Disney unlawfully collected kids data on YouTube for targeted ads, FTC charges

• FTC says Disney unlawfully collected kids data on YouTube for targeted ads

• Complaint alleges Disney failed to mark some videos as Made for Kids, allowing tracking

• Proposed settlement requires COPPA compliance and a video-review program

The Walt Disney Co. will pay $10 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that it unlawfully collected personal data from children to enable targeted advertising on YouTube.

In a complaint filed by the Justice Department, the FTC said Disney didnt properly label some of its YouTube uploads as Made for Kids, a designation that disables data collection and targeted ads. The mislabeling, regulators said, allowed tracking of viewers under 13 and exposed children to features not appropriate for kid-directed content.

Disney earns a share of ad revenue from commercials served with its YouTube videos and also from ads it sells directly, according to the FTC.

'Made for Kids' label

Under the proposed settlement, Disney must follow the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA) and roll out a program to review whether videos should be designated Made for Kids, unless YouTube implements its own age-assurance technologies.

Our order penalizes Disneys abuse of parents trust, and, through a mandated video-review program, makes room for the future of protecting kids onlineage assurance technology, FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said.

A Disney spokesperson said the company is committed to supporting the well-being and safety of kids and families, adding that Disney has a long tradition of embracing the highest standards of compliance with childrens privacy laws and will continue investing in tools to remain a leader in the space.

Googles YouTube requires publishers to mark content as made for children; doing so limits data collection and certain features to comply with COPPA. The FTCs order follows years of heightened scrutiny of how platforms and content owners treat childrens data online.

What you need to know

• High-profile company involved: Disney will pay $10 million and face new compliance requirements.

• Why it matters: The FTC says some Disney videos on YouTube werent labeled Made for Kids, enabling data collection and targeted ads for children under 13.

• What changes: Disney must follow COPPA and implement a video-review program to ensure proper kid-content labeling, unless YouTube adds age-assurance tech.

It's the latest blow to federal efforts to strengthen tobacco warnings

• Philip Morris wins court fight to block new cigarette warning labels and ads

• Judge says FDA failed to disclose raw study data during rulemaking process

• Ruling is latest blow to government efforts to strengthen tobacco warnings

A federal judge has struck down the Food and Drug Administrations rules requiring new graphic warnings on cigarette packages and advertisements, siding with Philip Morris USA and other plaintiffs in a closely watched case.

In an Aug. 29 order, Judge Lisa G. Wood of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia said the FDA failed to disclose the raw data from studies it relied on to design the labels. That, she wrote, prejudiced cigarette makers and convenience store operators who challenged the rules.

The Georgia plaintiffs, including the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, argued the rule would cost millions, force retailers to speak against their own products, and deter customers by making convenience stores "unwelcoming." accoring to TobaccoReporter.com.It said the FDA arbitrarily focused on certain smoking-related risks over others without explanation, and claimed it ignored countless red flags in its studies. The FDA defended its process, noting the warnings aimed to better inform consumers of smoking risks.

Yet another setback

The ruling marks another setback for regulators trying to enforce tougher health warnings. The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act directed the FDA to require graphic warnings alongside text statements about the dangers of smoking. The agencys first attempt in 2011 was vacated by a federal appeals court for violating the First Amendment.

In 2020, the FDA issued a new rule with 11 graphic warnings tied to smoking-related diseases, supported by agency studies it said would promote public understanding of health risks. But Philip Morris and its co-plaintiffs argued the process violated both the tobacco law and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Earlier this year, a Texas judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the rules, finding the FDA likely violated procedure. Fridays Georgia ruling goes further, granting summary judgment to the tobacco companies and striking the rules down altogether.

The government has defended its approach, noting the need to update warning labels after decades without changes. But the latest ruling underscores the steep legal hurdles regulators face in forcing the industry to adopt stronger labels.

Still lethal after all these years

Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., responsible for nearly one in five deaths annually.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke cause more than 480,000 deaths each year nearly 20% of all U.S. deaths.

• The American Lung Association also reports that smoking tops the list of preventable death causes, resulting in around half a million deaths annually in the country.

• Although smoking rates have dropped dramatically from about 42% of U.S. adults in 1965 to 1112% by 2022 the health impact remains significant.

What you need to know

• Philip Morris and others prevailed in court, with a judge invalidating FDAs graphic warning label rules.

• Why it matters: The decision delays updated health warnings Congress called for in 2009.

• Whats next: The government can appeal, but legal challenges have repeatedly stalled tobacco labeling efforts for more than a decade.

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A federal judge in South Georgia struck down the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) rule requiring graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and ads, siding with Philip Morris USA and Georgia retailers, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. U.S. District Judge Lisa Wood ruled that the FDA failed to disclose all raw data used in developing the 2020 rule, preventing stakeholders from offering meaningful feedback. While Wood rejected most of the plaintiffs arguments, she vacated the rule, citing a violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.

The Georgia plaintiffs, including the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, argued the rule would cost millions, force retailers to speak against their own products, and deter customers by making convenience stores unwelcoming. It said the FDA arbitrarily focused on certain smoking-related risks over others without explanation, and claimed it ignored countless red flags in its studies. The FDA defended its process, noting the warnings aimed to better inform consumers of smoking risks.

The decision marks another setback in the FDAs long-running effort to implement graphic warnings under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. A similar case is pending in Texas, where a judge has already blocked enforcement until appeals are resolved.

The second home market was down 3% in July

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Sales of homes in vacation-driven towns fell 3% in July, compared with a 1% dip in non-seasonal markets.

• Inventory in seasonal towns surged 17% year over year as demand for second homes cooled.

• Prices in vacation destinations have flattened, with the median sale price holding steady at $583,000.

If youve ever thought about buying a vacation home or living in a resort town, this might be a good time to go shopping.

Sales of homes in U.S. vacation hotspots are cooling faster than in other parts of the country, according to a new report from Redfin. The number of homes sold in seasonal towns, those where at least 30% of housing is used only seasonally or occasionally, fell 3% in July compared with a year earlier. Thats triple the 1% decline recorded in non-seasonal towns.

The slowdown has been underway for months: home sales in seasonal markets have posted year-over-year declines since February. Roughly 9% of all U.S. home sales take place in these vacation-driven towns.

Second homes and investment properties are often the first to get cut when affordability tightens, Redfin economists noted. Mortgage rates remain high, and many Americans are prioritizing primary residences over discretionary vacation properties.

Vacation markets are cooling faster than other places because second-home demand is sensitive to high housing costs, said Daryl Fairweather, Redfins chief economist. When mortgage rates are elevated and the cost of living is high, buyers are more likely to prioritize their primary residence over a ski chalet or beach house.

Redfins data shows demand for second-home mortgages dropped to their lowest point in at least six years in 2024. Pandemic-era remote work flexibility has also faded, meaning fewer Americans can justify splitting time between a primary home and a vacation property.

Florida is ground zero

Florida, home to more than a third of the seasonal towns in Redfins analysis, is experiencing one of the steepest cooldowns. Pending sales in Miami and Fort Lauderdale two major vacation markets are dropping faster than in any other large U.S. metro area.

The local condo market is brutal, said Miami-based Redfin Premier agent Cecilia Cordova. She noted that many condo owners who bought during the pandemic boom are now selling, in part due to high HOA fees and dwindling rental returns. Some people who bought coastal condos in 2020 or 2021 are returning to New York or Boston full-time. They want to sell instead of becoming landlords.

Investors who purchased vacation homes to cash in on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO are also retreating. The combination of tighter regulations, softer demand from tourists, and market saturation has made renting out second homes less lucrative.

Some people are offloading those Airbnbs because theyre not pulling in as much income as they hoped, said Palm Springs agent Nikkolene Byron.

With sales slowing, listings are piling up. The supply of homes for sale in seasonal towns surged 17% in July, compared with a 14% rise in non-seasonal towns. Still, new listings in vacation hotspots are actually down 3%, as some homeowners wait out the market rather than sell into weakening conditions.

