Meta has announced that it is expanding its bonus program that pays creators for Facebook posts. According to engadget.com, the company hopes to lure more creators to Facebook with new monetization features. Meta had previously cut payouts from a bonus program that paid creators for engagement with Reels, but this program is for feed posts, not Reels or Stories. Meta notes that “most successful creators in this program post regularly, typically every day,” with a combination of text and photo posts. According to Meta, the updates are meant to help creators “earn steady streams of income on Facebook.” But the changes also seem designed to boost creator engagement with Facebook as the platform struggles to hold the interest of younger users, who are more interested in TikTok and Instagram.

There has been an ongoing battle between Reddit and a large number of Reddit communities after changes to the platforms API-including charges for it- were announced that will potentially shut down many third party apps. Techcrunch.com reports that Reddit CEO Steve Huffman said in an internal memo “Like all blowups on Reddit, this one will pass as well”. He also says that so far, there hasn’t been a significant impact on Reddit’s revenue. There are over 300 subreddits dark right now, and more are expected to join them…maybe up to 5,000. The site briefly was taken down a couple days ago. Reddit is looking for more revenue as they plan to go public later this year. Right now, they have laid off 5% of staff and slowed hiring due to the protest. 

The European Commission has and a formal antitrust complaint against Google and its ad business. Theverge.com says it is a preliminary opinion, but the Commission has found that Google has abused its dominant position in the digital ad market, and that selling off parts of its business may be the only remedy. The Commission has already fined Google over three prior antitrust cases. Expect Google to fight this tooth and nail, as its ad business is the heart of its ability to make money. 

An unlikely bipartisan pair of senators have introduced a bill to exclude generative AI from legal immunity under section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Josh Hawley are backing the bill. According to axios.com, the bill will try to set in law the fact that AI generated work will not be covered by the law that largely shields platforms from lawsuits over third party content. Some legal experts think the section does cover generative AI. Senator Blumenthal is one of the most knowledgable people in Congress about tech and the internet, so this bill might move forward and have real teeth. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.