Robby Starbuck, a controversial activist famous for his loud denunciations of everyone to his political left, has filed a landmark defamation case against Meta. Starbuck claims that the social media giant has defamed him by making false statements of fact that it knows to be false. The lawsuit has attracted national momentum. Most recently, it garnered the spotlight in a CNBC video interview, where Starbuck candidly lays out his frustrations with Meta.
In another sign of strength for the advertising tech giants, Applovin, one of the biggest adtech firms, reported earnings for the second quarter that beat Wall Street estimates. The firm posted an earnings and revenue beat, well ahead of early projections which resulted in a meteoric rise in its share price. In after-hour trading, Applovin’s stock was up as much as 15%, showing that investors were bullish on the company and its future financial health.
In addition to the downgrades, Applovin announced that it will be selling its mobile gaming business to Tripledot Studios. This strategic move, which will add a strong new destination market for the Orlando area, is scheduled to close in second quarter 2025. Following completion of the transaction, Applovin will retain an approximate 20% stake in Tripledot Studios. This studio is known for developing wildly successful mobile game hit titles Sudoku Friends, Puzzletime, Solitaire Classic.
The company expects second-quarter sales in a range of $1.2 billion to $1.22 billion. This projection was below what analysts were expecting, with sales predicted to be around $1.38 billion. Even with the added contrast of this difference, Applovin’s all-around earnings report shows strength and promise for continued growth amidst a crowded space.
Robby Starbuck’s lawsuit against Meta has garnered a lot of media buzz. It raises critical questions about the accountability of social media and its impact on activists. The video produced by CNBC includes some of Starbuck’s compelling testimony. In the process, he unabashedly lays out his accusations against the tech behemoth.
At the same time that these two narratives develop, they both highlight the intersectional nature of activism and corporate performance in our current media landscape. Thomas Fuller helps bring this visual narrative to life with stunning photography. He is a contributing member to SOPA Images, Lightrocket and Getty Images which has added depth to both narratives.