Digest: Minute Media Buys VideoVerse; Europe Mulls Under-16 Social Media Ban as Meta Faces Claims of Burying Child Safety Research; Meta & TikTok Win Challenge to EU Tech Fees

"Minute Media has acquired VideoVerse, a software platform powering real-time sports highlights, Minute Media's CEO and founder Asaf Peled told Axios. The deal is Minute Media's largest acquisition to date, marking its seventh in 14 years and underscoring its pivot toward sports tech and video as core growth areas. While financial terms for the VideoVerse acquisition were not disclosed, Peled confirmed it surpasses all previous transactions."

"Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during her annual State of the Union speech that she will convene a panel by year-end to advise on how to make platforms safer for children, while monitoring Australia's approach. Von der Leyen said in her annual State of the Union speech: "In my days, we as a society taught our children that they could not smoke, drink and watch adult content until a certain age. I believe it's time we consider doing the same for social media.""

"Meanwhile, a group of whistleblowers, made up of current and former Meta employees, have accused Meta of suppressing allegations of how its virtual reality (VR) devices and apps are endangering children's safety, according to documents disclosed to Congress and reported by The Washington Post. It's claimed that Meta has manipulated research and even erased data which paints it in a negative light."

Minute Media acquired VideoVerse, a platform that powers real-time sports highlights, marking the company’s largest acquisition and reflecting a pivot toward sports tech and video. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal surpasses Minute Media’s prior transactions across seven acquisitions in 14 years. The European Commission is considering restrictions to bar children under 16 from social media and will convene a year-end panel to advise on child safety while monitoring Australia’s approach. A group of current and former Meta employees alleges Meta suppressed research on VR and children’s safety and manipulated or erased data. Meta and TikTok won a challenge to EU tech fees.

Read at Exchangewire