Google is testing a paywall for lyrics on YouTube Music, restricting access for users without a premium subscription, according to Ars Technica. The change, which has been rolled out over recent months, limits the number of times free users can view lyrics before being prompted to subscribe. This move comes as Google continues to explore ways to monetize its streaming music service.
For as long as YouTube Music has existed, lyrics have been accessible to all users in the mobile app, Ars Technica reported. However, the recent test restricts lyric views for free account users. The lyrics section still appears in the app when playing a song with a free account, but opening it consumes a limited allotment of lyric views. A substantial increase in user reports, spotted by 9to5Google, suggests the paywall is being implemented more widely.
In other tech news, a Reddit clone called Moltbook, which billed itself as a social network for AI bots, went viral shortly after its January 28 launch, MIT Technology Review reported. Designed as a place where instances of a free open-source LLM-powered agent known as OpenClaw could interact, Moltbook quickly gained popularity. However, the MIT Technology Review questioned whether Moltbook was a glimpse into the future or something else entirely.
Meanwhile, GitHub users can subscribe to updates and receive notifications regarding incidents affecting GitHub services, according to Hacker News. Users can opt for email or text message notifications to stay informed about any disruptions.
In the broader consumer landscape, Chinese shoppers continue to embrace international brands despite rising nationalist sentiment, Fortune reported. Despite diplomatic tensions, consumerism appears to outweigh nationalism in China. The ruling Communist Party has often used nationalist sentiment to condemn countries perceived as violating China's stance on territorial issues. However, Chinese consumers continue to purchase products from brands like Disney and Ralph Lauren.
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