iWorld
UP Warriorz and Navya Naveli Nanda unite to combat online trolling in women’s cricket
Mumbai: In a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at addressing the negativity faced by women athletes on social media, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) cricket team, UP Warriorz, has partnered with women’s rights advocate Navya Naveli Nanda, to unveil #TrashTalkCleanUp. Created in collaboration with Interactive Avenues, UP Warriorz’s digital creative agency, the campaign features an inspiring 2-part video podcast and series of Instagram reels.
The aim of ‘Trash Talk Clean Up’ is to bin the negativity of social media and create safe spaces on the internet for UP Warriorz’ players as well as female athletes at large. A recent study by Plan International found that social media abuse targets female athletes three times more than men. A study published by World Athletics also states that out of all the hate circulating about the Olympics, 87 per cent of it was targeted towards women.
The problem is no less rampant for India’s women athletes. Former cricketer Mithila Raj, two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, hockey player Vandana Kataria and even the Indian women’s cricket team have faced trolling repeatedly and voiced their opposition on social media. Against this backdrop, UP Warriorz is acting for change and turning online spaces of harassment and abuse into places of support for these achievers.
The first edition of Trash Talk Cleanup Podcast showcases candid, heartwarming conversations between Navya and UP Warriorz cricketers Vrinda Dinesh, Gouher Sultana, and Poonam Khemnar. Strategically launched around the Women’s Premier League, the initiative addresses the issue of online trolling faced by women cricketers and encourages individuals to respond to trolls with special dustbin gifs, symbolizing the disposal of negative comments. While there’s a long way to go, the social media team of UP Warriorz has already activated these GIFs and dustbin emojis through comments and reactive social listening, resulting in a visible reduction in trolling from the start of the season on 24 February till date.
Expressing her thoughts on the collaboration, Capri Sports director Jinisha Sharma said, “This Women’s Day, we champion every sportswoman across the nation to rise above the noise, to focus on their true passion and excellence on the field.”
Interactive Avenues senior creative director Eshwari Pandit added, “Women often bear the brunt of cyberbullying, ranging from comments on their appearance to criticism of their professional choices. This online negativity not only impacts the mental well-being of players, but also tarnishes the spirit of the game. Through #TrashTalkCleanUp, we aspire to shed light on this critical issue and advocate for respect and positivity towards women athletes.”
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
