Discord to treat all accounts as teens by default unless verified* Verification options include AI selfie estimates and ID documents* Platform faces privacy backlash and debates over data security and safety measures Discord will treat almost every account as a teen profile from early March unless users complete age verification — the latest example of social platforms enforcing age restrictions under mounting regulatory pressure. As governments demand tougher child-safety controls, platforms are shifting from optional safeguards to default restrictions, testing how far users will accept biometric scans or ID checks in exchange for access. Under the new policy, unverified users…

The Christian Science Monitor is redesigning its print and digital platforms to revitalise its audience. It aims to balance its traditional solutions-oriented reporting with more inclusive and timely coverage. The publication remains financially supported by the Church of Christ, Scientist, as it navigates the challenges of modern journalism. The Christian Science Monitor is attempting a careful revival of a reputation built over more than a century, even as it confronts steep declines in audience and staff that mirror the wider contraction of legacy news organisations. The Monitor represents one of the longest-running experiments in values-driven journalism in the US, and…

Swedish editor brings decades of media executive experience to WAN-IFRA role Organisation aims to strengthen support for independent journalism in a changing landscape Appointment signals focus on leadership development and defending democracy WAN-IFRA has named Lena K Samuelsson as Executive Strategic Advisor as the global press body sharpens its focus on media leadership amid rapid technological change, shifting platform power, and rising political pressure on newsrooms. According to WAN-IFRA, Samuelsson will provide strategic insight and serve as a WAN-IFRA expert on media leadership, offering guidance across the organisation’s programmes and initiatives as it seeks to help publishers “collaborate, innovate and…

ByteDance agrees to transfer control of TikTok’s US operations to a new majority-American joint venture Deal aims to address US national security concerns through data storage and governance measures Final approval will depend on regulatory scrutiny and implementation of operational safeguards A deal to restructure TikTok’s US business looks likely to head off a long-threatened ban by shifting operational control to American investors while leaving parent company ByteDance with a minority stake. The agreement was first reported by Axios. ByteDance has signed binding agreements to place TikTok’s US operations into a newly formed, majority-American joint venture, with a target closing…

Meta tests a dedicated Instagram Reels app on Amazon Fire TV devices Focused on shared, large-screen viewing of short-form videos Expansion and feature refinement planned before wider rollout Meta has begun piloting an Instagram app designed for television, bringing Reels to Amazon Fire TV devices in the United States and marking a further push to expand short-form video beyond smartphones. This positions Instagram more directly in the living-room viewing battle, where YouTube has already established a strong presence and where attention, advertising and viewing habits increasingly overlap with traditional TV. It is also yet another challenge, in terms both of…

Google experiments with users shaping their Discover feed using natural language prompts The feature aims to improve relevance and control while streamlining content curation Concerns grow over potential impacts on publishers, content diversity and ecosystem health Google is testing a more granular form of personalisation for its Discover feed that allows signed-in users to tell the service, in plain language, what they want to see and what they do not. The test signals a shift toward explicit, AI-driven control of recommendation systems, a change that could alter how audiences encounter news and how publishers compete for attention on one of…

McGrory to rejoin the Boston Globe as editor in January 2026 His return aims to strengthen digital subscription growth and local investigative reporting The newsroom’s structure and digital focus set to evolve amid industry challenges Brian McGrory will return as editor of the Boston Globe in January, the company said on Monday, marking a comeback to the newspaper where he spent more than three decades and previously led the newsroom from 2012 until early 2023. His reappointment offers clues about how this leading metro paper intends to navigate the next phase of digital transformation and local journalism sustainability. Boston Globe…

Young users swiftly evade age checks using fake IDs, faces and third-party accounts Experts warn that verification flaws may lead to misuse and privacy risks The law’s success depends on overcoming technical limitations and ensuring safe alternatives Australia’s world-first ban on social media accounts for under-16s came into force on 10 December 2025, requiring major platforms to remove existing accounts held by younger users and block new registrations. But early signs show how quickly the policy is running into technical and human obstacles. Children have been able to evade checks within minutes by using parents’ accounts, older siblings, VPNs, fake…

Adults in the UK now spend over four and a half hours online daily, a record turn driven by AI and mobile usage Generative AI like ChatGPT dramatically changing search and information consumption Concerns rise over online safety, with increased social media use among young children and new online safety measures impacting traffic UK adults are now spending more than four and a half hours online each day, a record driven by rising use of artificial intelligence and an ever more mobile-first way of living. The finding, from Ofcom’s Online Nation 2025 report, shows how quickly generative AI has shifted…

Julia Beizer departs Bloomberg after eight years to spearhead Microsoft’s AI news products Her move signals a broader trend of media leaders moving into big tech for AI-driven innovation Industry eyes her expertise as platforms race to redefine journalism distribution and monetisation Julia Beizer, chief operating officer of Bloomberg Media, is leaving the company to join Microsoft in a senior role leading its AI news product. Her appointment, reporting directly to Microsoft AI chief executive Mustafa Suleyman, marks another high-profile shift of media leadership into big tech as generative tools become central to how audiences find and use information. Microsoft…