TikTok Highlights Its Impact on the Music Industry in New Report
TikTok is striving to emphasise its importance to the modern music industry following publication of its second annual music industry report.
The report highlights the benefits of the platform for artists and performers who are striving for exposure.
Standout statistics that highlight the direct impact on the industry, include the fact that 84% of songs that entered the US charts (the Billboard Global 200) in 2024 went viral on TikTok first.
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What is fact and what is fiction in Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple Cider Vinegar, a new six-part Netflix series, unravels the true story of a young influencer in Australia who convinced the world she had cured her terminal brain cancer via diet and alternative therapies, only for it all to be exposed as a lie.
Belle Gibson rose to prominence in Instagram’s early days, using her platform to promote holistic treatments as a supposed cure for her illness. Her growing influence led to a book deal with Penguin and a thriving social media empire, all built on deception.
In 2017, the Federal Court of Australia found Gibson guilty of misleading and deceptive conduct in civil court proceedings, fining her £205,000. Although the new Netflix show is based on facts, there is debate as to what has been exaggerated or fictionalised to produce a drama series.
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Meta Initiates Layoffs To Realign Its Focus Around AI Development
As AI competition intensifies, Meta has decided to reshape its workforce to strengthen AI initiatives, cutting around 4,000 jobs while expanding its AI engineering team.
According to Business Insider, the social media giant plans to downsize approximately 5% of its global workforce as it pivots toward AI-focused growth.
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BuzzFeed Looks to Launch Its Own, More Positive Social Media Platform
BuzzFeed is taking an unconventional approach as the first internet born company to take the reins and develop its own social app.
This app is designed to create a healthier digital space by tackling the negative impacts of mainstream social platforms, where AI driven algorithms prioritise engagement over everything else.
The app is rumoured to be called ‘Island’ from the images on the sign-up page and the URL, although all is yet to be confirmed.
Read more here
Meta Warns Users Its AI Systems Will Scan DMs When Prompted
Meta has begun to process the private DMs of users through its latest AI tool. However, this also means that Meta AI will have access to all private messages for potential AI training.
The tool can now summarise unread chats, edit photos, and more. Meta AI can answer your questions across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. As a result, it must now warn you that anything in your DMs could be processed by its AI system and potentially surface in response to other users’ queries. If there’s anything you wouldn’t want to risk being shared, it’s best to keep it out of your chats.