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You better watch out: 1 in 4 parents use threat of no Santa to make kids behave

December 16, 2024
Many children, old and young, know the song: “You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town.” At this time of year, many parents turn to the threat of finding a lump of coal in their stocking on Christmas morning to keep kids in line and researchers with the University of Michigan wanted to know just how many parents do it.

They talked to 725 parents who had at least one child aged 1 to 5 years old. More than half of them said they’ve used incentives or bribery to encourage good behavior in their children. One in four have specifically threatened the prospect of no Santa or gifts.

Experts said this might not be the best idea. Instead, they said try positive reinforcement and be specific.

So, if a child helps clean up, instead of saying, “What a good boy or girl,” experts suggest saying something like, “That’s so good how you helped pick up the toys.”

Poll-on-disciplining-children Download

Child behavior experts also said consistency is key. But about a quarter of parents said that’s easier said than done.

One in four parents said they get too irritated when their child misbehaves and react before remembering strategies they’ve come up with to address the behavior. Another big issue about a quarter of parents face is they’re just too tired to be consistent.
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12 unreleased Michael Jackson songs discovered in abandoned storage unit

December 13, 2024
Twelve unreleased Michael Jackson songs were found in an abandoned storage unit in California. The tapes, uncovered by “treasure hunter” Gregg Musgrove, offer a rare glimpse into the King of Pop’s unreleased catalog.

A treasure trove of Michael Jackson songs

Musgrove, a former California Highway Patrol officer, told The Hollywood Reporter he made the discovery in the San Fernando Valley. Inside the storage unit, he found cassette and digital audio tapes containing a dozen unheard tracks by Jackson.

The unit once belonged to singer and producer Bryan Loren, known for producing the 1990 hit song “Do the Bartman” for “The Simpsons.” According to Musgrove, Loren’s current whereabouts are unknown.

Tracks unlikely to reach the public

Unfortunately for fans, the songs are unlikely to be released. Musgrove told The Hollywood Reporter that Jackson’s estate declined to purchase the tapes for undisclosed reasons.

In a letter, the estate clarified that neither Musgrove nor any future buyer would own the copyrights to the recordings. Without copyright ownership, the songs cannot be shared publicly.

Snippets and collaborations

Despite the legal roadblocks, snippets of the songs have reportedly leaked on fan sites. One track, titled “Don’t Believe It,” appears to address certain media stories about Jackson.

Another song, “Truth on Youth,” features a rap duet between Jackson and LL Cool J. The rapper spoke to Variety in September about working with Jackson, saying, “His talent speaks for itself.”

Tapes secure, future uncertain

As of Thursday, Dec. 12, the tapes are being stored in a secure facility under the control of Musgrove’s attorney. However, he plans to bring the collection to four major auction houses, estimating their value to be in the seven-figure range.
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How social media personalities are shaping the future of marketing

December 13, 2024
Forget traditional TV ads — marketing is evolving, with social media personalities driving the change. Social streaming platforms and influencers like Kai Cenat are reshaping how brands connect with consumers.

From record-breaking Twitch marathons to influencer-led campaigns, brands are finding success by tapping into authentic digital communities.

Kai Cenat’s groundbreaking Twitch “subathon“

Cenat, a 22-year-old content creator known for comedic and over-the-top livestreams, recently hosted a monthlong Twitch “subathon.”

For 24 hours a day, viewers could watch Cenat do everything from eating and sleeping to engaging with fans and special guests.

Some of his guests included Kevin Hart, Kyrie Irving and Bill Nye the Science Guy. The goal was to entertain his loyal followers while breaking Twitch’s record for the most subscribers. Cenat smashed the previous record of 326,250, ending his subathon with 727,700 subscribers and over 50 million unique viewers.

The financial impact of social streaming

Cenat’s financial gains were massive. At $4.99 per subscription, he potentially earned up to $3.6 million.

The exact amount is unclear since Twitch takes a percentage but the earnings didn’t stop there. Ads and brand deals with companies like Nike and McDonald’s add to the haul.

