📣 Google Found to Have Illegally Monopolized Digital Ad Tech Market

Today’s Menu ☕️

📣 Google Found to Have Illegally Monopolized Digital Ad Tech Market, U.S. Court Rules
💰 IFC Commits $58 million to Balwin Properties for Affordable, Green Housing Development
📱TikTok Introduces ‘Footnotes’ Feature to Boost Transparency and Tackle Misinformation
🚀 2025 Google for Startups Accelerator Africa – Applications Now Open
📱Instagram Blend Feature Transforms Reels into a Shared Social Experience

If you haven't subscribed, join over 7,000 people curious about Innovation, New Products, New Technologies in Africa.

📣 ONLINE ADVERTISING

Google Found to Have Illegally Monopolized Digital Ad Tech Market, U.S. Court Rules

A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Google violated antitrust laws by monopolizing key segments of the online advertising market, dealing a major development in the government’s ongoing push to rein in Big Tech’s dominance over digital infrastructure.

In a decision handed down by Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, the court found that Google “willfully acquired and maintained monopoly power” in the markets for publisher ad servers and ad exchanges—two foundational components of the digital advertising ecosystem.

These technologies are central to how online publishers sell ad space and how advertisers reach audiences across the web. The DOJ argued that by tying its publisher ad server to its ad exchange platform, Google created a closed loop that suppressed competition, harmed publishers and advertisers, and left consumers with fewer choices in how content is monetized and displayed online......…continue reading

💰INVESTMENTS

IFC Commits $58 million to Balwin Properties for Affordable, Green Housing Development

Balwin Properties, one of South Africa’s leading residential developers, is set to build over 16,000 affordable homes near Johannesburg with the backing of a ZAR 1 billion (approximately $58 million) investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The funding, issued as a local currency loan, will support the construction of Mooikloof City, a large-scale housing development located east of Pretoria.

Mooikloof City will consist of 16,468 housing units designed specifically for low- and middle-income buyers. Each unit will be built to high environmental standards, incorporating energy-efficient appliances, water-saving devices, and insulation to improve energy use and comfort. The development is aligned with global sustainability benchmarks and will be certified using IFC’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) tool.........…continue reading

 📱SOCIAL MEDIA

TikTok Introduces ‘Footnotes’ Feature to Boost Transparency and Tackle Misinformation

TikTok has unveiled a new feature called Footnotes, designed to offer users the ability to add explanatory context to videos on the platform. The initiative, which is launching first in the United States before expanding globally, marks a notable shift toward user-driven transparency and aims to foster a more informed digital environment.

Footnotes allow eligible users to attach additional information to videos—such as factual clarifications, source references, or background details—that help viewers better understand the content they are watching. This added layer of context is part of TikTok’s broader effort to combat misinformation and promote clarity without interrupting the content’s flow.

Unlike traditional fact-checking tools that rely solely on third-party partnerships, TikTok’s Footnotes embraces a community-based model. The feature encourages knowledgeable users to step in and enrich video content with helpful information, much like footnotes in an academic paper..........…continue reading

🚀 STARTUPS

2025 Google for Startups Accelerator Africa – Applications Now Open

Google has started accepting applications for the 2025 edition of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Program. This year, the spotlight is on startups integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their core offering.

Since its launch in 2018, the program has supported over 140 startups from 17 African countries, helping them raise more than $300 million in funding and generate over 3,000 jobs. These startups aren’t just creating innovative products—they’re addressing systemic challenges across sectors like finance, education, healthcare, and agriculture.........…continue reading

 📱SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram Blend Feature Transforms Reels into a Shared Social Experience

Instagram revealed Blend on Thursday—a new feature that lets you create a unique, personalized Reels feed with friends. You can start a Blend with one friend or within a group chat, but it’s invite-only for now. The custom feed updates daily with fresh content tailored to your shared interests.

The Instagram Blend feature is here to make Reels even more social. It creates a custom Reels feed based on what you and a friend both like. Think of it as Spotify Blend, but for short videos.

The purpose of the feature is to interact with your friends and discover new content together while also allowing you to see what kinds of reels they enjoy. Blend aims to bring back Instagram’s original purpose—sharing moments with friends—by adding a fresh social layer. It pushes back on the influencer-driven, ad-filled vibe that’s taken over Instagram in recent years.........…continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• OpenAI has released the new o3 and o4-mini models, which improve ChatGPT's tool use and enable smarter, faster reasoning with integrated web search, file analysis, and image generation.…..continue reading

• Grok, the chatbot from xAI, now includes Grok Studio, a canvas-like tool to build documents and basic apps. It's now live for all users.…….continue reading

• Marvel Releases The Fantastic Four: First Steps New Trailer…..continue reading

Do you know you can join and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel?