Influencers failing to reveal ad ties
An EU investigation of 600 TikTok influencers found while 97% of of them featured “commercial content,” only 20% “systematically disclosed this as advertising.” Credit: AFP via Getty Images / Angela Weiss
The most popular creators of viral content on social media are called “influencers” for a reason. Their videos often have great sway over what their followers buy. Many top influencers make most of their money from lucrative deals with top brands, and while TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and other social media platforms require that influencers disclose ties to brands their videos promote, it appears the vast majority don’t.
An investigation from the European Union looked at the social media posts of nearly 600 top influencers and found while 97% of them featured “commercial content,” only 20% “systematically disclosed this as advertising.”
The most common topics of influencers’ posts with undisclosed advertising ties covered fashion, lifestyle, beauty, food, travel and fitness, the EU said.
The Energy Information Administration has canceled an “emergency survey” to collect data from cryptominers on their energy use.
EIA backs off cryptominers survey
The Energy Information Administration has canceled an “emergency survey” to collect data from cryptominers on their energy use after a lawsuit from cryptomining companies. The EIA had said the data would be used to analyze “the energy implications of cryptocurrency mining activities.” The agency estimates cryptomining accounts for as much as 2.3% of U.S. electricity consumption, adding to carbon emissions, straining the energy grid and causing higher costs.
Apple Sports kicks off
Apple is continuing to make a play for sports fans. The tech giant, which already has exclusive rights to stream Major League Baseball games on Fridays, has launched Apple Sports, a free iOS app that it says “delivers incredibly fast access to scores and stats.” The app has coverage of all major U.S. sports and worldwide soccer leagues.
California granted Alphabet permission to expand its self-driving Waymo robotaxi service to several Bay Area cities and large swaths of Los Angeles. Credit: TNS / Allen J. Schaben
Robotaxis OKd for Calif. highways
California granted Alphabet permission to expand its self-driving Waymo robotaxi service to several Bay Area cities and large swaths of Los Angeles, including on highways at speeds up to 65 mph. The ruling, despite opposition from local officials, marks a massive expansion for Alphabet, Google’s parent company. Waymo already offers robotaxi service in San Francisco and Phoenix, although it does not bring passengers on highways in either city.
— The Washington Post