Social media marketing vs. traditional TV ads

According to a Statista study, 41% of consumers purchased products after seeing social media ads, compared to 43% influenced by TV commercials. Among Gen Z and millennials, social media dominates. About 62% of Gen Zers and 53% of millennials reported being influenced by online ads.

Jason McDonald, the director of JM Internet Group, told Straight Arrow News that the marketing industry has changed a lot in the last few years.

“Marketing has become a much more technical profession than it used to be, and that creates a lot of opportunities for young people,” McDonald said.

The McDonald’s restaurant’s senior marketing director highlighted how the company collaborated with Cenat, saying in a post, “because he’s one of the most influential talents in the world… and an absolute fan of the Big Mac.”

Timeless keys to marketing success

While marketing trends constantly evolve, some foundations remain essential. McDonald says there are two keys skills people need to be good at in order to be successful at marketing.

“Being a good storyteller is incredibly important… And at a technical level, getting skillful at producing video,” McDonald said.

As social media continues to grow, storytelling and video production are the cornerstones of impactful marketing strategies.
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WGA calls on Hollywood studios to combat AI plagiarism

December 13, 2024
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is urging Hollywood studios to take immediate action against the growing issue of AI plagiarism. It’s a call to action that echoes the union’s concerns during the lengthy 2023 writer’s strike.

WGA calls out major studios

The WGA East and West recently sent a letter to CEOs of major studios. They include Netflix, Walt Disney Co., NBCUniversal, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Amazon MGM Studios and Warner Bros. Discovery.

In the letter obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the WGA claims that tech companies like Apple and Meta have “looted” the studios’ intellectual property while studios have failed to act against the violations.

“After this industry has spent decades fighting piracy, it cannot stand idly by while tech companies steal full libraries of content for their own financial gain,” the letter states.

AI models trained on copyrighted material

The letter cites a November article in The Atlantic, which reported that thousands of movies and TV episodes were being used to train AI models.

The WGA accuses studios of allowing “tech companies to plunder entire libraries without permission or compensation,” ultimately harming WGA members.

AI’s growing role in Hollywood

Despite the controversy, AI continues to gain traction in Hollywood. In September, Lionsgate—the studio behind franchises like “John Wick” and “Hunger Games”—announced a partnership with the AI video startup Runway. The technology is marketed as a tool to help filmmakers and creative teams generate cinematic visuals.

Legal victories for creatives

However, artists have recently seen progress in their legal battles against AI. In August, a federal court allowed a copyright infringement claim against AI art generators to move forward.

The case, brought by concept artist Karla Ortiz, centers on how AI firms may have used copyrighted materials to train models like Stable Diffusion. The lawsuit could significantly impact the future use of AI in Hollywood.
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Gen Z will spend 112 complete days in 2024 on their phones: Report

December 13, 2024
A new report released this week from Gen Z research firm dcdx is showing how this generation’s attachment to phones is growing. In its fourth annual Gen Z Screen Time Report, dcdx issued a warning before presenting its findings.

The disclaimer reads, “What you are about to see may shock you. It may make you feel concern. It may make you feel angry, and it may make you feel confused…If we want to change Gen Z’s relationship with technology, we have to lean into the discomfort, the anger, the shock, and the concern.”

One big finding from the report: Gen Z will spend 112 complete days on their phones in 2024. The firm analyzed screen time submissions from 234 Gen Zers aged 16 to 27 and found daily average screen time for 2024 rose by over 15 minutes from last year to 7 hours 22 minutes and 43 seconds.

Breaking it down by age, younger Gen Zers aged 16 to 20 and older ones aged 21 to 27 saw an increase in their daily average screen time. Younger ones had an average screen time of 7 hours 52 minutes and 56 seconds, while older ones were at 7 hours 5 minutes and 29 seconds.

While younger Gen Zers spend more time on their phones, older ones have seen a bigger increase year over year. The report shows a nearly 25-minute increase compared to 2023.

Looking at gender, daily screen time for males jumped 13% to 6 hours 40 minutes and 13 seconds. Female screen time saw virtually no change. However, it still exceeds their male counterparts at 7 hours 48 minutes and 48 seconds.

Next, dcdx looked at what exactly Gen Z is looking at when they use their phones. The top five apps remain the same as last year.

