Media News Daily: Top Stories for 05/22/2026

FTC Says Cox Media Misled Advertisers About “Active Listening”

Cox Media Group agreed to pay $880,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that it falsely claimed to offer “active listening” technology capable of targeting ads based on consumers’ overheard conversations. According to the FTC, the company marketed a service that supposedly used AI and smart-device microphone data to deliver highly targeted advertising, when in reality it relied on email lists purchased from third-party brokers. Cox Media denied wrongdoing but said it discontinued the product after concerns emerged. Read More (MediaPost Rating)

Meta Settles Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

Meta has settled a federal lawsuit accusing Facebook and Instagram of contributing to youth mental health problems through addictive platform design, avoiding a major bellwether trial that had been scheduled for June. The lawsuit, filed by a Kentucky school district, alleged schools were forced to devote significant resources to combat the effects of social media addiction among students. Meta joins YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, which also recently settled related claims, while hundreds of similar lawsuits against social media companies continue nationwide. Read More (The Hill Rating)

Hearst Newspapers Accused of Union Busting

Workers at several Hearst-owned newspapers are accusing the media company of anti-union tactics, including violating labor agreements, delaying negotiations, and bargaining in bad faith. Guilds representing employees in New York, Texas, Connecticut, and California have filed unfair labor practice complaints as tensions rise over pay, layoffs, healthcare costs, and concerns about AI-related job losses. Hearst denied the allegations and said it remains committed to good-faith bargaining while maintaining competitive wages and benefits across its publications. Read More (The Guardian Rating)