Your commercial news round-up: Instagram PG-13, bankers’ bonuses, driverless cars, Nestlé

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Have you been staying up to date with the week’s commercial news? Meta has announced a new version of Instagram for teenagers and rules governing when bankers can receive bonuses have been relaxed. Meanwhile, the wheels are in motion for driverless taxis to hit the streets of London and Nestlé has announced pending job cuts. Read on to find out more!

• Meta has announced plans to adopt a PG-13 version of Instagram, which will apply rules similar to the “parental guidance” movie rating to all material on teen accounts. Currently, Instagram hides sexually suggestive, graphic or alcohol related content from under 18s. However, the new version will tighten restrictions further, following independent research led by former Meta senior engineer Arturo Béjar – who previously raised alarms about the company’s failure to protect young users – alongside academics from New York University and Northeastern University, and suicide prevention charity Molly Rose Foundation. The findings showed that 64% of Meta’s current safety tools are ineffective, prompting conversation about how safety could be improved. The updates are due to be rolled out in the US, UK, Australia and Canada, and will come into force in Europe and the rest of the world in early 2026.
  
  The planned changes mean that users under 18 will be automatically placed onto the 13+ setting and can only opt out with parents’ permission. Meta stated that it wanted to align with an “independent standard that parents are familiar with”. Campaigners have voiced doubts about the changes. Policy manager at the Molly Rose Foundation, Rowan Ferguson, said: “Time and again Meta’s PR announcements do not result in meaningful safety updates for teens and as our recent report revealed they still have work to do to protect them from the most harmful content.”
   
• Senior bankers are set to receive bonuses faster, following a relaxation of rules that were brought in after the 2008 financial crisis. Previously, senior bankers had to wait up to eight years to receive bonuses in full, allowing time to assess whether the deals they were rewarded for proved profitable. However, the deferral period has been cut to four years, with partial payment starting in the first year. Regulators said the rules would still curb reckless risk-taking, as intended by the original eight-year rule, while promoting competition to better align the UK with other financial markets. CEO of financial watchdog the Prudential Regulation Authority, Sam Woods, said: "These new rules will cut red tape without encouraging the reckless pay structures that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. These changes are the latest example of our commitment to boosting UK competitiveness."
   
• US technology company Waymo’s driverless taxis are set to take to the road next year in London. This is the first time Waymo will expand its autonomous vehicle (AV) service into a European city, with cars already used in San Francisco and four other US cities. The AVs will be on the streets of London with safety drivers behind the wheel in 2026, with Waymo currently working with the Transport for London and the Department of Transport to obtain permits to offer fully autonomous rides. In 2027, these rides should be possible following the planned passing of the Automated Vehicle Act. The government has stated that it’ll accelerate proceedings to allow public trials before legislation is passed.
  
  Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I’m delighted that Waymo intends to bring their services to London next year, under our proposed piloting scheme […]. Boosting the AV sector will increase accessible transport options alongside bringing jobs, investment and opportunities to the UK. Cutting-edge investment like this will help us deliver our mission to be world leaders in new technology and spearhead national renewal.” Responding to the news, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, Steve McNamara, said he isn’t concerned by the arrival of a “fairground ride”. He commented that London will be a more challenging city for implementing AVs compared to San Francisco, due to its irregular road system. Despite McNamara’s claim that there’s no demand for AVs, technology companies Uber and Wayve have also announced plans to trial driverless taxis in the capital next year.
   
• Food and beverage company Nestlé will cut 16,000 jobs over the coming two years, as new CEO Philipp Navratil focuses on products with "highest potential returns". Nestlé recently reported improved sales figures in the first nine months of 2025. However, the company plans to cut 12,000 white-collar jobs and 4,000 other roles, which is set to save it around £940 million annually. Navratil said: "We are fostering a culture that embraces a performance mindset, that does not accept losing market share, and where winning is rewarded. The world is changing, and Nestlé needs to change faster."

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