TikTok once again holds the top spot in keeping Gen Z’s attention. The report showed a weekly average screen time of 9 hours 24 minutes and 8 seconds. That’s up 4% from last year.

Instagram came in second at 7 hours 3 minutes and 46 seconds, down by 8%. Then there’s a big drop in weekly average screen time to third with Messages, at 3 hours 56 minutes and 27 seconds, but up 3%.

Finally, an honorable mention just out of the top 5 is WhatsApp. The weekly average screen time went up 233% from 2023 to 2024, with an average screen time of 1 hour 29 minutes and 8 seconds.

Beyond screen time, dcdx looked at notifications. The report stated a 13% decrease in daily notification averages.

The firm said this suggests more Gen Zers are “adjusting their settings to reduce notifications or using apps that are less disruptive to their daily lives.”

Phone users shared their screen time data over two weeks in October and November. At 234 participants, it’s only a sample of the over 65 million Gen Zers living in the U.S. However, dcdx said the results indicate a “clear picture of the future of technology usage behaviors among Gen Z.”
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Seoul to spend over $320 million to be a ‘city without loneliness’

December 13, 2024
South Korea has a loneliness problem. To combat the issue, South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, will spend over $300 million to become a “city without loneliness.”

South Korea reported over 3,000 loneliness deaths last year. The term is a classification used to describe deaths from illness or suicide of people who mostly don’t engage with society.

Seoul is ready to spend about $327 million over the next five years to combat the issue. The city will set up a 24/7 hotline staffed with counselors, as well as in-person meetings to help those vulnerable to loneliness form community.

Seoul can be pretty lonely. About 40% of households in the city have one person in them.

The top official of the city government’s Care and Loneliness Policy Bureau told ABC News that the agency is planning to get help from private businesses like laundromats and convenience stores. The officials said they hope that if they can find the loneliest people in the public spaces where they do appear, it could help the city reach people at risk.

Loneliness is a global issue that public health officials have more actively recognized in recent years.

Last year, the World Health Organization announced a commission to explore the importance of social connections. It said loneliness can raise the risk of poor health outcomes like stroke, dementia, depression and suicide.
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Eli Lilly to test weight loss drug Zepbound to treat addiction

December 13, 2024
Eli Lilly, the maker of the popular weight loss injection Zepbound, is exploring other ways the drug can help people. In an interview with the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., this week, the company’s CEO, David Ricks, discussed the pharmaceutical giant’s plans for 2025.

“These medicines, we think, and we aim to prove, can be used for other things we don’t think about connected to weight,” Ricks said. “These are often called anti-hedonics, so they are reducing that desire cycle. So, next year you’ll see Lilly start large studies in alcohol abuse, in nicotine use, even in drug abuse.”

Zepbound is a GLP-1 drug. Those drugs work by mimicking hormones that make you feel satisfied after eating.

Researchers have known the mechanism in the brain that regulates food-seeking behaviors. They say it overlaps with the mechanism that regulates why some people develop addiction. However, Ricks said Eli Lilly’s upcoming study will be the first to test the use of these drugs specifically to treat addiction.

Zepbound started out under the name Mounjaro as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Eli Lilly later discovered patients could use Mounjaro’s active ingredient, tirzepatide, as an off-label prescription to encourage weight loss.

Shortly after, the Food and Drug Administration approved a version for weight loss purposes under the name Zepbound.

A new study by Loyola University released this week in the journal “Addiction,” found GLP-1 drugs show promise for treating drug and alcohol addiction.

Researchers found people addicted to alcohol who also had a prescription for a GLP-1 drug had a 50% lower rate of binging alcohol. They also discovered people with opioid use disorder had a 40% lower rate of overdose.
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3 men accuse Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of sexual assault

December 13, 2024
There are new accusations against hip hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Three men accused Combs of drugging and raping them during incidents that took place between 2019 and 2022 at New York hotels.

One of the men has been identified as a former employee of Combs. Thomas Giuffra, the lawyer who filed the anonymous lawsuits Thursday, Dec. 12, said Combs used his power and wealth to take advantage of them.

