Meta’s content moderation, the political shift around DEI, and the debate over whether brand safety is a myth—how will these forces impact Black publishers and ad tech as a whole?
Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 1 PM ET as we unpack it all with DéVonChristopher Johnson, Co-Founder of BOMESI.Register now!
Major Brands' Ads Found on Sites Flagged for CSAM Content
In February 2025, research firm Adalytics released a report warning that ads for major brands, including Sony, Pepsi, and the NFL, appear on websites ibb.co and imgbb.com—two ad-supported and anonymous image-sharing platforms. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) flagged both sites for hosting child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Ad buyers blame Google, Amazon, and brand safety firms, such as Integral Ad Science and DoubleVerify, reports Adweek. All companies received letters from Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, citing the report and requesting responses to nine specific questions.
For their part, advertisers say that they lack access to page URL-level reporting, making it difficult to investigate where their ads appeared. DoubleVerify and IAS acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and are conducting reviews while emphasizing their commitment to media safety and combating illegal content. – SS
Defunding the Press: The State Department’s Subscription Ban and Its Fallout
The State Department just pulled the plug on subscriptions to The New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, Politico, and other major outlets, calling it a cost-cutting move. Sure, budgets are always under scrutiny, but let’s not ignore the pattern. This administration has spent years sidelining independent journalism, and now it’s cutting off access where it matters most—diplomatic outposts relying on real-time news to assess security risks and global affairs. Meanwhile, One America Newsgets a warm welcome. Coincidence? Probably not.
Is this just a government snub? Resoundingly, no. It’s another financial gut punch to news media at a time when the industry is already struggling. Between advertiser blacklists, brand safety paranoia, and subscription fatigue, newsrooms are fighting to keep revenue flowing. And now, one of their biggest institutional customers is walking away—pushing the narrative that news, especially the kind that holds power accountable, isn’t worth paying for.
Beyond governmental spending, this reflects a larger trend of undervaluing journalism across industries. Brands, scared of controversy, have systematically pulled ad dollars from news content despite studies proving that news audiences are some of the most engaged out there. This kind of financial starvation forces outlets to either double down on subscriptions—pricing out readers—or chase clicks with lower-quality content. Neither is good for anyone.
So what happens when both ad revenue and institutional backing disappear? Journalism—already in a financial chokehold—gets squeezed even tighter. If democracy depends on a free press, who stands to gain when we keep cutting journalism off at the knees? — LdJ
YouTube Bets on Budget-Friendly Subscriptions with “Premium Lite”
YouTube is cooking up a new, lower-cost, ad-free tier, and streamers and creators might want to keep an eye on it. Dubbed "Premium Lite," the plan focuses on podcasts and how-to videos, catering to viewers who aren't just there for music. The service will launch in the U.S., Australia, Germany, and Thailand, though pricing details are still under wraps. With YouTube Premium currently at $13.99/month, this budget-friendly option could lure more users into the subscription fold.
Analysts see this as a strategic play—YouTube still thrives on ad revenue, but diversifying into subscriptions makes it less dependent on ads. With over 100 million Premium subscribers already, execs likely see "Lite" as a low-risk experiment that could add another revenue stream (and maybe even pad creator payouts). This move aligns with industry trends where publishers increasingly adopt multi-pronged approaches to revenue, reducing reliance on advertising while enhancing user experience through personalized content.
Meanwhile, rivals like Netflix and Spotify are also mixing up their models, blending video, podcasts, and even concert ticketing. In the streaming world, standing still isn't an option—YouTube is just ensuring it stays ahead of the game. – AB
Brutal Privacy Sandbox Data
Brutal. Data from Google on Sandbox Attribution Reporting API. 85% of CM360 conversions were inaccurate by 60-100%.
The Ad Failures That Let the US Fund Child Abuse
Check out this special report from Future Media with special guest Arielle Garcia from Check My Ads, where they uncover a shocking ad tech failure. Ads from top brands—and even the U.S. government—were found on sites hosting child sexual abuse content.
Companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft placed these ads unknowingly, while brand safety firms, despite their hefty fees, failed to prevent it.
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