Bonded Bitesize – Your Midweek Roundup

Google quality raters now assess whether content is AI-generated

As part of its January 2025 update to the Search Quality Rater Guidelines, Google has instructed quality raters to give the Lowest rating to pages where most main content is created using automated or generative AI tools, especially if it lacks originality or value. Google now explicitly defines generative AI and outlines stricter guidance around spam, scaled content, filler, and misleading claims. The update introduces clearer distinctions between Low and Lowest quality content, with expanded focus on expired domain abuse, site reputation abuse, and exaggerated credentials. New sections also warn against filler content and instruct raters to base evaluations on actual content and verifiable expertise, rather than marketing spin or superficial layout.

How AI-powered search is reshaping SEO

The search landscape is rapidly evolving, with AI at its core—prompting a need for SEO strategies to adapt. In the webinar The Impact of ChatGPT and Generative AI on Search, experts from Exposure Ninja, Dragon Metrics, and Semrush explore how AI-powered tools are reshaping search behaviour and rankings. Attendees will gain insights on increasing visibility through brand mentions, structured data, and topical authority, as well as how to get content cited by AI assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Aimed at SEOs, digital marketers, and brand leaders, the session is supported by a comprehensive downloadable ebook to help future-proof your strategy.

Advertisers pull back from TikTok, boost Meta amid ban uncertainty

TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, with a potential ban looming and major brands cutting ad spend in Q1 2025. CPMs have dropped, and 8 of the top 10 advertiser categories pulled back year-over-year. Despite this, TikTok is still set to earn $14.8B in U.S. ad revenue—more than YouTube but behind Facebook. Advertisers are hedging bets, shifting budgets to Meta as Facebook and Instagram see rising short-form video CPMs. If TikTok is banned after June, brands may be forced to quickly adapt to new platforms, formats, and audiences.

Instagram Works With Schools To Counter In-App Bullying

Instagram is rolling out a School Partnership Program in the U.S., giving middle and high schools a direct line to Meta for reporting teen safety issues like cyberbullying. The initiative follows the launch of “Teen Accounts,” which give parents more control over their child’s activity. After testing with 60 schools, Meta is expanding the program to offer faster content moderation, real-time updates, and educational resources. Partner schools will also get a profile banner to show official status.While early reports show faster action on harmful content, concerns remain. Only 13% of teens report cyberbullying to schools, and Meta is also removing third-party fact-checking across its platforms, sparking criticism as it moves toward user-led moderation via Community Notes.

Google Rolls Out AI-Powered Travel Updates For Search & Maps

Google has unveiled its 2025 Summer Travel Trends Report alongside major AI updates to its planning tools. New features include AI Overviews for broader trip planning (e.g. “Costa Rica itinerary focused on nature”), price alerts for hotels, screenshot recognition in Maps, and “Gems”—custom travel assistants in Gemini. Lens now supports landmark recognition in seven additional languages. Trending destinations include coastal and nature-driven spots like Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, and Montana, with “cabins” and “dude ranches” gaining traction for romantic and family trips. For marketers, these updates highlight Google’s push to keep users within its ecosystem—making standout content and deeper travel insights key for SEO success as AI planning tools grow more advanced.

LinkedIn Campaign Manager Gets Performance Improvements

LinkedIn has updated its Campaign Manager to simplify performance tracking and optimisation, especially for small businesses managing multiple campaigns. The new Marketing Overview homepage offers a centralised snapshot of account performance, while the AI-powered Campaign Performance Digest provides deeper insights across the full buyer journey—from awareness to lead generation. With over 90% of users finding these insights accurate and valuable, LinkedIn has also introduced tools like cross-account ad duplication, a Media Planner to forecast ROI, dynamic UTMs for easier tracking, and a redesigned dashboard that highlights performance across campaigns, ads, and audiences. These updates aim to boost ROI and improve overall account health.

Microsoft Advertising Updates For Shopping Campaigns, Audience Ads, PMax & More

Microsoft Advertising’s April updates include enhancements across Shopping, audience ads, and Performance Max campaigns. A new Test Feed lets merchants check for validation errors without affecting live listings, and the UI now features a “Use feed for testing only” checkbox. Local Inventory ads are simpler to set up, requiring just two feeds instead of three. Disclaimers for audience ads are now available to support regulatory compliance, while Performance Max campaigns gain access to audience insights and asset-level conversion metrics. LinkedIn profile targeting is now fully rolled out, and Microsoft is cleaning up final URLs to improve asset generation. Optimisation Score will be deprecated starting April 8.

Spotify debuts Gen AI ads, programmatic ad buying

Spotify has introduced several major updates to its advertising offerings, including Gen AI ads and the Spotify Ad Exchange (SAX). SAX allows advertisers to reach Spotify’s logged-in users via real-time auctions, with new partnerships including Google’s Display & Video 360 and Magnite. It supports audio, video, and display ads, with podcast ads coming soon. Available in multiple countries, SAX offers full addressability and measurement capabilities. Additionally, Spotify is integrating Gen AI to help marketers create scripts and voiceovers for ads using Spotify Ads Manager in the U.S. and Canada, at no extra cost. These updates aim to engage Spotify’s large Gen Z user base, which now exceeds 251 million.

Google Analytics rolls out Generated Insights feature to decode data fluctuations

Google Analytics has launched a new AI-powered feature called Generated Insights, designed to automatically detect and explain significant data fluctuations. The feature uses natural language to surface trends and anomalies, saving time by providing instant, conversational explanations of unexpected patterns, like conversion spikes. It analyzes various dimensions and metrics to offer probable causes, enabling faster campaign adjustments. This tool allows team members without deep analytics expertise to make data-driven decisions quickly, improving efficiency and optimisation. The move aligns with Google’s strategy to integrate generative AI across its products, enhancing the user experience and competitive advantage for advertisers.

Snapchat rolls out Sponsored AI Lenses for brands

Snapchat has introduced Sponsored AI Lenses, a new ad format allowing brands to create immersive, AI-powered experiences. Using Snap’s generative AI technology, these interactive lenses let users take selfies and see themselves transformed into different AI-generated scenes, offering up to 10 unique experiences within one Lens. This new format replaces traditional 3D and VFX design, reducing production time and making creative execution faster. Brands like Tinder and Uber have already used it, with both seeing higher engagement and playtimes compared to standard Lenses. The launch is part of Snap’s continued exploration of generative AI to enhance user engagement on the platform.