HeyWhatsNew: TikTok Continues to Dispute Its Upcoming Ban In The U.S., and YouTube TV Is About to Become Even More Expensive
Welcome to this week’s edition of HeyWhatsNew! As we wrap up 2024, the tech world continues to deliver game-changing announcements and innovations. Let’s dive into the stories shaping the future of technology in the week beginning 16/12/2024.
Hackers Stole More Than $2 Billion of Cryptocurrency in 2024 Alone
This year, over $2 billion worth of cryptocurrency was stolen from platforms, according to blockchain research firm Chainalysis. For the fifth year in a row, thefts have surpassed $1 billion, rising 21% this year to $2.2 billion. The number of attacks increased from 282 in 2023 to 303 in 2024.
Chainalysis noted that $1.5 billion was stolen from January to July, putting the industry on track for $3 billion in losses. However, thefts slowed later in the year after major incidents like the $305 million stolen from Japan’s DMM Bitcoin in May and $235 million taken from India’s WazirX in July. These attacks caused big real-world problems, with DMM Bitcoin recently shutting down and selling its assets to Japan’s SBI Group.
An Update on the US TikTok Ban
A new law taking effect on January 19, 2025, gives TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, nine months to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S. Experts say TikTok could avoid the ban if the Supreme Court intervenes or if the incoming Trump administration decides not to enforce the law. Other options, like a last-minute sale or Congress repealing the law, seem less likely.
On Monday, TikTok asked the Supreme Court to temporarily block the law, calling the appeals court’s decision to uphold it a violation of free speech. Lawyers for TikTok argued that if the law goes into effect, the Court will lose its ability to provide meaningful relief. TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain after a federal appeals court denied its request to delay the ban.
The EU Is Pushing Apple to Make Their Operating Systems More Interoperable
Apple and Meta are in a heated debate over the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law that requires tech giants to allow competitors access to their platforms. For Apple, this primarily impacts iOS, iPadOS, the App Store, and Safari.
Apple claims Meta has submitted more interoperability requests than any other company—15 in total—raising concerns about user privacy. Apple warned that granting all of Meta’s requests could give Meta apps (like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) extensive access to users’ private data, such as messages, emails, phone calls, photos, passwords, and more.
Instagram May Soon Bring AI Editing to Videos
Instagram is developing a generative AI editing tool that could transform how users create videos. Set to launch next year, the feature—powered by Meta’s Movie Gen AI—will let users adjust nearly any part of their videos using simple text prompts, according to Instagram head Adam Mosseri.
The teaser shows AI tools that can change outfits, backgrounds, and even appearances, like turning Mosseri into a felt puppet. Subtle edits, like adding objects or accessories, are also possible. Early previews look smooth, with changes staying intact during quick movements, but it’s unclear how the tool will perform when it officially launches. For now, Instagram promises an easier way for creators to bring ideas to life without needing advanced editing skills.
Meta’s Threads Hits 100M Daily Users, 300M Monthly Users
Threads, Meta’s Twitter-like platform, has reached a major milestone with 100 million daily active users and over 300 million monthly users, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Monday. This marks the first time Meta has shared daily user stats for Threads, reflecting its confidence in the platform’s growth.
Launched last year, Threads saw rapid early success, hitting 100 million sign-ups faster than any app in history. After an initial slowdown, growth has picked up again, with the app reaching 275 million monthly users by November. Apple recently ranked Threads as the second-most downloaded app of 2024, trailing only Temu. Zuckerberg called the platform’s momentum “strong” and expressed optimism that Threads could eventually hit 1 billion users—a bold goal Meta is eager to achieve.
YouTube TV Subscription Prices Set to Go Up Again in January
If you’re a YouTube TV subscriber, get ready for another price hike. Starting in January, the monthly cost of the streaming service will rise from $72.99 to $82.99.
YouTube TV, owned by Alphabet, says the increase is due to rising content costs. The change will show up in subscribers’ first billing cycle after January 13. In an email to users, the company acknowledged the impact of the increase, saying, “We don’t make these decisions lightly,” while emphasizing its commitment to enhancing the live TV experience. YouTube TV currently has over 8 million subscribers.
That’s it for this week’s roundup! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore the innovations and trends driving change across the tech industry. See you next week!