“This is a long overdue opportunity for the victims to take the power back after carrying the burden of the assaults in silence for several years,” Giuffra said in a statement. “While a lawsuit will not undo the wrongs done to them, it enables the survivors to regain the power and dignity that was stripped from them by Sean Combs.”

The men are seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.

In a statement, Combs attorneys said the claims are full of lies.

“We will prove them false and seek sanctions against every unethical lawyer who filed fictional claims against him.”

Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. He remains in federal prison in Brooklyn after being denied bail.
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Chris Rock leaves stage at party after attendees record surprise comedy set

December 12, 2024
Chris Rock abruptly left the stage during a private holiday comedy set on Saturday, Dec. 7, making headlines for cutting his performance short. Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt hosted the event, where Rock entertained an exclusive audience.

However, the comedian stopped his set halfway through after noticing some audience members were recording him, according to People magazine.

Strict no-filming policies in comedy

Recording during comedy shows is widely frowned upon, and Rock is no exception. He has enforced a strict no-filming policy since 2017.

Comedians like Kevin Hart and Dave Chappelle have also taken measures to prevent recording. They often require audience members to lock their phones in Yondr pouches, a tool used to create phone-free environments.

Yondr pouches use a magnetic lock mechanism and can only be unlocked at designated stations. They are commonly used at comedy venues, schools and concerts to reduce distractions.

Why comedians prohibit filming

Comedians implement no-recording policies to prevent jokes from circulating online out of context and to protect the surprise of their material.

Dave Chappelle explained the importance of this in an interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2017.

“If someone sees a joke I’m doing before I get to their city, I have to do all new jokes, and I can’t write fast enough,” Chappelle said.

Despite Chris Rock’s early exit, the party continued. Country music star Keith Urban performed a nearly two-hour concert for the guests.

Some reports claimed Rock stormed offstage and that children were present in the audience. However, a source told People magazine that neither of those claims is true.
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BuzzFeed sells ‘Hot Ones’ to group led by Soros investment firm

December 12, 2024
Hot off the presses: “Hot Ones” has been sold. Buzzfeed announced Thursday, Dec. 12, the series famous for its “heated” interviews, with spicy questions and spicier wings, for $82.5 million.

The buyers make up a consortium led by an affiliate of Soros Fund Management, an investment firm founded by billionaire George Soros. The group also includes Sean Evans, the show’s host, and Chris Schonberger, the founder of First We Feast, the studio behind “Hot Ones,” YouTube stars Rhett and Link’s Mythical Entertainment media company and Crooked Media.

Buzzfeed picked up First We Feast and “Hot Ones” during its acquisition of Complex Networks in 2021. Earlier this year, BuzzFeed sold Complex to the e-commerce company NTWRK but held onto First We Feast until now.

Buzzfeed said this all-cash deal will help reduce its bottom line. The company known for its listicles and videos said it will now have more cash than debt as it looks to move away from high-priced original content to focus on tech-enable services.

“The sale of First We Feast and continued reduction of our convertible debt marks an important step in BuzzFeed, Inc.’s strategic transformation into a media company positioned to fully benefit from the ongoing AI revolution,” BuzzFeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti said in a statement.

First We Feast, which has over 14 million subscribers on YouTube, will now become an independent company with Schonberger assuming the role of chief executive officer. Evans will become the chief creative officer while still continuing his “Hot Ones” hosting duties.

“I hosted the very first episode of Hot Ones in March 2015,” Evans said in a statement. “Nearly a decade later, it’s incredible to see how the show has grown from a bold experiment into what it is today. As we approach the 10th anniversary of Hot Ones next season, I’m constantly amazed by the passion and loyalty of our fans, who have made this journey so special.”

“Not only is Hot Ones a hit show, but it’s an experience—a cultural touchpoint that audiences want to be a part of, whether they’re watching, tasting the sauces, or sharing in the challenge with friends,” Evans continued.

Schonberger said new investments will allow First We Feast to expand into other areas like live events. And those could already be heating up as Variety reports Netflix has been in talks about potential live “Hot Ones” specials.

“Hot Ones” will celebrate its new chapter with a Holiday Extravaganza on Dec. 19 before premiering its 26^th season on Jan. 23.
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