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Sacked TikTok workers in UK launch legal action over ‘union busting’
Moderators accuse social media firm of unfair dismissal after it fired hundreds in UK just before vote to form union TikTok moderators have accused the social media company of “oppressive and intimidating” union busting after it fired hundreds of workers in the UK, beginning the process just before they were due to vote on forming…
TikTok to strengthen age-verification technology across EU
Move comes as calls for Australia-style social media ban for under-16s grow around world TikTok will begin to roll out new age-verification technology across the EU in the coming weeks, as calls grow for an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s in countries including the UK. ByteDance-owned TikTok, and other major platforms popular with young…
Wes Streeting asks US expert Jonathan Haidt to address officials on social media ban for under-16s
Exclusive: Health secretary issues invitation in push for UK to consider copying landmark restrictions in Australia Wes Streeting has asked Jonathan Haidt, a bestselling author and high-profile advocate of banning social media for under-16s, to speak to his officials in his push for the UK to consider following a landmark ban in Australia. The health…
Publishers fear AI search summaries and chatbots mean ‘end of traffic era’
Media bosses expect web referrals to plunge and want journalists to emulate content creators, report finds Media companies expect web traffic to their sites from online searches to plummet over the next three years, as AI summaries and chatbots change the way consumers use the internet. An overwhelming majority are also planning to encourage their…
Kemi Badenoch says Tories would ban under-16s from ‘addictive’ social media
Conservative leader backs Australian-inspired policy to stop platforms ‘profiting from their anxiety’ UK politics live – latest updates The Conservatives are backing a ban on social media for under-16s in an attempt to prevent addictive platforms fuelling anxiety and distraction among teenagers. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, said she did not like the word ban…
Reddit overtakes TikTok in UK thanks to search algorithms and gen Z
Platform is now Britain’s fourth most visited social media site as users seek out human-generated content Reddit, the online discussion platform, has overtaken TikTok as Britain’s fourth most visited social media service, as search algorithms and gen Z have dramatically transformed its prominence. The platform has undergone huge growth over the last two years, with…
‘A gamechanger’: 200,000 UK small businesses sign up to TikTok Shop
Big brands such as Sainsbury’s and M&S also selling directly in app through links in videos and livestreams It is better known for its viral dances and for making hits out of forgotten songs, but the social media site TikTok is becoming a force to be reckoned with as a shopping platform. Major retailers such…
TikTok signs Trump-backed deal to avoid US ban
Joint venture will take over part of app’s US operations, including data protection, algorithm security and content moderation Business live – latest updates US politics live – latest updates TikTok has reached a deal to form a joint venture that will allow it to continue operating in the US, five years after Donald Trump threatened…
Google AI summaries are ruining the livelihoods of recipe writers: ‘It’s an extinction event’
AI Mode is mangling recipes by merging instructions from multiple creators – and causing them huge dips in ad traffic This past March, when Google began rolling out its AI Mode search capability, it began offering AI-generated recipes. The recipes were not all that intelligent. The AI had taken elements of similar recipes from multiple…
‘Already had a profound effect’: parents react to Australia’s social media ban
We asked you to share your views on your children’s use of social media and how the ban is affecting your family. Here is what you told us For some parents, social media sucks up their children’s time and steals them away from family life, instilling mental health issues along the way. For others, it…