Hollywood + Media News – Friday, June 21,

Happy Friday, entertainment fanatics! Buckle up, because this week in Hollywood is servin’ up drama hotter than a Baywatch marathon in Death Valley. We’ve got streaming giants coming for your popcorn, social media giants under fire (again), and a blast from the past that has everyone feelin’ nostalgic. So grab your favorite streaming device, silence your burner phones, and let’s dive into the dumpster fire of delightful chaos that is entertainment news.

Netflix Now Popping (and It Ain’t Just on Your Screen)

Move over, movie theaters, Netflix is coming for your buttery, overpriced monopoly. In a move that’s sure to make you say “Wait, what?”, Netflix has partnered with Indiana Popcorn to launch “Netflix Now Popping,” a new line of ready-to-eat popcorn hitting Walmart shelves nationwide.

This strategic partnership takes aim at another revenue stream that movie theaters have traditionally relied on, basically saying “Hey, we’re not content with just keeping you glued to your couch, we want to control your snack game, too.” Will this be the final nail in the coffin for struggling cinemas? Only time (and our insatiable appetite for popcorn) will tell.

Could We See a Brat Pack Reunion on the Big Screen? “St. Elmo’s Fire” Sequel in the Works

Hold onto your shoulder pads and break out the Aqua Net, because Sony Pictures is reportedly in early development on a sequel to the iconic 80s dramedy, “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

While details are scarcer than a payphone in , rumors are swirling that the studio hopes to reunite the original cast, which means we might see Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and the gang back together. However, no actors, writers, or directors are officially attached to the project yet, so don’t get your hopes up too high just yet.

Will this sequel capture the magic of the original, or will it be a cinematic dumpster fire that we’ll all try to forget ever happened? Only time, and the fickle whims of Hollywood executives, will tell.

Instagram in Hot Water (Again) for Exposing Teens to Spicy Content

Just when you thought it was safe to open Instagram without encountering a conspiracy theory or a thirst trap, a new report from The Wall Street Journal has exposed the platform’s questionable content moderation practices when it comes to younger users.

The investigation found that test accounts simulating -year-olds were quickly shown sexually suggestive content, including videos from adult creators, within minutes of interacting with similar content. This is despite Instagram’s claims that they have robust systems in place to protect minors from inappropriate material.

Instagram has responded to the report, claiming that the experiment was “artificial” and doesn’t reflect real teen usage. But with lawmakers and parents already on edge about the potential harms of social media, this latest controversy couldn’t come at a worse time for the embattled platform.

New York Says “Hold My Juice Box” – Enacts Stricter Social Media Regulations for Minors

Remember those good ol’ days when the biggest concern with teens and technology was them hogging the phone line? Yeah, me neither. Fast forward to , and the Empire State is taking a stand against the Wild West of social media with two new laws designed to protect minors from the digital forces that be.

First up, platforms will now be required to display content chronologically for users under . That’s right, no more sneaky algorithms prioritizing engagement (and potentially exposing young minds to harmful content). The second law throws another punch by placing further restrictions on the collection and sharing of data from users under .

Will these new laws actually make a difference in the lives of young New Yorkers, or are they just a band-aid on a gaping digital wound? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: New York is putting social media giants on notice – mess with their kids, and they’ll mess with you right back.

X Marks the Spot for Exclusive Content: Kim K and Verzuz Find a New Home

Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter, because who needs a consistent brand identity?) is making moves to solidify its position in the ever-evolving world of content streaming. In a power move that surprised absolutely no one, Kim Kardashian is bringing her considerable influence (and let’s be real, her massive fanbase) to the platform with a -episode video podcast launching exclusively on X this fall.

But wait, there’s more! The deal includes a -hour exclusivity window before the podcast becomes available on other platforms, giving X a valuable head start in the content game. And if that wasn’t enough, the popular music battle series Verzuz is also jumping ship from Triller and will now stream exclusively on X.

With these high-profile acquisitions, X is clearly signaling that it’s not afraid to throw some serious cash around to compete with the big players in the streaming wars. Will it be enough to lure users away from their beloved TikToks and Instagram Reels? Only time (and the unpredictable whims of Elon Musk) will tell.

ByteDance Bets Big on Malaysia as Global AI Hub

Hold onto your algorithms, folks, because ByteDance, the tech giant behind TikTok, is making a major investment in Malaysia’s burgeoning AI scene. We’re talking a cool $. billion for a state-of-the-art AI hub, further cementing the Southeast Asian nation as a major player in the global AI landscape.

And it doesn’t stop there. ByteDance is also dropping an additional $ million to expand its data capacity in Malaysia. This strategic move puts them in direct competition with Google and Microsoft, both of which have also been pouring resources into the country’s tech sector.

So, why Malaysia? Well, for starters, the country boasts a young, tech-savvy population, a supportive government, and a strategic location in the heart of Southeast Asia. With ByteDance’s investment, Malaysia is poised to become a hotbed of AI innovation, attracting top talent and driving economic growth.