- United States and China have struck a framework deal for TikTok’s US ownership, averting a looming ban as leaders Donald Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to confirm it. The agreement signals easing trade tensions amid ongoing disputes over tariffs, technology restrictions, and security concerns.
- What it takes for a mall to be ‘evergreen’: Do enclosed mid-tier malls need expensive renovations — or do they just have to be good enough?
- VF Corp. to sell Dickies for $600M: Bluestar Alliance, which in recent years has added Off-White, Palm Angels and Scotch & Soda to its stable, has agreed to buy the workwear brand.
- Bed Bath & Beyond closes $10M Kirkland’s Home acquisition: The deal, which includes the Kirkland’s Home trade name and some brand assets, will see Kirkland’s expand into wholesale.
- How J.C. Penney is preparing for the holidays with laugh-out-loud deals: Marketing chief Marisa Thalberg discusses how marketers can engage holiday shoppers amid economic uncertainty.
- Consumer confidence falls on dimming outlook for labor market: “After months of a frozen job market with little hiring outside of healthcare, people now see more industries turning to layoffs,” Navy Federal Credit Union Chief Economist Heather Long said.
- Google Search rank and position tracking is a mess right now: Google removed the ability to see 100 search results per page and both third-party tracking tools and maybe even Search Console seem off since.
- Google Search Console adds achievements section: Now there is a dedicated section to see your achievements within Search Console.
- Google Ads auto-enables ‘Store Visits’ conversions, sparking concerns: Google will autotmatically change store visit value, potentially raising ROAS with estimated – not actual – sales.
- AI search optimization tools: Geoptie’s all-in-one GEO dashboard is live: Geoptie’s all-in-one AI search optimization dashboard is live. Free beta: GEO tools, competitor analysis, citation tracking, and GEO audit reports.
- Penske Media sues Google, says AI Overviews hurt revenue, traffic: Penske Media, owner of Rolling Stone, Billboard and Variety, says Google AI Overviews steal content, cut traffic and threaten media’s future.
- 1.5 million chats reveal who uses ChatGPT and why: Large ChatGPT analysis finds global growth, a shrinking gender gap, and everyday tasks like writing and guidance driving most conversations.
- TikTok’s U.S. future rests on Trump–Xi meeting this week: A deal framework signals TikTok may stay in the U.S., easing months of uncertainty for advertisers, marketers, and creators.
- AI Overviews are taking over Google—are your rankings at risk?: Semrush analyzed 10M+ keywords to reveal how Google’s AI summaries are reshaping SEO—and where your content might be losing clicks.
- Fame engineering: The key to generative engine optimization: Fame engineering builds AI availability – ensuring generative engines recognize, understand, and recommend your brand in buying moments.
- U.S. and China Reach ‘Framework’ for a TikTok Sale (7 minute read)
- The US has reached a preliminary deal with China on the fate of TikTok. Both sides have agreed to a framework to divest TikTok from ByteDance. President Trump and Xi Jinping are set to speak on Friday to approve the deal.
OpenAI upgrades Codex with a new version of GPT-5 (2 minute read) - OpenAI’s new model, GPT-5-Codex, spends its ‘thinking’ time more dynamically than previous models. It can spend up to seven hours on a coding task. The model is rolling out now in Codex products to all ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise users. It will be made available to API customers in the future.
- Sam Altman-Backed Retro Biosciences Starts Alzheimer’s Reversal Trial: Retro Biosciences is gearing up for a clinical trial of a drug aimed at reversing the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug could potentially restore cognitive function in ways that could redefine longevity treatments. Retro’s approach leverages cellular reprogramming techniques. The upcoming trial will test the pill’s efficacy in human subjects.
- New Ultrasound Helmet Reaches Deep Inside The Brain Without Surgery: Researchers have created an ultrasound helmet that could offer an alternative to invasive procedures. It can modulate deep-brain circuits without surgery with unrivaled precision. The helmet offers a safe, reversible, and repeatable method for both understanding brain function and developing targeted therapies. It has potential clinical applications for neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, where deep-brain regions are especially affected.