Only people living at the same address can share Prime benefits

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Invitee program ends October 1, 2025 Prime members can no longer share free shipping benefits with people at different addresses.

• Amazon Family takes over Only individuals living at the same primary address can continue sharing benefits such as two-day shipping, Prime Video, Prime Reading, and more.

• Discounted standalone offer Affected invitees (who dont live with the account holder) are encouraged to subscribe separately at a promotional rate of $14.99 for their first year.

In a major shift to tighten access to Prime perks, Amazon has announced that it will terminate its long-running Prime Invitee program a benefit that allowed Prime members to share free shipping with friends or family living at different addresses. This change goes into effect October 1, 2025.

Under the incoming Amazon Family structure formerly known as Amazon Household Prime benefits can now only be shared with individuals residing at the same primary address. That includes one additional adult, up to four teens, provided they were added before April7,2025, and up to four child profiles within the household.

To ease the transition for those impacted by the change, Amazon said it will offer a promotional Prime membership for $14.99 for the first year. After that, the standard rates of $14.99 per month or $139 annually apply. This offer is available now through December 31, 2025.

Strategic move to boost subscriptions

This policy shift is widely seen as an effort by Amazon to drive additional Prime subscriptionsespecially relevant after the company reportedly fell short of Prime Day signup goals, despite record new member activity during the promotional events 25-day stretch.

The announcement has sparked frustration among some subscribers who say that the ability to share shipping benefits was a core reason they retained their membership. Some took to social media platforms to express their intentions to cancel their subscriptions.

People with a strong sense of purpose stay mentally sharp

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• New UC Davis research links sense of purpose to lower dementia risk.

• Adults with strong purpose in life were 28% less likely to develop cognitive decline.

• Findings suggest purpose may protect the brain even in those with genetic risk factors.

For years, research into the so-called Blue Zones, regions of the world where people live unusually long lives, has suggested that a strong sense of purpose is tied to longevity. Now, scientists at University of California Davis have found that purpose may offer another critical advantage: protecting the brain from dementia.

The new study, published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, tracked more than 13,000 adults aged 45 and older for up to 15 years. Researchers discovered that those who reported a greater sense of purpose were about 28% less likely to develop cognitive impairment, including both mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Our findings show that having a sense of purpose helps the brain stay resilient with age, said Dr. Aliza Wingo, senior author and professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

The protective effect held true across racial and ethnic groups and remained significant even when accounting for education level, depression, and the APOE4 genea well-known genetic risk factor for Alzheimers disease.

Purpose appeared to delay the onset of decline as well. On average, adults with higher levels of purpose experienced symptoms about 1.4 months later over an eight-year period than those with lower levels. While modest, researchers emphasized the finding is meaningful when compared to pharmaceutical treatments.

While medications like lecanemab and donanemab can modestly delay symptoms of cognitive impairment in Alzheimers disease, they come with risks and costs, said lead author Nicholas Howard, a UC Davis public health researcher. Purpose in life is free, safe and accessible. Its something people can build through relationships, goals and meaningful activities.

Where do you get it?

Participants werent asked about specific sources of purpose, but past research shows older adults find meaning in many ways, whether through relationships, volunteering, spirituality, hobbies, caregiving, or personal goals. In Japanese culture, the concept is often described as ikigai, or a reason for being.

To assess purpose, researchers used a seven-item survey from the Ryff Measures of Psychological Well-being. Participants responded to statements such as I have a sense of direction and purpose in my life on a scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Their cognitive health was then tracked every two years using telephone-based tests.

The studys large, nationally representative sample is a strength, but researchers caution that the findings show an association rather than direct proof that purpose causes lower dementia risk. Still, the results add weight to a growing body of evidence that psychological well-being influences brain health.

Whats exciting about this study is that people may be able to think themselves into better health, said Dr. Thomas Wingo, co-author and neurologist at UC Davis Health. Purpose in life is something we can nurture. Its never too early or too late to start thinking about what gives your life meaning.