Apps

YouTube’s ‘Hype’ feature that boosts smaller creators launches globally

YouTube’s “Hype” feature, which allows fans to help their favorite creators get discovered, is rolling out globally, the company announced Tuesday. First introduced at Google’s Made on YouTube event in 2024, the feature — a dedicated button that appears below the existing “like” button — will become available on videos from creators with fewer than

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Skylight’s TikTok alternative adds community curators to the mix

A startup called Skylight is taking a different approach to short-form video. Instead of restricting users to an algorithmic main feed, as is common on social apps, Skylight is building a community around human curators who post and repost videos to build out their own custom feeds others can subscribe to. The option, which launched

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Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

Google is tightening security measures around Android app distribution, the company announced on Monday. Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store. The changes will affect all certified Android devices once live, though the global rollout

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Instagram now lets creators link multiple reels in a series

Instagram has begun allowing creators to connect multiple reels in a series, the Meta-owned social network told TechCrunch exclusively. The new capability, which is already available on TikTok, makes it easier for viewers to follow and discover related content. Now, if a creator is telling a story in a series of videos and follow-ups, they

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X’s declining Android app installs are hurting subscription revenue

Elon Musk’s X is struggling on Android devices in terms of new installs, even while App Store downloads grow, according to new data from app intelligence provider Appfigures. In July 2025, X downloads on Google Play saw a significant decline, as new installs dropped by 44% year-over-year worldwide, even as iOS downloads grew by 15%.

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Substack writers can now direct US readers to (often cheaper) web-based subscriptions on iOS

Newsletter subscription platform Substack will begin taking advantage of an option on the U.S. App Store that allows users to make purchases outside of Apple’s in-app purchasing system. This functionality is permitted by a change to the App Store’s rules in May, as a result of Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant. Since

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TikTok’s new guidelines add subtle changes for LIVE creators, AI content, and more

TikTok is preparing an update to its Community Guidelines, which dictate the rules for participating on the social video platform as well as what standards the company uses to determine the videos that make it onto its For You Feed. While the update largely rewrites the original text for simplicity’s sake, there are a few

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ChatGPT’s mobile app has generated $2B to date, earns $2.91 per install

ChatGPT’s mobile app is raking in the revenue. Since launching in May 2023, ChatGPT’s app for iOS and Android devices has reached $2 billion in global consumer spending, according to a new analysis by app intelligence provider Appfigures. That figure is approximately 30-times the combined lifetime spending of ChatGPT’s rivals on mobile, including Claude, Copilot,

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