Bonded Bitesize – Your Midweek Roundup
Bonded Bitesize – Your Midweek Roundup
Bonded Bitesize – Bringing you your midweek roundup of the latest in digital and media.
Stay connected with recent updates from Microsoft, Google, Meta & many more!
X is developing a semantic search, that will show posts that matches meaning rather than wording
As part of Elon Musk’s plan to turn X into the ‘everything app’, developers at X are working on building a semantic search - that uses AI to identify posts that match the meaning of your search, rather than just the same keywords. Twitter’s search tool has faced criticism by users over the years that couldn’t find the content they were looking for on the app, which is clearly something Musk is keen to improve.
Following regulatory ruling, Meta declares it will now ask EU users’ permission to show targeted advertising
In a move that directly opposes the way Meta operates as a business, the company has announced it will begin asking EU users for permission to show them personalised ads following regulatory rulings with the EU. The company commented, “We are announcing our intention to change the legal basis that we use to process certain data for behavioural advertising for people in the EU, EEA and Switzerland from ‘legitimate interests’ to ‘consent’. This will be a further knock to Meta, having already been hit by Apple’s new privacy change that requires app developers to now seek the permission of users to track their online activity.
Google’s Universal Analytics still processing data one month after ‘sunset’, though actively pushing use of GA4
Despite having warned users they would be forced to migrate over to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) by June 30th or risk losing the ability to track the performance of their websites and campaigns, many marketers can still access their Universal Analytics accounts as normal. While many are slow to warm to GA4 - finding the new system difficult to use, lagging and full of data discrepancies - Google is still promoting the new system for those that have not yet migrated, reiterating that for the few who still have access to their UA accounts they will soon stop processing data.
Following new EU regulations, TikTok users will soon be able to switch off ultra-personalised content-selection algorithm
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) has placed a new requirement on large online platforms, such as TikTok, to offer users the choice to see content recommendations that are not based on the personalisation of tracking their activity on the platform. For users that choose this option, TikTok will instead show a feed populated by videos popular in their region and preferred language. This is quite a big change for a platform that grew so rapidly through the success of its ultra-sticky algorithm - though it is not TikTok’s first step to address its own transparency issues, having recently rolled out a new Ads Transparency Library.
Sky launches new ‘Search Behaviour’ ad-targeting tool to allow brands to target audiences based on specific online behaviours
Sky Media, the media arm of Sky TV, has launched a new ad targeting tool, known as Search Behaviour. The new tool will enable brands to target audiences based on specific online behaviours such as the frequency people are online, or their intentions whilst online. The data collected is matched with Sky’s first-party data through its targeted advertising platform AdSmart, and can be combined with more than 1000 AdSmart attributes such as postcode, life stage, and gender to help advertisers reach the right audiences.
YouTube rolls out 6 new Shorts creation tools to inspire creators, including Collabs and Q&As
YouTube has been busy working on 6 new features for Shorts creation, helping inspire creators and keep it competing with Rivals TikTok and Meta. Firstly, a new Collab tool allows creators to record in a split-screen format alongside other YouTube or Shorts videos. The platform has brought out new stickers and effects, including a Q&A sticker not too dissimilar from that of Instagrams. YouTube is also working to make live streams more discoverable, and give creators inspiration for their next content ideas. Finally, YouTube Shorts can be saved to playlists and creators will also get access to new recomposition tools to help edit and post their videos.
Google spotted testing links in its Search Generative Experience, after failing to cite sources
Google has been spotted testing the placement of links directly within its SGE snapshot answers. Google’s new Search Generative Experience has been displaying these links in multiple different tests - including as footnotes, drop-down buttons and quotations to find the most user friendly solution. This company has previously gotten into trouble for not citing the source of its information, which shows they are actively working to improve.
Instagram reportedly working on several new generative AI features including DM summaries, AI stickers & comments
Instagram appears to be in the process of developing various new features and tools that use generative AI - such as new AI-generated content labels to help distinguish content that has been created or modified using AI. Reverse engineer, Alessandro Paluzzi, also found coding for a new message summary feature within Instagram’s inbox as well as AI-powered image editing within Stories and AI-generative stickers. Intriguingly, Paluzzi also discovered that Instagram is working on the ability to generate comments using AI - which may raise concerns for the authenticity of interactions on the platform. Finally, the platform is experimenting with AI agents with over 30 different personalities, to be able to interact with users directly within their inboxes - which while excessive, definitely one-ups Snapchat’s singular chatbot.
