Funding

• Super Cooper: Unwell’s podcast empire soars to $500 million valuation after strategic investment
• With “the largest raise in live shopping,” Whatnot achieves $20 billion valuation

  Whatnot has raised what it calls "the largest raise in live shopping": A $545 million Series G funding round.

  
• Ecommerce boom pushes ShopMy to $1.5 billion valuation as firm lands fresh funding

  ShopMy has announced a $70 million funding round that values the ecommerce firm and its billions of sales dollars at $1.5 billion.

  
• Australia’s attempt to protect teens blurs the line between social media and entertainment

  An Australian law is looking to prevent teenagers under 16 from accessing certain social media platforms. Should YouTube count?

  
• Snapchat’s growing creator community was one of its biggest assets during Q4 2024
• Meta continues pushing Instagram Reels as Q4 2024 results beat expectations
• ShopMy cashes in on influencer campaigns, affiliate marketing with $77.5 million funding round
• Rival apps X, Bluesky are both launching their own takes on TikTok
• Trump thinks he can broker a deal to keep TikTok running
• Netflix wants to keep pace with YouTube among toddlers, so it struck a deal with Ms. Rachel
• As wildfires strike Los Angeles, YouTube vlogs offer personal perspectives
• Ruby Franke’s oldest daughter has authored a telling memoir — and a cautionary tale for family vloggers