- A terminal command that tells you if your USB-C cable is bad: Android Studio recently added a new feature that warns users when they connect a slow cable to their phones. This post presents a script that checks USB connections in macOS. The script was originally cobbled together with AI, but while it worked, it was a mess to maintain. The developer used AI to port it to Go so the code could be structured more legibly and more easily tweaked.
- Apple has a private CSS property to add Liquid Glass effects to web content: Apple has a custom CSS property named -apple-visual-effect that allows the use of Liquid Glass in iOS 26. It only works by toggling a private setting in WKPreferences, so using it means no App Store approval. No one outside of Apple can use it – and no one knows where Apple is using it.
- CubeSats are fascinating learning tools for space: It’s possible to build a space-ready CubeSat using just a few thousand dollars of parts. Many CubeSats use Raspberry Pis and other off-the-shelf components. This post introduces CubeSats and shows readers how they can build their own CubeSats. It also covers several CubeSat projects by other creators.
- The Last Days Of Social Media: Genuine human content is increasingly being sidelined by algorithms. Engineered content and AI slop optimized solely for clicks are being prioritized. Early social media was built for connection. The generative AI-fueled attention economy has broken that illusion. Feeds are no longer crowded with people, but with content.
- Taste is humanity’s last edge over AI.
- Why aren’t you a good fit?: Asking candidates why they shouldn’t be hired is a good filter.
- StringWa.rs on GPUs: Databases & Bioinformatics: StringZilla is a string library that uses SIMD and SWAR to accelerate string operations on modern CPUs.
- Meta expands WhatsApp ad options.
- Spotify will now let free users pick and play tracks.
- EBay prepares for AI search shift.
- Rent the Runway says its CX efforts are paying off. The financials aren’t as rosy: The clothing rental company saw active subscriber growth and NPS improvements, but it reported a net loss of $26.4 million and increased prices for subscriptions.
- American Express wants to simplify travel planning for its cardholders: The Amex Travel App is designed to help travelers book hotels, flights and transportation.
- Consumer confidence falls on dimming outlook for labor market: “After months of a frozen job market with little hiring outside of healthcare, people now see more industries turning to layoffs,” Navy Federal Credit Union Chief Economist Heather Long said.
- Meta’s next-level AI glasses look set to include a heads-up display and a wrist control device.
- X saw a surge in interest due to increased political discussion last week.
- Pinterest is looking to encourage more use of Pins in the classroom by supporting creators who inspire teachers and students.
- Australian Authorities say that social media platforms should not require age verification for all users when a ban on children under 16 having accounts goes into effect in December in Australia.
- President Donald Trump hinted in a Truth Social post on Sept. 15 that the United States and China have reached a deal to divest the popular social media platform to a U.S. buyer. The announcement came two days before the next ban deadline. But further details about a deal for TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese internet giant ByteDance, were not revealed. President Trump and President Xi Jinping of China will talk on Friday to “complete” the deal, Mr. Bessent said.
- A man has been jailed after bombarding his victim with messages and calls during a two-month campaign of stalking. Joshua Allen rang the woman between 80 and 100 times a day and sent scores of messages via text and social media.
- KFC hires Wingstop marketer as CMO to fire up comeback plan: Melissa Cash takes over at the Yum chain for Catherine Tan-Gillespie, who was promoted to president in April.
- How Yum’s AI factory supercharges marketing at Taco Bell and beyond: Execs at the fast-food giant detail an approach to artificial intelligence that is already powering transformation throughout its digitally focused brands.
- Dentsu grows programmatic know-how with Index Exchange, Chalice AI: The two companies will bolster Dentsu’s NextGen initiative, which is meant to evolve its capabilities through data, artificial intelligence and modularity.
- Why marketers still struggle to capitalize on in-store retail media: Ad spending on in-store retail media is forecast to top $1 billion by 2029, but experts on an IAB panel cited several lingering barriers to growth.
TLDR: Social Media Headlines – 16 September 2025
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