Bonded Bitesize – Your Midweek Roundup

Instagram Will Soon Let You Reset Your Recommendations In-Stream

Instagram is testing a ‘Reset Suggested Content’ feature that lets users clear their recommendations across Explore, Reels, and Feed. This allows users to restart content suggestions based on their interactions, while still keeping activity data for ad targeting. Users can also review and unfollow accounts they no longer want to see content from. The feature is aimed at improving user experience, particularly for teens, by providing a way to refresh content preferences and ensure age-appropriate recommendations. However, it cannot be undone, so users must be sure before resetting. The feature will soon be available globally.

Spotify has launched a major push into long-form video

Spotify is expanding into long-form video to compete with YouTube, aiming to boost creator growth and monetisation of video podcasts. At its Now Playing event in LA, Spotify revealed plans to pay video creators based on user engagement and remove ads for paid subscribers. These changes are part of Spotify’s broader strategy to enhance its platform, which has already seen growth in podcasts and audiobooks, and offer fans a more seamless viewing experience.

Google Takes A Closer Look Inside Ads As 2025 Approaches

Google has introduced several advertising updates this year, focusing on AI to enhance optimisation, reporting, and insights across platforms. Key innovations include AI-powered Overviews, which will feature ads in U.S. mobile search results, and improved reporting on misspelt search queries. AI is also being used to generate creative assets, optimise campaigns, and offer dynamic pricing suggestions. Google has updated its Performance Max tool, offering better asset performance tracking and transparency on where ads appear, including YouTube and the Search Partner Network. Additionally, advertisers can exclude certain placements using the Content Suitability Centre.

For more insights, check out this article on Google’s latest advertising updates. 

26 Predictions for Social Media Marketing in 2025

In 2025, Facebook will continue to focus on AI and AR, with Meta pushing AI tools more aggressively, despite their questionable fit for social apps. Meta is betting on AI-generated content, pushing users to create AI images and avatars, while also exploring AR experiences and wearable devices like AR glasses. Expect new features linking AR to posts, and Meta will likely make owning AR glasses a status symbol. The company is also integrating VR more seamlessly with non-VR users and improving digital avatars. Additionally, Meta will increase its emphasis on short-form video content, particularly through Reels, to drive engagement and compete with TikTok, possibly positioning itself as a TikTok alternative if the platform faces a U.S. ban.

Report Looks at the Rise of Online Influencers as News Sources

Pew Research’s study on news consumption habits shows that social media plays a critical role in how Americans get news, with 20% now relying on influencers, particularly among younger adults (37% of those aged 18-29). This shift reflects a growing distrust of traditional media, perceived as biassed or influenced by external interests. Social platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), remain key for real-time news, despite recent political shifts. The study highlights how algorithms favour emotionally charged, often partisan content, with right-leaning influencers better at simplifying complex issues, thus gaining more engagement. This trend amplifies divisive, sensationalist messaging, raising concerns about the quality and impact of news in the social media era.

Check out Pew Research’s News Consumption Report here.

Google November 2024 core update rolling out now

Google has launched its November 2024 core update, which will take about two weeks to fully roll out. Core updates, released multiple times a year, often bring significant changes to Google’s search algorithms. This update aims to improve search results by prioritising content that users find genuinely useful and de-emphasising content designed solely to perform well in search rankings. While the update follows the August 2024 core update, it’s too soon to determine its full impact. Websites negatively affected by the September 2023 helpful content update should not expect significant recoveries. Google advises creators to focus on producing helpful, user-first content, as there is no specific recovery action to take.

Snapchat Announces First ‘Sponsored Snap’ Campaign

Snap has launched its first Sponsored Snap campaign, which places video ads directly into user inboxes. The initial campaign promotes the movie Wicked and features actor Jonathan Bailey encouraging users to buy tickets. While Snap claims that most users like movies, the move to insert ads into the intimate space of users’ DMs—where many teens have personal conversations—may be met with resistance. Ads in DMs are generally unwelcome across platforms, and users may find this disruptive. Though Snap’s 443 million daily active users could provide valuable engagement for brands, the success of Sponsored Snaps will depend on how users respond to this potentially intrusive ad format.

Google Shopping Adds Product Price Comparison and Local Availability Listings

Google has introduced new shopping features for the holiday season, including price comparison via Google Lens, which lets users take photos of in-store items and get prices from nearby retailers. It has also added a feature to Google Maps for locating in-stock items at nearby stores. Additionally, Google Pay now supports payment options like Afterpay, Klarna, and Discover. These updates aim to enhance the in-store shopping experience but could lead to more price-sensitive consumers finding cheaper deals elsewhere.

Reports Suggest Ads Are Coming to Threads Early Next Year

Meta is reportedly planning to introduce ads on Threads early next year, despite earlier claims that monetisation wouldn’t happen until the platform reached a billion users. Threads currently has 275 million active users, and Meta has been experimenting with ad formats. However, Meta denies an imminent ad rollout, emphasising that its focus is on enhancing user value first. In a recent earnings call, Meta stated that Threads wouldn’t significantly contribute to revenue in 2025. It appears there’s internal debate over monetisation plans, and while ads may eventually come, it’s unlikely to happen before Threads hits around 500 million active users.