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Reverberate: US media & marketing news you need to know today – YouTube Kids app under fire, Twitter revamps retweeting, Madonna on Meerkat & Facebook data lawsuit

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By Rebecca Stewart, Trends Editor

April 7, 2015 | 5 min read

Morning all, here’s a glimpse at all the media and marketing news you should know today.

1. Children's advocacy groups have slammed YouTube's Kids app for allegedly violating rules prohibiting unfair and deceptive marketing practices, says the International Business Times. Consumers are planning to ask the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch an investigation into the platform.

2. Twitter has revamped its retweet feature, making it easier for users to include commentary of their own, writes Mashable. The social network's new function allows posters to add remarks before hitting the retweet button.

3. Facebook has been hit with a lawsuit over the collection and use of 'faceprints' to identify users, according to MediaPost. The potential class action alleges that the social giant has violated its users’ privacy rights to acquire the largest privately held database of facial recognition data in the world.

4. In other Facebook news a landmark ruling from the Manhattan Supreme Court has said that a Brooklyn woman can use Facebook to serve her hard-to-find husband with divorce papers. The Daily News claims that the summons will be sent via a private message and repeated once a week until 'acknowledged' by the recipient.

5. Meerkat will host its first major music video world premiere this morning as Madonna's 'Ghosttown' is set to stream live on the service at 10am PST, notes The Next Web. It is unclear how the musician will use the app, and if the platform will allow a departure from live streaming to pre-recorded footage.

6. Samsung has refuted claims that its latest round of smartphones are vulnerable to the same 'bendgate' problem that plighted the iPhone 6, asserts the Washington Post. The mobile behemoth quashed accusations made by SquareTrade that the phone is a bit flimsy and conducted its own durability test.

7. Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts is trying to usher in a new way for the company to handle product launches. An internal memo obtained by Business Insider has revealed that the firm wants customers to avoid their local Apple store when the Apple Watch goes on sale and order online instead.

8. Matt Murphy, partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, is leaving the venture capital firm after 15 years, says Bloomberg. Murphy, who testified on the witness stand at Ellen Pao’s recent gender discrimination case, says his departure is a result of "wanting to experience something different in the world of venture".

9. Mountain Dew is launching 'throwback' packaging inspired by its Tennessee roots, notes Adweek. The brand's new soda, DewShine, will be sold in clear glass bottles and see the return of original mascot Willy the Hillbilly.

10. And Hostess is the latest company to fall privy to a social media blunder after posting a seemingly tone deaf Tweet, reports Business Insider. The snack-maker failed to score a home run when it shared a picture of cupcakes decorated like baseballs to celebrate the start of the football season with the caption 'Touchdown'.

Stay in the media and marketing news loop at thedrum.com.

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