Social Media News
Social Media and AI Converge: What xAI’s $20B and OpenAI’s $122B Mean for Your Feed
The most consequential event for the social media industry in the first quarter of 2026 was not a platform redesign, a content policy change, or a new feature launch. It was a venture capital round. xAI’s $20 billion raise in January — followed six weeks later by OpenAI’s $122 billion close — put unprecedented capital behind the AI models that are rapidly becoming the engines driving how social platforms operate, recommend content, and serve advertisers.S&P Global Market Intellig
Social Media and AI Converge: What xAI’s $20B and OpenAI’s $122B Mean for Your Feed
The most consequential event for the social media industry in the first quarter of 2026 was not a platform redesign, a content policy change, or a new feature launch. It was a venture capital round. xAI’s $20 billion raise in January — followed six weeks later by OpenAI’s $122 billion close — put unprecedented capital behind the AI models that are rapidly becoming the engines driving how social platforms operate, recommend content, and serve advertisers.S&P Global Market Intellig
TikTok adds Campus Hub feature for U.S. college students
<figure><div><img src="https://imgproxy.divecdn.com/7F8y_F-Ci7edBbHsx772LE9e1qyxIGPnzB3HorsKdY4/g:ce/rs:fill:1600:900:1/Z3M6Ly9kaXZlc2l0ZS1zdG9yYWdlL2RpdmVpbWFnZS90aWt0b2tfdW5pX2ZlZWQucG5n.webp"/></div></figure><p>The new display allows verified attendees at more than 6,000 universities to connect to dedicated group chats and content feeds.</p>
LinkedIn revenue rose 12% in the first quarter
<p>The platform’s B2B marketing and artificial intelligence-powered recruiter tools helped drive business, while paid video posts grew nearly 30% year over year</p>
Meta launches AI ad connectors that work with outside chatbots
<p>The company will allow external providers to plug data into another system, such as Claude or ChatGPT, without using API setups or developer credentials.</p>
X introduces rebuilt AI-powered ad platform
<p>The company said the update is the biggest ad system refresh in its history, adding the latest xAI models to help improve targeting and performance.</p>
YouTube tests variable display sizes for video thumbnails
<p>The platform said the experiment is designed to improve the impact of header images in order to better conform to different device configurations.</p>
5 Themes That Defined Possible 2026
From outcomes-based pricing to agent-led orchestration and the future of discoverability, these are the conversations that dominated Possible.
Chess.com Surpassed 250 Million Users And Is Launching a New Advertising Gambit
Ads make up just 10% of its revenue. The platform hopes to grow that number without alienating its paying subscribers.
Week of April 20 Cable News Ratings: Viewership After WHCD Incident
Fox News was the only network with across-the-board week-to-week gains.
Three Takeaways From Meta and Google’s Earnings Calls
Both companies are spending massively on AI infrastructure: It’s a gambit that could pay off as signals point to AI improving advertising performance.
X Revamps Its Ads Manager, Folding in New AI Performance Tools
X has revamped its advertising platform, integrating new AI capabilities designed to improve ad targeting and delivery.
Instagram updates algorithm to benefit original creators
<p>The app said it will no longer recommend photos and carousel posts from aggregator accounts and profiles that focus on re-posting.</p>
Antonio Lucio Joins PayPal as CMO Amid Massive Restructure
The company is separating into three segments organized around PayPal, Venmo, and crypto.
NBC Races Into 100th Anniversary With Kentucky Derby-Bound Promo
This is the third promo promoting NBC’s upcoming 100th anniversary.
Barry Keoghan Quit Social Media Amid Sabrina Carpenter Cheating Rumors
Barry Keoghan recently dissected his retreat from social media amidst rumors of cheating. The Saltburn star, who is soon set to star as Ringo Starr in the anticipated Beatles biopic, spoke about the time he became a target of hatred because fans believed he cheated on Sabrina Carpenter with influencer Breckie Hill. Barry Keoghan addresses […] The post Barry Keoghan Quit Social Media Amid Sabrina Carpenter Cheating Rumors appeared first on Mandatory.
Asking Eric: Husband posts unflattering photos to his large social media audience
When he takes a photograph, he never looks at it. He thinks all of the pictures he takes are perfect with the first take.
Bill to ban social media for some teens advances in NC senate
House Bill 301 has already passed the House. A Senate committee on Wednesday issued a favorable review, putting the ...
Americans lost $2.1 billion to social media scams last year, 8 times more than in 2020. Facebook alone cost users more than texts and emails combined
More than two-thirds of the total amount lost came from Meta-owned apps, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Roblox announces control measures to comply with Indonesia's social media curb
JAKARTA, April 30 (Reuters) - Videogame platform Roblox has started implementing several measures to comply with Indonesia's social media curbs for players under 16, the country's communications