The Brief – Tuesday 9th June: Social media ban, news deserts, VCCP’s new retail division and ChatGPT’s next era

📵 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly poised to announce a ban on social media for Brits under the age of 16 after weighing the policy decision in recent months. It comes as Starmer is seeking a ‘major policy win’ ahead of the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. (The Times)

📱 Separately, Starmer announced tech companies must stop children from sending or receiving nudes, or else the Government will change the law. (The Guardian)

🏜️ More than 4.4m Brits now live in “news deserts” without dedicated local reporting. Misinformation is three times more common in these areas, driven by the influence of online groups on social media platforms like Facebook, X and Nextdoor. (The Guardian)

🛍️ Indie challenger network VCCP has launched a 36-person dedicated retail media division led by head of retail & experience Steph Thomas. Steve Rogers has also been appointed to the role of executive creative director of retail & experience. (VCCP)

🤖 OpenAI is preparing to overhaul ChatGPT to transform the chatbot into a “superapp” that combines coding tools and AI agents. (FT)

📱 The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is urging government to take urgent action against Meta over it’s “epidemic of fraud” after reports emerged last November the company had earned 10% of its 2024 revenue from scam ads. The CTSI is calling for “meaningful penalties” for platforms that enable scams and fraudulent advertising. (CTSI)

💸 Industry charity Nabs’ annual Stranger Than Summer fundraising gala raised £165,000 in support of its mental wellness resources. 880 people attended the gala on 4 June. (Nabs)

⤴️ Ocean Outdoor UK will manage a new digital OOH asset in Leicester Square called ‘The Curve’, which is being installed this summer, after being appointed as Soho Estates’ digital media partner. (Ocean Outdoor)

📺 Channel 4 is collaborating with Alzheimer’s Society on a new documentary, Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, following the long-time news presenter’s diagnosis with the neurogenerative disease. The 90-minute film is produced by Basement Films, with the collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society brokered through the charity’s media agency Medialab. (Channel 4)