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Lyft has officially introduced teen accounts for ages 13 to 17. This is a rideshare feature in which teenagers can request their own rides, which is similar to Uber's pre-existing platform. Teens request the rides on their own, but parents can keep an eye on things every step of the way. Lyft says that parents or guardians can see every ride in real time and manage the account. They also get updates at pickup and drop-off and the app allows communication with the driver when needed. This is a rideshare service for teens, so there are several new safety features. The drivers must "meet the highest standards" on the platform. Lyft says they get annual background checks and must have "proven safe driving records, positive passenger interactions and experience behind the wheel." The teens have to enter a PIN to ensure the correct rider gets in the car, which is something Lyft has been experimenting with for adults. Audio recording of the ride is on by default, for an added layer of safety. Lyft Teen is available right now, though not everywhere. The company has launched the platform in 200 markets, including New York City, Chicago, Atlanta and Miami, among others. It's coming to more cities as the year winds on.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/lyft-rolls-out-teen-accounts-with-enhanced-safety-protections-110002761.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
YouTube Music has started putting lyrics a previously free feature introduced in 2020 behind a paywall, according to multiple users and 9to5Google. In the latest update, the Lyrics tab in the Now Playing screen displays a warning message: You have [x] views remaining. Unlock lyrics with Premium. Free users get lyrics for five songs, then after that, will only see a few lines before the rest of the song is blurred.Google has been testing the feature since at least September with a limited number of users, according to previous reports. Its been speculated that YouTube may have made the change to recuperate costs spent with lyric aggregators like Musixmatch. Spotify also put lyrics behind its Premium paywall in 2024, but a user backlash forced it to reinstate the feature for free users. Google has yet to confirm the change, and while it appears to be a larger rollout, the feature change could still be in testing. YouTube Musics Premium subscription costs $10.99 in the US with ad-free playback, offline downloads, AI features and more the same as its main rivals Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/youtube-music-starts-limiting-lyrics-for-free-users-101258311.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
Those cheap hot dogs sold just inside IKEA stores? In the UAE, they've been supersized. IKEA's in-store bistros and restaurants have long been a stroke of commercial genius. Loss-leading hot dogs and meatballs lure millions through the door and keep them fueled through marathon furniture runs. Introduced on 30 January 2026, the retailer's new hot dog stretches to nearly 50 centimeters, dwarfing the standard version and priced at a modest AED 19 (around USD 5). For context, the iconic blue FRAKTA bag is just 5 cm bigger. IKEA leaned into the inherent comedy of scale something so ridiculous it demands to be photographed, shared and discussed. The visual absurdity is the point: images of shoppers clutching what looks like a pool noodle on a bun spread rapidly across social media, turning a food court novelty into a viral moment. And unlike many social-first stunts, this one delivers tangible value: it's a real product, at a real price, available at real stores.TREND BITEIn a media landscape fractured by algorithms and niche feeds, breaking through requires either surgical precision or sheer spectacle. IKEA chose spectacle. The half-meter hot dog taps into what we've dubbed ABSURDDITIES: the growing recognition that maximalist, deliberately over-the-top moves are among the most reliable ways to create shared cultural moments. When nearly a third of social media users log on specifically to find out what everyone's talking about, brands that manufacture unmissable absurdity earn attention that traditional advertising struggles to buy.
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Marketing and Advertising
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