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9-year-old kid spends $118,000 on YouTube ads for Minecraft and Roblox videos using his dad's company credit card:…
A 9-year-old boy allegedly used his father's company credit card without permission to spend $118,000 on YouTube ads for his Minecraft and Roblox videos. The father discovered the charges after being called into his office and is now facing potential personal liability for the expenses. The child's YouTube channel has been shut down, and the family plans to implement stricter parental controls.
From Zara Larsson to Spongebob Squarepants, here's how Roblox gets such cool collaborations
Roblox continues to attract major brands like Nike, Vans, and H&M for collaborations by offering unique virtual experiences and brand integrations. Marketer Jake Sullivan from Vector3 explains that these partnerships provide longer exposure and more personal connections than traditional advertising. The platform's focus on older users and community-driven interactions further enhances its appeal for brands seeking authentic engagement.
Miami agrees to advertise GTA 6 in exchange for fixing their football field
Miami Beach has approved a deal allowing Rockstar Games to advertise Grand Theft Auto 6 through discreet marketing on beach chairs and umbrellas. The agreement, which generated nearly $4 million, will fund renovations for the Flamingo football field, though some commissioners expressed concerns about associating the city with the game's violent themes. The campaign is set to run from October 15 to the end of the year.
"I don't think it's worth any amount of money" - Controversial real-life GTA 6 advertising campaign passed by City of Miami, but brand can only appear "discreetly"
The City of Miami Beach has approved negotiations for a marketing campaign for Grand Theft Auto 6, potentially bringing in millions of dollars. The deal faced controversy due to the game's violent nature, with some commissioners arguing against associating the city's brand with it. The campaign plans to feature "discreet" advertisements on beach chairs and umbrellas, avoiding major events and city property.
A Full-Fledged Skyrim Mod Starring Matt Berry Is Here To Refresh The Game With An Ikea Ad
A new Skyrim mod called Kallax Storageborn has been released, transforming an Ikea shelving unit into a voiced companion voiced by Matt Berry. The mod adds new quests, items, and a boss fight, and is available for free on PC and Xbox. The article expresses mild concern about in-game advertising but finds the mod's concept amusing.
Amazon is sued by the FTC and 22 states for 'secretly' overcharging advertisers since 2019
Amazon is facing a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission and 22 states, who allege the company has been secretly overcharging advertisers since 2019. The lawsuit claims this deceptive practice continues to this day.
PlayStation 5 Owners Get Free Live TV Support, But There’s a Catch
Sony Pictures Television has launched a free live TV service for PlayStation 5 owners in the U.S., offering over 100 channels including news, sports, and movies. The service, accessible via the Media tab, includes advertisements and is exclusive to U.S. users, with plans for future expansion to Canada. This move aims to integrate Sony's assets and provide advertisers with a new platform to reach consumers.
PS5 Adds Free Live And On-Demand Movie And TV Channels, In Exchange For Watching Ads
Sony has launched a new free, ad-supported live TV service on PlayStation 5, offering over 100 channels of movies, TV shows, news, sports, and anime. Users can access the content by signing in with their PlayStation account, with the trade-off being the inclusion of advertisements. This move by Sony follows similar offerings from competitors like Roku, Tubi, and Pluto.
Instagram Quietly Routes Your Off-App Activity Into Ads and AI — The 7 Settings That Push Back
This article details how Instagram, owned by Meta, collects user data both on and off the app for advertising and AI purposes, and outlines seven settings users can adjust to limit this data collection. While a complete opt-out is not possible, users can control how their off-app activity is used for personalization and manage AI chat data.
How to limit Instagram from using your data for AI and ads
Instagram is offering users the ability to limit how their activity outside the app is used to personalize advertisements. This feature aims to give users more control over their data privacy concerning targeted ads and AI-driven content.
The GTA 6 leaker is selling ads now
The individual known as Cyberleek, who previously leaked information about Grand Theft Auto 6, is now reportedly selling advertising space on their website. This includes options for video watermarks and custom gameplay footage tailored to specific brands, with a significant 'donation' required for negotiations.
GTA 6 leaker Cyberleek is now charging a $165,000 fee for a chance to buy ad space on additional leaks
The individual known as Cyberleek, responsible for leaking Grand Theft Auto 6 information, is now attempting to monetize these leaks by selling advertising space on future content. Cyberleek is reportedly charging approximately $165,000 in Monero cryptocurrency for advertisers to secure ad placements, with terms negotiated privately. This comes despite Take-Two Interactive's efforts to identify the leaker through legal means.
New Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 PS5 update turns the ports into Modern Warfare 4 ads
Recent updates to the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 have added pre-order advertisements for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 directly into the main multiplayer menus. This move by Microsoft and Activision aims to promote the upcoming title, though it has been met with some player frustration.
Why Xbox's console ads could be a good thing for gaming | Opinion
This opinion piece argues that Xbox's exploration of ad-supported game streaming could be beneficial for the gaming industry by lowering access costs for players. While in-game advertising has a poor reputation, high-quality, non-intrusive ads, particularly those outside the game environment, can outperform traditional advertising and potentially create new revenue streams for companies like Xbox.
Unity credits AI advertising platform for driving its 'best quarter ever'
Unity reported its best quarter ever, with total revenue reaching $546 million, a 24% increase year-over-year, driven primarily by its AI-driven advertising platform, Vector AI. Despite a net loss of $23 million, the company has significantly reduced its losses compared to the previous year. CEO Matthew Bromberg highlighted the company's "ecosystem" strategy and anticipates growth from generative AI's impact on game development.
Saturday Metaverse
The article discusses the implications of Grand Theft Auto 6's reported deal with Netflix, questioning whether an advertisement can be considered pirated. It also touches on sensitive information in 'no reply' emails.
Rockstar wants you to pay Netflix to watch the next GTA VI trailer
Rockstar Games has partnered with Netflix to debut the next trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI on August 27, 2026, exclusively for Netflix members. This marks an unusual marketing collaboration between a game developer and a streaming service. Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026.
Streaming’s next experiment: after two rounds of price hikes, Disney and Netflix are weighing free tiers
Disney and Netflix are exploring the possibility of introducing free tiers for their streaming services following multiple price increases. Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro stated a free product could attract price-sensitive customers and increase ad revenue, while Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters acknowledged the potential but emphasized caution regarding cannibalization of paid subscribers and the need for scaled ad businesses.
Meta apps displayed ads that contained AI-generated CSAM
Researchers have identified over 50 advertisements on Meta platforms that allegedly contained AI-generated child sexual abuse material, violating the company's policies. The ads were displayed across Meta's properties.
BMW is forcing a weird Spider-Man ad onto its dashboard displays
BMW is implementing a Spider-Man advertisement that will be displayed on its vehicle dashboard screens. The nature of the ad has been described as unusual.