News
YouTube rolls out direct messaging feature to more than 30 countries
3+ hour, 8+ min ago (366+ words) YouTube has expanded access to its recently revived direct messaging feature to more than two dozen additional countries, allowing users to communicate and share videos directly within the platform. The video platform had previously removed its built-in messaging system years…...
WhatsApp Plus plan may offer customization and chat management
3+ hour, 46+ min ago (413+ words) WhatsApp may soon introduce a new optional subscription plan called WhatsApp Plus that could offer additional features such as app customisation and expanded chat management tools. According to a report by WABetaInfo, the feature is currently under development for both…...
Third-party app stores, reduced commissions, alternative billing: Google Play revamps Play Store policies
1+ day, 5+ hour ago (848+ words) Google has announced major changes to the business model of its Play Store, allowing developers to use their own billing systems alongside Google Play and enabling them to direct users to their own websites for purchases. The move is aimed…...
X spins off messaging into separate X Chat app amid strategic pivot
1+ day, 22+ hour ago (213+ words) X has launched a standalone beta version of X Chat for iOS, carving out its messaging function into a separate product as part of a broader shift in strategy under owner Elon Musk. Screenshots shared by testers show a minimal…...
Google Play, iOS purge: 36 IPTV apps with 26 million+ downloads taken down amid T20 World Cup
2+ day, 3+ hour ago (560+ words) App stores have emerged as the latest battleground in the fight against live sports piracy, as JioStar secured the removal of 36 widely used IPTV applications from Google Play and iOS platforms during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, disrupting an ecosystem…...
Pay DTH subscriber base shrinks to 50.99 mn as OTT pressure mounts; private FM revenue rises
2+ day, 5+ hour ago (337+ words) The data, compiled primarily on the basis of information furnished by service providers, covers the period from October 1 to December 31, 2025, and spans wireless telephony, wireline, broadband, as well as cable TV, DTH and FM radio broadcasting services. Pay DTH: A…...
X introduces built-In ‘paid partnership’ label to replace #ad hashtags
3+ day, 3+ hour ago (444+ words) X has rolled out a native "Paid Partnership" label for sponsored posts, giving creators a built-in disclosure tool to comply with Federal Trade Commission guidelines instead of relying on hashtags such as #ad. The feature, announced by X's head of…...
Algorithm of fear: Rise of horror and black magic misinformation on social media triggers brand safety concerns
3+ day, 6+ hour ago (443+ words) On India's hyperactive social media feeds, horror is having a moment. From "real ghost caught on CCTV" clips on YouTube to black magic "exposure" reels on Instagram and occult themed live sessions on Facebook and X, fear driven content is…...
SIM binding now mandatory for WhatsApp, Telegram: All you need to know
4+ day, 4+ hour ago (396+ words) The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) enforced compulsory SIM binding for messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, starting March 1, 2026, under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024." The Union ministry said there would be no extension beyond the February 28 deadline and linked…...
WhatsApp introduces global status ads, promoted channels and new controls for users in Updates tab
6+ day, 21+ hour ago (368+ words) WhatsApp rolled out status ads and promoted channels globally, expanding sponsored content across its platform's Updates tab. The Meta-owned messaging service said the move is intended to help users discover new businesses and channels more easily, while giving organisations additional…...