Here’s what we have for you today:
• Meta’s money dilemma
• Mark eyeing Musk?
• YouTube CEO leaving
The muskiness of Mark
What and where? Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s top executive, announced in Facebook that a new “subscription” service would first roll out in Australia and New Zealand.
How much? The company said it would cost $11.99 a month on web or $14.99 on iOS and Android (or, in Australia, $19.99 on web or $24.99 on iOS and Android).
But: According to Meta, this service would not be available to businesses at this stage.
YouTube CEO steps back
What’s next? Susan said she would stay with YouTube temporarily to aid in the transition of leadership, and in the longer term has agreed with CEO Sundar Pichai to take an advisory role across Google and Alphabet, offering “counsel and guidance”.
Looking steep: YouTube’s ad revenue during the final six months of last year dropped 5% from the previous year – the first extended downturn that the video service has shown since Alphabet peeled back its financial curtain.
So far: Under Wojcicki’s leadership for nearly a decade, YouTube has faced a number of concerns about “misinformation and hate speech” on the platform.
Meta’s other expense
How much? Meta increasing its spend on the personal security of top executive Mark Zuckerberg by $4m to $14m, at a moment when the company has cut thousands of jobs.
Why? Meta’s board declared that the 40% increase was “appropriate and necessary under the circumstances” and was in place “to address safety concerns due to specific threats” to Mark’s safety.
What else? Zuckerberg is allowed to use the money to pay for “additional personnel, equipment, services, residential improvement” and other safety-related needs.