Pinterest reports slowing user growth in Q2, though more engagement among Gen Z cohort
Pinterest has recently published its Q2 2023 Performance Report, which draws attention to its slowing user growth. While the report does boast a growing user base from the ‘Rest of the World’ category, its most lucrative markets have taken a hit - not gaining users in the U.S. and even losing users from Europe. Despite these concerning figures, Pinterest is still maintaining a healthy revenue growth - revealing a 6% YOY increase during the period. The company also noted that its Gen Z users were the most engaged and fastest growing cohort.
Google releases guide on Responsive Search Ads to help marketers improve their campaign performance
Google has released a Responsive Search Ads guide that advises marketers on writing ads for maximum conversions, using Google AI to generate ad copy and on evaluating a campaigns effectiveness. The comprehensive guide teaches marketers that more assets are better as it gives the system more combinations to test - and which metrics to measure when evaluating the performance of your responsive search ads. A Google spokesperson commented, “Our goal is to simplify the work it takes to create high quality ads that achieve your business objectives at scale. To do this, we’re hard at work applying the newest AI-powered innovations across our asset generation”.
Read Google’s Responsive Search Ads guide here.
Meta launches brand suitability controls and third party verification to help reassure ad partners of brand safety
Meta has announced several new ad placement control options that help provide greater brand safety for advertisers on both Facebook and Instagram. Firstly, Meta has expanded its brand suitability verification for Instagram Feed, with plans to soon include Reels too. In addition, the company has also added four new languages to its inventory filters and third-party brand suitability verification for both platforms.
Changes to X’s algorithm shows platform is looking to amplify replies in posts and push video & subscription content
X has been regularly updating its algorithm as Musk continues to make changes to the platform - which could make a difference when planning your strategy for X. Firstly, according to open-sourced code analysed by X user @NFT_God, X appears to be wanting to amplify replies to posts - with replies now being given even more exposure than retweets in the main ‘For You’ feed. This is likely to encourage interaction within this space so that more ads can be served there. X also appears to be pushing video content as well as subscription content, and is beginning to show posts within the main feed for 48 hours rather than just 24. Finally, the algorithm will downvote content with links, and penalise posts that mention its new rival ‘Threads’.
YouTube is experimenting with AI-generated summaries for video descriptions
YouTube has announced that it is starting to test AI auto-generated summaries on YouTube, to help creators and brands save time and effort writing their video descriptions. Whilst AI video description tools like this do already exist, such as Clipnote.ai, skipit.ai and scrivvy, they often receive mixed reviews within the creator community - with many creators routinely finding that AI struggles to describe their longer, more complex videos.
TikTok is trialling a new ad-targeting tool that offers improved data privacy protection, following suspected data privacy violation
TikTok has revealed that it is trialling a new ad-targeting tool, called PrivacyGo, as a way of offering improved data privacy protection after finding itself in hot water for alleged data privacy violations. The new tool, PrivacyGo, operates like a data clean room - where separate parties can input multiple sets of data and find commonalities without sharing their original sources. If successful, the tool could provide marketers with deeper insights into their targeted audience, and also enhance TikTok’s ad-targeting abilities.
Google announces several new features to Google Analytics 4 to help better understand audiences and optimise campaigns
Google has announced a whole host of new features to improve app campaign measurement and performance within Google Analytics 4. Firstly, a new ‘unnotified users suggested audience’ feature helps marketers target users who may not have been reached via push notifications. Another feature allows marketers to seamlessly re-use app and web audiences, ensuring only relevant app users are targeted for app campaigns. Google has also added access to GA4 Audience builder in Google Ads, an additional performance uplift tool and comprehensive web-to-app conversion measurement. Finally, the company has added integrations with SKAdNetwork, on-device conversion measurement and Geo-based conversion lift measurement.
Read Google’s full announcement here.
