Facebook parent Meta settles social media addiction lawsuit
Meta has agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging Facebook and Instagram contributed to social media addiction among young users. While the company denied wrongdoing, the settlement resolves one of the many legal challenges surrounding claims that its platforms were designed to maximize engagement at the expense of user well-being. Read more from The Desk.
Google’s August 2026 spam update hit rankings harder than usual
Google’s August 2026 spam update proved far more disruptive than normal search volatility, according to ranking data analyzed by Search Engine Land. The data suggests the spam update caused significantly larger ranking swings than Google’s normal day-to-day search fluctuations Read more from Search Engine Land.
Instagram launches connected TV promotion
Instagram has launched a marketing campaign promoting its connected TV app, showcasing how users can watch Reels, fitness videos, recipes, and travel content together on the biggest screen in the home. The campaign follows the app’s expansion to Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, and Samsung Smart TVs, as Instagram looks to capitalize on the growing trend of short-form video consumption on connected televisions. Read more from Social Media Today.
Streaming outlook: narrowing down pricing hikes
Ampere Analysis predicts streaming subscription price increases will moderate over the next three years as ad-supported tiers reshape the economics of the industry. Average annual price hikes have fallen, with services relying more on advertising revenue than aggressive subscription increases. Read more from MediaPost.
How Major League Soccer is riding the World Cup wave
Major League Soccer is seeing strong post-World Cup momentum, with ticket sales up 62% and viewership increasing more than 40% after the tournament. Rather than treating the World Cup as a one-time spike, MLS says its strategy is to turn that excitement into lasting fan habits through a new international-style season calendar and more. Read more from The Current.
