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Welcome back to the “the dump” - the newsletter that covers anything and everything you need to know around social media and the Internet Culture. Let’s go! 🏁

🌤️ Today on “the dump”

1. 🤩 What makes a CULT brand? [Sponsored]

2. 👎 X is building a ‘dislike’ button for downvoting replies

3. 🔞 FTC bans 'ask me anything' app for teen use

4. ☑️ X’s blue checkmarks are deceptive, rules EU

5. 🎵 YouTube tempts Creators with several new features for Shorts

Read time: 5 minutes

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🤩 What makes a CULT brand? [Sponsored]

The most successful brand win because they have become a part of Culture. They no longer sell products, but icons. They no longer seek awareness, but drive devotion among fans and believers.

TANGO has compiled a great list of all the characteristics of what makes a CULT brand.

The shift requires a change in brand behavior, how the brands see themselves and their role in Culture, as well as how they see their audience.

🧐 Why you should care: It has become harder than ever to cut through the noise on social media. Only the brands who have developed a quasi-cult following will continue to benefit from organic reach.

Read more here (TANGO on LinkedIn)

Please give TANGO a follow on LinkedIn 🙏🏼

👎 X is building a ‘dislike’ button for downvoting replies

Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, is continuing to develop a downvoting feature that will be used to improve how replies are ranked. Although the company has not yet officially announced its plans, more recent findings indicate the downvote feature may actually resemble a “dislike” button instead of a Reddit-style downvote icon.

Earlier this month, reverse engineer Aaron Perris, @aaronp613 on X, found references in X’s iOS app that referenced a downvote feature that appeared to be in development. He’s now found additional image files in the iOS app that indicate the button could be styled as a broken heart as well as more direct references to the feature itself.

Read more here (TechCrunch)

🔞 FTC bans 'ask me anything' app for teen use

Anonymous messaging apps like NGL: ask me anything are attractive to curious teens eager to share unfiltered opinions or hear candid confessions from their peers.

But a new order from the Federal Trade Commission highlights how such apps can be weaponized against teen users through bullying, harassment, and deception. Often marketed as free, the apps can impose a different cost, taking a toll on users' mental health.

Read more here (Mashable)

☑️ X’s blue checkmarks are deceptive, rules EU

‘Verified accounts’ lack authenticity and are being abused by malicious actors in violation of the EU’s DSA.

🔑 Key points:

• The European Union has warned X that its blue checkmark verification system violates rules under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA)

• The EU also found that X is failing to comply with transparency obligations regarding advertising and providing public data to researchers.

• If X fails to address the European Commission’s grievances, the company could face formal action and fines of up to six percent of its global revenue.

Read more here (The Verge)

🎵 YouTube tempts Creators with several new features for Shorts

As competition with TikTok and Reels heats up, YouTube on Thursday announced a slate of new features designed to make its short-form video product, YouTube Shorts, more compelling.

In a video update for creators, YouTube Chief Product Officer Johanna Voolich introduced six new tools that will help creators craft their Shorts videos, including those that will automatically transform longer videos into Shorts, among others, as well as tools to inspire creation, like an “Add Yours” sticker that prompts others to share their own content related to a creator’s video.

Check out all the new features here (TechCrunch)