‘Protecting children is right’: Starmer takes on Big Tech with social media ban for under-16s June 15, 2026 Keir Starmer has announced a ban on social media for under-16s, arguing that platforms are harming children’s wellbeing and fuelling a generation of unhealthy online habits. The Prime Minister said social media was making children “unhappy”, making it easier for bullies to harass and abuse young people and potentially damaging their mental health. Speaking at [...]
2026 World Cup: Why YouTube and TikTok could re-write Fifa’s revenue playbook June 12, 2026 The 2026 World Cup could erode the price that Fifa can command for its media rights as YouTube and TikTok compete directly with traditional broadcasters, analysts have warned. This World Cup, which kicked off last night, is the first in which YouTube and TikTok will both stream the first 10 minutes of every game and [...]
Bluesky bets on the end of X and Meta’s social media grip June 2, 2026 Social media is moving beyond platforms controlled by a “few billionaires”, according to Bluesky’s chief operating officer, as governments in the UK and Europe step up scrutiny of X, Meta, and other Big Techs. Speaking at SXSW London, Rose Wang said Bluesky was built in response to a social media market dominated by a handful [...]
Squash players turn to social media to cash in on LA Olympic Games opportunities June 1, 2026 British squash players are turning to social media to create commercial opportunities as athletes look to cash in on potential revenue streams. Following on from the success of athlete content at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics – TikTok told City AM that there were 99,900 posts tagged with the official hashtag, with tournament-related searches dominating [...]
Starmer prepares child social media curbs as pressure mounts on addictive apps May 27, 2026 The government is preparing to tighten restrictions on children’s social media use after a consultation that drew more than 81,000 responses, with ministers expected to target the design of major platforms rather than impose a blanket ban for under-16s. New measures under consideration include restrictions on autoplay videos, infinite scrolling, push notifications, overnight access and [...]
Premier League + and why owning the broadcast isn’t owning the fan May 17, 2026 The Premier League and Uefa’s moves into streaming platforms misunderstand the way fans want to consume football, says George Gilmore. In the last few months, the two leading lights in global club football, the Premier League and Uefa, have announced they will be launching direct-to-consumer broadcast offerings. In so doing, a revolutionary, if predictable, moment [...]
Is the romance boom a recession indicator? From Mills & Boon to BookTok April 23, 2026 From Mills & Boon to BookTok, romance fiction has thrived for more than a century. But what makes it so economically resilient?
Ofcom launches probe into Telegram over child safety failures April 21, 2026 The UK’s communications regulator has launched a probe into Telegram after evidence emerged that child sexual abuse material was being shared on the platform. Ofcom announced on Tuesday that it has also opened investigations into teen chat sites Teen Chat and Chat Avenue, assessing whether the platforms are meeting their legal duties to protect children [...]
Starmer targets social media giants as Kendall faces AI legal threat April 16, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has called senior executives from Snap, Tiktok, Snap and Meta into Downing Street, as ministers double crack down on Big Tech’s effects on child safety. The meeting comes as tech secretary Liz Kendall faces mounting scrutiny over the government’s use of AI in the same consultation process. Starmer will tell the firms [...]
Meta trial lawyer to advise UK as scrutiny of social media design grow April 12, 2026 A US trial lawyer who led a landmark case against Meta is set to advise the UK government, as ministers consider tougher action on the impact of social media platforms. Matthew Bergman, who represented a young claimant in a high-profile Los Angeles lawsuit, is expected to be consulted as part of ongoing discussions around online [...]