TikTok US (Finally) Emerges; Forbes, For Bettor Or Worse | AdExchanger

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Home Daily News Roundup TikTok US (Finally) Emerges; Forbes, For Bettor Or Worse

Daily News Roundup
TikTok US (Finally) Emerges; Forbes, For Bettor Or Worse By AdExchanger

Monday, January 26th, 2026 – 12:01 am
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BigTok Is Watching
January 19 marked the anniversary of the federal deadline for supposedly banning TikTok in the US. 
Now, almost exactly one year to the day later, TikTok signed a deal to divest its US business. 
Per TikTok’s press release, a joint venture will be managed by a consortium of three investors: American PE firm Silver Lake, enterprise software company Oracle and Emirati investment firm MGX.
Cool, cool, but what about the data?

TikTok also updated its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to inform users that it will be collecting “new types of information,” including device geolocation.
What has users really freaking out, though, is a clause stating that the app will also collect any information they disclose about their race, religion, health, sexual orientation, gender identity and citizenship or immigration status.
Interestingly, this language was likely added in July 2024, which is before President Trump returned to office. It’s also worth noting that TikTok’s current EU privacy policy doesn’t include similar language.
In a political climate defined by crackdowns on immigrants and people of color, often tied to location data, this update carries new weight. And the fact that TikTok now counts a Dubai-based investor among its co-owners only complicates the picture further and raises tough questions.
The Publisher Forecast
In a plea for on-site engagement, Forbes will offer rewards to users who correctly predict real-world outcomes, such as news, sports, weather and the like. The offering, called ForbesPredict, launches in beta next month, Digiday reports.
Forbes says the feature isn’t gambling but, rather, “gamification.” 
For one, people don’t wager real money. And unlike prediction market platforms such as Kalshi or Polymarket, Forbes pays out in “tokens,” which readers will apparently want because they’re cool or something? By accumulating tokens, readers can bet on additional events.
It’s unclear how else Forbes will provide value for the tokens, since paying out cash or even tangible rewards could push it into murky legal territory as a form of gambling. 
One thing is clear, however: Forbes wants to attract – and retain – engaged visitors by gamifying its journalism. And better engagement means more first-party data on consumer sentiment for ForbesOne, the data platform Forbes launched in 2021. 
Forbes also plans to capitalize on brand sponsorships. A food or beverage brand, for example, could sponsor an interstitial prompting site visitors to predict the flavor of its next product.
Who wants to bet whether anyone participates? 
More Like Business Outsider
All signs point to Business Insider CEO Barbara Peng’s advertising- and subscription-centered turnaround plan not panning out, reports Status.
A slew of executive leaders have recently departed.
The latest to exit is CRO Maggie Milnamow, who joined Betches Media last week after a last-minute reversal on a scheduled appearance at the World Economic Forum. BI took the opportunity to announce that Orlando Reece, global head of sales, is likewise making his exit.
Since November, BI’s head of subscriptions, Katie Friedman, and Priscilla Ellington, VP of live events, have also bounced. Not to mention Kaleigh Mountain, VP of ad sales, and Ryan Riefenhauser, an account director, who both joined Apple, while Maria Purcell, VP of global partnerships, left for Reach PLC.
What’s behind all the turnover? 
Well, BI and parent company Axel Springer missed their revised 2025 revenue targets. And Peng – who was hired in 2023 – told employees in a recent all-hands meeting that BI struggled on advertising, subscriptions and partnerships last year.
More layoffs aren’t expected, however, since BI cut staff by 21% last year. Such is life in the news biz. 
But Wait! There’s More!
As part of the new corporate takeover, TikTok Shop will end independent shipping for US brands. [Adweek]
Why does Google keep replacing news headlines with (terrible) AI-generated versions? [The Verge]
Gen Zers use generative AI the most but are more anxious about the technology than older generations. [Business Insider]
With Meta leading the pack, Big Tech companies spent $109 million lobbying the Trump administration last year, topping $100 million in lobbying for the first time. [Bloomberg]

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© 2026 Access Intelligence, LLC - All Rights Reserved

This Daily News Roundup, published by AdExchanger on January 26th, 2026, presents a snapshot of key developments across the digital media and marketing landscape. The report covers a diverse range of topics, including the finalized divestiture agreement for TikTok’s US operations, evolving strategies within the publishing industry, shifts in advertising technology, and broader trends impacting the tech sector.

The core story centers on TikTok’s agreement with Silver Lake, Oracle, and MGX, marking the end of the federal deadline for its ban. This deal includes a significant update to TikTok’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, incorporating language regarding the collection of user data, including geolocation information and sensitive personal details such as race, religion, health, sexual orientation, gender identity, and citizenship. This addition highlights growing concerns around data privacy, particularly in relation to location-based tracking and the potential for such data to be used in discriminatory ways. The involvement of a Dubai-based investor further complicates the narrative.

Beyond the TikTok story, several trends are highlighted. Forbes is experimenting with “ForbesPredict,” a gamified approach to engagement, aiming to leverage user predictions as a data source for its data platform, ForbesOne. This demonstrates a shift toward interactive content and data monetization, characteristic of the industry’s increasing focus on first-party data. Additionally, the report notes a wider strategy within the publishing industry, exemplified by Forbes’ attempts to engage users through predictive games.

The report also addresses the ongoing turmoil within the advertising technology sector. The departure of numerous executive leaders from Business Insider (BI) signals significant challenges for the company’s turnaround strategy spearheaded by CEO Barbara Peng. This turnover, coupled with missed revenue targets, underscores the difficulties faced by traditional media outlets in adapting to the digital age. The report details staff reductions at BI and its parent company, Axel Springer, reflecting the broader pressures within the news industry.

Several other segments contribute to the broader picture. The emergence of TikTok Shop’s policy changes affecting independent shipping for US brands highlights the rapid evolution of e-commerce. The report identifies Amazon’s release of its Prebid adapter as a positive step towards a more collaborative programmatic ecosystem, further emphasizing the industry’s ongoing efforts to streamline and improve its technology infrastructure.

Finally, the report touches upon broader tech trends, including the increased lobbying efforts by Big Tech companies regarding data privacy and the evolving roles of AI in advertising and content creation. The launch of ChatGPT’s advertising capabilities, alongside broader conversations surrounding the “hype” versus “reality” of AI implementations, provides an insight into the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of the technology sector.