he believes are “RINOs,” or Republicans in Name Only, Facebook scraped it off its platform within a few hours.
Hey, brother! How these siblings from Roanoke, Virginia became the oh-so popular ‘Super Carlin Brothers’
Read full article: Hey, brother! How these siblings from Roanoke, Virginia became the oh-so popular ‘Super Carlin Brothers’You have to meet Jonathan and Ben Carlin, if you’re not familiar with them already.
YouTube takes down Hong Kong leader candidate's channel
Read full article: YouTube takes down Hong Kong leader candidate's channelYouTube has taken down the campaign channel of Hong Kong’s sole candidate to become its next leader, John Lee, citing compliance with U.S. sanctions imposed against the former No. 2 official.
How China's TikTok, Facebook influencers push propaganda
Read full article: How China's TikTok, Facebook influencers push propagandaSome of China's state media reporters are identifying as travel bloggers and lifestyle influencers on U.S.-owned social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Brevard teacher sent nude photos to undercover detective, Indian River sheriff says
Read full article: Brevard teacher sent nude photos to undercover detective, Indian River sheriff saysThe Indian River County Sheriff's Office revealed new details on what led up to the arrest of a Brevard County science teacher, who has since been fired from the school district.
Have a ‘Solutionaries’ idea? Please share! Plus, help us report on the mental strain of climate change
Read full article: Have a ‘Solutionaries’ idea? Please share! Plus, help us report on the mental strain of climate changeNow that we’ve launched our new “Solutionaries” digital newscast, we want to know: Have you seen an episode? How about the latest one? Do you have any ideas for the future?
A year after Trump purge, 'alt-tech' offers far-right refuge
Read full article: A year after Trump purge, 'alt-tech' offers far-right refugeA decision by Twitter and Facebook to ban former President Donald Trump a year ago has prompted many conservative social media users to join new platforms that claim to offer a refuge from overzealous content moderation.
Google's Q4 ad sales soar again, parent plans to split stock
Read full article: Google's Q4 ad sales soar again, parent plans to split stockGoogle’s digital advertising empire turned in another strong performance during the holiday shopping season, propelling a 36% increase in its corporate parent’s profit during the final three months of 2021.
Twitter, Meta among tech giants subpoenaed by Jan. 6 panel
Read full article: Twitter, Meta among tech giants subpoenaed by Jan. 6 panelThe House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection has issued subpoenas to Twitter, Meta, Reddit and YouTube, demanding documents after lawmakers said the companies’ initial responses were inadequate.
Man charged with storming Capitol made rap videos about riot
Read full article: Man charged with storming Capitol made rap videos about riotFederal authorities say a man charged this week with storming the U.S. Capitol last year performed rap songs about the riot in videos posted on his YouTube channel.