Australia launches ‘landmark’ bill to ban social media for kids under 16

In this high-stakes environment, marketers are playing a delicate game — creating visibility without alienating trust. While influencer buzz can generate noise, audiences are increasingly skeptical. Without proper disclosure, influencer endorsements can blur the line between opinion and ad, and as media literacy grows, so does the backlash.

Australia moves to set a global precedent with a proposed law banning social media for children under 16, enforcing strict age verification and hefty fines for non-compliance.

Saurabh Jain becomes new Director General of ADIF

Jain is the founder of Fun2Do Labs, an EdTech startup for primary school children.

Prior to this, Jain served as Vice President at Paytm, where he led the ‘Build for India’ initiative aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs and fostering technological advancements.

MobiKwik appoints Jaskaran Singh Kapany as CMO

Jaskaran Singh Kapany was onboarded by Xiaomi India as CMO where he led marketing for the entire portfolio including Brand Strategy, Product Marketing, Performance Marketing, Acquisition, GTM, Social, Media, Research, Alliances etc.

Jaskaran Singh Kapany began his career as a senior account director at JWT and then joined ICICI Prudential Life Insurance as vice president – marketing and e-commerce. Then, he joined Paytm as head of marketing where he was responsible for making Paytm one of the most trusted household names in India.

Reliance Brands’ MD Darshan Mehta to step down

In 2024, it had been announced that Darshan Mehta was moving on from Reliance Brands and would transition to a mentorship role within the Reliance Group where he would groom next generation leaders and explore untapped business opportunities, highlighted a report.

It has been revealed that Mehta will transition to a mentorship role within the Reliance Group where he will groom next generation leaders and explore untapped business opportunities, further added the report. And, Mehta will continue serving as a non-executive director on the board of Reliance Brands.

IFFI 2024: India’s creative economy set to thrive; hits $30 billion, says I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

The draft rules, open for public comment until February 18, aim to strike a balance between industry needs and user privacy rights. They arrive as India's tech sector, one of the world's largest, has been anxiously awaiting guidance on compliance requirements.

“As India continues to empower creators, foster innovation, and drive cultural diplomacy, we are positioning ourselves as a global leader in content creation,” Vaishnaw said.

CCPA moves to block surrogate advertising via CSR; targets liquor and tobacco brands

The new regulations aim to curb the practice of brands exploiting CSR initiatives and sponsorships to promote goods that are otherwise prohibited from advertising

Earlier Storyboard18 reported that the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) has finalized the public draft for these surrogate advertising rules. The guidelines, which are expected to be released between October and December.