GoKawiil
Tech News
A new report finds that the growing volume of AI-generated content online is eroding consumer trust, weakening the influence that social media personalities have historically had over purchasing decisions. Shoppers who once relied on influencer recommendations for items like clothing and home appliances are said to be growing more skeptical of what they see online.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1130, a law that adds real penalties—fines up to $5,000 per violation and possible misdemeanor referrals—for social media influencers who fail to disclose being paid to promote political content. California previously required such disclosures but had no enforcement mechanism when influencers ignored the rule. The bill follows reports that billionaire Tom Steyer paid numerous influencers during his failed gubernatorial bid, many of whom didn't initially reveal the payments.
A content creator using Meta's AI-integrated smart glasses secretly photographed a stranger in a Walmart, ran the image through a facial recognition tool to identify him as an author, then staged an unscripted-looking encounter praising his book on camera. The clip, which went viral, exemplifies a growing genre called 'joybait'—uplifting content engineered for views that relies on deception rather than genuine spontaneity.
A PacSun and GlobalData survey of over 6,000 Americans aged 11 to 24 found that medicine and healthcare careers edged out influencer work as the most desired profession, drawing 19% of responses compared to 18.8% for content creation. This reverses last year's results, when influencing led at 22.2% versus 19.4% for healthcare.
The US Open expanded credentials for social media influencers and content creators this year, giving them greater access to matches and players than in previous tournaments. While these creators have driven higher engagement on platforms by sharing behind-the-scenes content, their presence has also drawn complaints from traditional tennis fans and attendees who feel disrupted.
Instagram announced it will mandate a visible 'AI-generated profile' label on accounts run by synthetic influencers, replacing the vaguer 'AI creator' tag that could be confused with human creators using AI tools. The label must appear in the bio header as well as on individual posts, Reels and Stories, and accounts that fail to add it will have their reach restricted. As of Monday afternoon, popular AI personas like Lil Miquela, Imma and Aitana Lopez had not yet been labeled, and Instagram hasn't clarified whether labeling will be automatic or manual.
Instagram is rolling out a mandatory 'AI-generated profile' label for accounts that portray a fictional AI person as if it were a real human. Accounts that fail to add the label risk having their content's reach reduced, the company said. This replaces the previous optional 'AI creator' tag with a more specific designation aimed squarely at synthetic personas rather than all AI-assisted content.
Derek Chadwick, cofounder of the gay dating app Goose, has resigned after reports surfaced that the platform used fake, AI-generated influencer accounts on Instagram to lure users into signing up. Chadwick announced his departure on Instagram, citing a divergence between his personal vision and the company's direction, without directly admitting wrongdoing. The exit follows a Wired investigation revealing suspicious accounts with AI-generated photos and unusual follower patterns tied to Goose's marketing.