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YouTube to launch native versions in nine countries
MUMBAI: Google owned video sharing service YouTube will soon expand its presence in nine other countries by translating into their native languages. The website will currently expand into Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. This will be followed by more local versions. Users from these countries will be allowed to share and create videos in their native language, search the most popular and relevant videos in their markets and connect with other local users. YouTube has already signed content deal with international content partners including broadcasters such as the BBC, France 24, the Spanish Antena 3 and Cuatro TV. YouTube co-founder and CEO Chad Hurley said, “Video is universal and allows people around the world to communicate and exchange ideas. YouTube will now be more accessible and interesting to a worldwide audience, and we look forward to rolling out in other countries in the months to come.” Co-founder and chief technology officer Steve Chen said, “From the beginning, we have been totally focused on creating an incredible YouTube user experience and service,” said Chen. “We‘re really excited to now offer that same great service to a global community, by bringing them local sites that not only promote their communities but speak their language.”
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
