Big Tech CEO's Testify on Child Safety & T-Swift Gone from TikTok?
Feb 1, 2024
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Recap of yesterday's Congressional testimony with Big Tech CEOs on child safety. Discussion on the Fed meeting and Universal Music group's dispute with TikTok. Highlights of sports business deals. Elmo's concern about mental health.
Universal Music Group (UMG) has pulled its music from TikTok due to a lack of fair compensation, potentially impacting the platform's popularity.
The recent Congressional testimony highlighted the urgent need for Congress to enact regulations to address child safety on social media platforms.
Deep dives
TikTok Loses Music from Lady Gaga, YouTube, Bad Bunny, and Taylor Swift
TikTok will no longer feature music from artists like Lady Gaga, YouTube, Bad Bunny, and Taylor Swift, as Universal Music Group (UMG) has pulled its music from the platform due to a lack of fair compensation. UMG, the second-largest record label in the world, accounts for 1% of TikTok's ad revenue, yet its artists represented 8 out of the top 10 singers on the platform last year. This move could impact TikTok's popularity, as roughly 60% of its videos include some form of music.
Contentious Hearing between Senators and Big Tech CEOs on Child Safety
CEOs from Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord, and X testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding child safety on their platforms. The hearing, which saw bipartisan criticism of the tech leaders, was emotionally charged, with Mark Zuckerberg even directly apologizing to relatives of child abuse victims present. Despite the frustration expressed by senators, no meaningful legislation on child safety and social media has been passed in 28 years. The hearings underscore the need for Congress to enact regulations that would compel social media platforms to make significant changes regarding child safety.
Federal Reserve Indicates Unlikelihood of Interest Rate Cut in March
During the first Federal Reserve meeting of the year, Jerome Powell stated that a rate cut in March is unlikely. Powell expressed hesitancy to lower interest rates until he is confident that inflation will not resurface, despite the decrease in inflation from its peak in 2022. The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates at a 22-year high reflects the strong job market, better than expected economic growth, and the decrease in inflation. While investors initially anticipated a rate cut in March, Powell's statement dampened those expectations, leading to a decline in stock prices.
Syphilis Cases Soar in the U.S.
According to the CDC, syphilis cases in the U.S. have reached their highest level since 1950. In 2022, over 207,000 cases were diagnosed, marking an 80% increase from 2018. The rising rates of syphilis have been attributed to risky sexual behavior, limited sexual health services, and a lack of disease intervention specialists. This surge in syphilis cases underscores the urgent need for focused efforts to address the mental health crisis affecting the country.
Episode 248: Neal and Toby recap yesterday's Congressional testimony where Big Tech CEOs from companies like Snap, Meta and 'X' were asked about child safety on their platforms. Plus, the latest from the Fed meeting and why Universal Music group may be out on TikTok. Neal shares his favorite numbers and there have been some pricey moves in the world of sports the last few days, from baseball team purchases to golf mergers. And finally, Elmo wants to know are you ok?