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Android Auto YouTube Limitations: Is It Worth Using In The Car?
Google plans to expand YouTube support in Android Auto later this year, allowing HD video playback at up to 60 frames per second while a vehicle is parked and switching automatically to audio when driving begins. The change matters because Android Auto currently offers only a limited audio-based YouTube experience, leaving users unable to watch…
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“They don’t make ’em like they used to”: How flash player games defined an era of indie horror
GamesRadar+ reflects on the influence of Flash player games on the development of indie horror, arguing that their rough, experimental nature helped establish styles and ideas that later became widespread. The article suggests these browser games mattered because they gave small creators an accessible way to make unsettling, unconventional experiences outside mainstream publishing. It places…
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‘Reagan’ film set to release director’s cut amid alleged online censorship
The team behind the 2024 Ronald Reagan biopic “Reagan” is preparing a director’s cut for release next month while alleging that online platforms have restricted related content. The dispute matters because it raises questions about how political or historical films are moderated and promoted online. Producer Mark Joseph has also been promoting a behind-the-scenes documentary,…
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Auntie v influencers: why YouTubers are ready for battle with the BBC
UK content creators are opposing a government proposal to give BBC, ITV and Channel 4 material greater prominence in YouTube and TikTok recommendation systems. Broadcasters argue it could protect trusted, distinctly British public-service content as viewing shifts online, while creators say it would unfairly reduce the visibility of independent channels and alter a competitive system…
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Diamonds for sale: lab-grown gem auctions are all over TikTok right now, but some aren’t happy about it
TikTok livestream auctions for lab-grown diamonds have surged in popularity, offering buyers the chance to purchase loose stones within seconds for far less than traditional diamond jewellery. The trend is making diamonds feel more accessible to people who could not previously afford them, while also turning shopping into an entertaining, high-pressure spectacle; however, experts warn…
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TikTok to pay $400m in US to end children’s online privacy case in one of largest settlements agreed by Big Tech
TikTok has agreed to pay $400 million to settle a US legal case concerning children’s online privacy, marking one of the largest such settlements reached with a major technology company. The deal underscores continuing regulatory pressure on TikTok and other Big Tech firms over how they handle the data and safety of young users. The…
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Careful what you say! Disgruntled homeowner forced to pay builder a whopping $673,000 after accusing him of shoddy work in viral social media posts
A homeowner in Truganina, Melbourne, has been ordered to pay builder Singh Homes a substantial $673,000 after a court found in the company’s favour over claims the homeowner made online. The dispute arose after the homeowner accused the builder of shoddy workmanship in social media posts that went viral, prompting Singh Homes to take legal…
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Serrano draws 3.4m views on TikTok for 50th win
Amanda Serrano retained her unified WBA and WBO featherweight titles with a majority decision win over Argentina’s Lucrecia Manzur, in what was the first world title boxing match to be streamed live on TikTok. The bout, which drew 3.4 million total views on the platform, marks Serrano’s 50th career win and underlines her status as…
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‘They’re thinking about the likes’: deadly TikTok motorway trend horrifies Ireland
A collision on the M9 motorway in County Kildare, Ireland, has killed five teenage boys and left a mother, her young son and two aunts seriously injured, sparking outrage over a TikTok trend in which young men film themselves driving recklessly, including going the wrong way down motorways, in pursuit of online attention. The case…
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Teen drops high-profile social media addiction lawsuit
A teenager has dropped her lawsuit against Meta, YouTube and Snapchat, which was set to go to trial later this year as part of a broader series of cases accusing social media giants of designing addictive platforms. The teen, referred to as P.M.Y., previously settled with TikTok and “chose to dismiss the remainder so she…