Media Roundup: Under-16s social media ban passes, Wippa's '36 Months' under scrutiny, Meta stalls Australia, and CNN dragged into fight

Social Media

Under-16s social media ban now law

Yes, can you believe it? And didn't that roll around fast.

Australia's world-first initiative is making headlines around the globe:

Meanwhile, back home, The Sydney Morning Herald is running a live blog on the history-making event.

'36 Months' faces fresh questions over teen social media ban push

Crikey's Cam Wilson has done some digging and found that 36 Months, the advocacy group fronted by Nova's Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli, has some explaining to do surrounding the sponsors and commercial plans sitting behind its campaign.

While '36 Months' accused tech giants of bankrolling critics, it was quietly securing sponsors, eyeing global expansion and exploring an AI product.

Media

Meta puts Australia on hold as global media deals surge

Capital Brief's John Buckley reports that Meta is rolling out new AI partnerships with US and European heavyweights like CNN and Fox News, but Australian publishers say they cannot get the company to the table.

Local overtures have reportedly been turned down since Meta scrapped about $70 million in annual agreements.

Companies

CNN caught in political crossfire as WBD sale unfolds

According to Daniel Thomas, Anna Nicolaou and James Fontanella-Khan in The Australian Financial Review, CNN staff were relieved when Netflix beat David Ellison’s Paramount bid for Warner Bros Discovery, dodging fears the network could become a political chip after Ellison reportedly courted Donald Trump.

For many at CNN, that outcome beats joining Paramount and CBS News under Bari Weiss, whose stance on so-called woke culture had sparked fresh concern about editorial direction.

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