social media companies

A jury has found Facebook liable for deceiving its users in the long-running Cambridge Analytica case. The verdict stems from the scandal in which data from millions of Facebook users was harvested without proper consent and used for political profiling. Commenters are debating the significance of the ruling and what penalties or changes it may bring for the social media company and user privacy protections.

Lawsuits are being brought against social media companies in the European Union over allegations that their platforms cause mental health and safety harms to children and teenagers. The cases form part of a growing legal push to hold tech firms accountable for the impact of their products on young users, and follow mounting regulatory scrutiny of child safety online in Europe and beyond.

The first US trial against TikTok is set to test claims that the platform fueled a teen mental health crisis. The case will examine whether the app's design and algorithms contributed to harm among young users, and its outcome could shape the wave of similar lawsuits and regulatory pressure facing social media companies in the United States.

MicroStrategy co-founder Michael Saylor has again signalled that the company may have added to its bitcoin holdings, reviving speculation among investors about another large purchase. The software firm, the biggest corporate holder of bitcoin, typically teases its weekly acquisitions through Saylor's cryptic social media updates before formal filings confirm the amounts.

Australia is moving to restrict social media use, particularly among young people, as part of a broader regulatory crackdown on major platforms. Analysts are now asking whether Apple stands to gain from the shift, as users spend more time on devices and services rather than social networks. The discussion highlights how tighter platform regulation could reshape where attention and advertising money flow.

The Saudi Central Bank has increased its holdings of Meta Platforms stock, according to a regulatory filing reported by MarketBeat. The disclosure signals continued institutional interest in the social media company among sovereign wealth managers in the Gulf region. Investors watch such moves closely as an indicator of confidence in Meta's advertising business and its push into artificial intelligence.

Social media platforms have refused to run paid advertising for a documentary about Elon Musk titled 'Musk'. The rejection means the film's promoters cannot buy promoted placements to reach audiences on the major platforms. The documentary examines Musk's life and influence, and the ad refusals have raised questions about whether platforms are uncomfortable promoting content centred on one of their most prominent figures.

A viral cookie chain has exited a key market and closed all of its stores there. The move signals a pullback for a brand that saw rapid, social-media-driven growth, though the company's stated reasons and which locations are affected remain unspecified in initial reports.