Social platforms are allowing users to personalize their algorithms with the help of artificial intelligence, TechCrunch reports. Apps such as Threads, Instagram, and TikTok have introduced tools that let people train their own algorithms and influence what appears in their feeds. This signals a change in how recommendation systems work.

The Trade Desk is working with travel, hospitality and commerce media partners to open up travel-related sites to a wider range of advertisers, AdExchanger reports. “Sometimes we discover that those advertisers and agencies are unaware of the value that some of these data sets bring,” said Jeff Daniel, general manager of retail data partnerships at The Trade Desk. The partners include Uber Advertising, Booking.com, United Airline’s Kinective Media and Marriott Media.

Disney Branded Television has a new name: Disney Kids & Family., Deadline reports. The rebranding is designed to more clearly signal the the kind of content offered by the division, and the audience it reaches via Disney+, Disney Jr., Disney Channel, and digital platforms. “Our new name better reflects the creativity, ambition and storytelling we’re known for, while bringing greater clarity to the creative community about who we are and what we create,” wrote Debra OConnell, chairman of Disney Entertainment Television, and Ayo Davis, leader of the renamed unit, in a letter to staff. 

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a $55.9 billion budget that includes a tax on social media companies, ABC News reports. Those firms face a progressive tax. Those with 100,000 to 499,999 users will pay 10 cents per month for each user. Companies with 1 million users or more will pay a fee of $165,000 and 50 cents per user per month. A similar tax in the city of Chicago is being challenged in court. 

Anthropic is facing a class-action suit that claims it is misleading subscribers about plan usage limits for Claude, its AI assistant, CNET reports. The suit, filed on Sunday by Karl Khan, alleges that the usage limits for subscribers to the most plans, the Max 5x and Max 20x, are far below what the company advertises. The complaint contends that "many subscribers have reported their frustration and complained that [Anthropic] has engaged in a bait and switch.”

AMC Global Media has named Hozefa Lokhandwala, formerly co-CEO of Vice Media Group, as chief financial officer, Stock Titan reports. Lokhandwala has also served in senior roles at J.P. Morgan, MSG Networks. Based in New York, he reports to CEO Kristin Dolan.

A new association has been formed called the Alliance for Responsible Innovation in the Arts & Media (ARIAM), Variety reports. Founded by Former Netflix and Warner Bros. executive Victoria Furniss, its goal is to support “responsible and sustainable AI innovation and the importance of human creativity.” The group has already attracted members like Disney, the New York Times, Adobe, Condé Nast, the Financial Times, ITV, Advance, BBC, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, U.K. publisher Reach and Wiley. “ARIAM is a first-of-its-kind cross content sector coalition seeking to ensure that AI supports human creativity, respects the rule of law, and safeguards …

Electronic Arts (EA), a US publishing firm, has announced the launch of EA Advertising, a platform that will allow brands to market directly to consumers via gameplay, Games Industry reports. The new tool offers “dynamic, real-time placements,” including stadium signage and in-game content, and it will feature custom integrations for specific games and audiences The advertisers already include Visa, Lowe's, Red Bull, Mountain Dew, Xfinity and Peacock. “Players come to EA’s games and live experiences every day to play, watch, create and connect,” David Tinson, EA's chief experiences officer, said. “That gives brands a meaningful opportunity to show up in …

News sites, like newspapers before them, are losing audience, in their case to social media and media networks, according to the 2026 Digital News Report from Oxford’s Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Nieman Lab reports. Almost all online news growth is coming from third-party sources, and people in the 18- to-34-year-old age range, are abandoning news sites more quickly than other groups. “Social media and video networks are now more popular as a source of news than owned and operated online news websites and apps in 30 of our 48 markets,” the study states.  

Visibility in artificial intelligence (AI)-generated shortlists is rapidly becoming the central investment priority in commerce media, replacing traditional impression-based advertising, according to a report from Koddi, titled, The State of Agentic Commerce (Media): How Agentic AI is Reshaping Control, Value and Monetization, PPC Land reports. Of the commerce media leaders polled, 84% of would invest in opportunities inside AI-generated answers and recommendations — a major shift in budget intent from click-based and impression-based formats to a new layer of paid influence, Kolki says.