YouTube

Monitoring the world’s biggest video platform. From algorithm changes to creator trends, we track how YouTube is evolving for the future of media.

Social media executives in a courtroom setting, facing legal challenges over teen mental health claims

Technology

Social Media Giants Face Legal Reckoning: First Trials Test Their Defense Against Teen Mental Health Claims

Social media giants face their first trials over teen mental health claims, with outcomes poised to shape global settlements and redefine platform liability.

YouTube AI avatars for Shorts creators with quality control measures

Technology

YouTube’s AI Clone Wars: Shorts Creators Get Digital Doppelgängers, But the Platform Swears It’s Not a Robot Takeover

YouTube introduces AI avatars for Shorts creators, balancing innovation with quality control through advanced detection tech.

YouTube content creator discussing monetization policies for controversial topics

Artificial Intelligence

YouTube Lets Creators Monetize Controversial Topics—But Not All

YouTube updates ad policies to allow dramatized self-harm and suicide content monetization, excluding child abuse topics. Creators now earn full ads with contextual framing.

Technology

Netflix Star-Studded Podcast Push: Can It Out-Youtube YouTube?

Netflix is challenging YouTube with celebrity-hosted video podcasts, but can it overcome licensing hurdles and platform dominance?

YouTube search filters showing new 'Popularity' and 'Shorts' options

Technology

YouTube Filters Get a Makeover: Popularity, Shorts, and the End of ‘Last Hour’ Uploads

YouTube’s new filters separate Shorts from longform content but remove the ‘Last Hour’ upload filter. The ‘Popularity’ algorithm replaces view count with watch time metrics.