Bonded Bitesize – Your Midweek Roundup

Google Unleashes June 2024 Spam Update

Google has released its June 2024 spam update, a routine enhancement to its automated systems designed to combat search spam. This update may take up to one week to fully roll out. Google clarified that this update is not related to the algorithmic enforcement of site reputation abuse policies or specifically targeting link spam. It encourages affected sites to review Google’s spam policies to ensure compliance, as non-compliance could lead to lower rankings or removal from search results. This update follows the March 2024 spam update and is the latest in Google’s ongoing efforts to improve its spam-detection systems.

Netflix Extends Microsoft Advertising Partnership

Microsoft Advertising has expanded its partnership with Netflix to include connected television (CTV) ads on its platform. This update allows advertisers to target Netflix viewers through Microsoft Advertising across several countries including the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia. Netflix, which has seen substantial growth with 269.6 million paid subscribers as of Q1 2024, requires advertisers to agree to its inventory policy when setting up CTV campaigns in Microsoft Advertising. This collaboration follows Netflix’s plan to launch its own advertising platform by 2025 and its recent global partnership with Magnite for programmatic ad buying.

Record Labels Accuse AI Companies Of ‘Ingesting’ Copyrighted Music

Major record labels, including Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Records, have sued AI companies Suno and Udio for allegedly using copyrighted music to train AI systems that generate music. Filed in federal courts in New York and Massachusetts, the complaints claim Suno and Udio copied extensive copyrighted material to create AI models mimicking human music styles. The lawsuits face challenges as they rely on inferred rather than direct proof of copyright infringement. They may also encounter arguments of fair use, which AI companies could cite to justify training with copyrighted material. Courts previously ruled on fair use differently, such as Google’s book digitisation, but AI music remains an emerging issue.

Meta Is Tagging Real Photos As ‘Made With AI,’ Say Photographers

Meta introduced a “Made with AI” label on its platforms in May, aiming to indicate when photos were created or edited using AI tools. However, users and photographers have criticised Meta for incorrectly applying this label to photos that weren’t AI-generated. Even renowned photographer Pete Souza experienced his photos being mislabelled due to software changes in tools like Adobe. Meta acknowledged the issue and stated they are reassessing their approach to ensure accurate labelling that reflects the actual AI involvement in image creation. Despite ongoing improvements, clarity remains a challenge for users discerning AI’s role in photos on Meta’s platforms.

Meet Seen, A New App For Friends To Record Reactions To TikToks And Other Content

Seen, a new social app founded by Faheem Kajee and actress Karen Gillan, offers a novel way to interact by requiring friends to record live video reactions to content sent to them. Available on iOS, users can share videos privately or in groups, fostering more engaging conversations than traditional text responses. The app integrates with TikTok and plans to include YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. With plans for an Android release soon, Seen aims to create authentic connections through genuine reactions, backed by $1 million in funding from notable investors. Future updates may introduce public feeds and monetisation features, shaping it as a unique player in social messaging.

X Is Losing Ground As A News Source Per Report

The Reuters Institute Digital News Report highlights declining reliance on Facebook and X for news, while TikTok emerges as a prominent source globally. Despite efforts by X to establish credibility, TikTok surpasses it in news consumption. Concerns over TikTok’s influence and content trustworthiness persist, with YouTube and Facebook remaining primary news platforms on social media. The report underscores evolving trends in online news consumption and the shifting roles of social platforms in delivering news content.

Pinterest Launches AI Ad Tools

Pinterest is enhancing its advertising capabilities with AI-driven tools and partnerships aimed at improving ad performance and brand safety. The platform’s new “Ad Labs” program introduces innovative ad formats like personalised background generation and interactive collage ads, currently tested by brands such as John Lewis and Bumble. Partnerships with IAS and DoubleVerify expand brand safety validation, ensuring 99% ad impressions are rated safe. Early results from Pinterest Performance+ show significant improvements in campaign efficiency, with reduced setup times and lowered cost per acquisition. These updates reflect Pinterest’s commitment to leveraging AI for effective ad personalisation and enhanced advertiser experiences.

Google Introduces Cross Media Reach For Publishers

Google Ads now offers Cross-Media Reach Measurement, a tool enabling advertisers to measure deduplicated, on-target reach and frequency across video campaigns. This tool specifically helps assess the reach efficiency of Video Reach and Video View Campaigns on YouTube in comparison to TV, providing comprehensive insights into brand campaign performance. It aggregates and deduplicates reach and frequency data across various campaign types, targeting criteria, and formats, enabling advertisers to optimise their video campaign planning and advertising investments effectively. Advertisers can generate detailed reports for their campaigns, analysing metrics such as unique reach and efficiency compared to linear TV across specific demographics and geographic locations.