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 ITV, Google, Adobe & many more!
ITV upgrades its Automated Contextual Targeting tool to target certain moments, themes & emotions
ITV has updated its Automated Contextual Targeting (ACT) tool to recognise and target certain moments, themes and emotions during ITV programmes. To do so, ITV will use advanced contextual classification technology via its partnership with Captify, a search intelligence platform. One example of this in action, is ITV’s work with mental health charity, Every Mind Matters, which identified emotional moments in ITVX to reach audiences who are more likely to be feeling stressed or anxious.
YouTube launches ‘Spotlight Moments’ a new ad solution powered by AI
YouTube is rolling out a new ad option known as ‘Spotlight Moments’ which will allow advertisers to place their promotions within the most popular content around certain themes like Halloween. YouTube explains, “We’re introducing a new AI-driven package, automatically identifying the most popular, relevant videos, making it even easier for advertisers to own the moment around key events, when viewers are most engaged”. YouTube’s algorithm will identify a selection of top-performing thematic uploads to pull together into a branded content hub that can then be associated with the advertisers logo.
Google launches new tool to simplify first-party data management to help marketers rely less on third-party data
Google has unveiled a new tool, known as Google Ads Data Manager to simplify the management of first-party data ahead of its deprecation of third-party cookies. According to Google, less than a third of marketers currently make use of first-party data across advertising channels. Data collected from customers directly tends to be more reliable and valuable over time than data collected through external sources like browser cookies. Google Ads Manager will provide a unified interface within Google Ads to create data connections and activate customer datasets for measurement and targeting.
Meta introduces new performance features, automated creativity and suitability solutions to its Reels ads
Meta is rolling out several new features designed to streamline the campaign creation process for advertisers. Firstly, the company is testing Collection ads on Facebook Reels (a format already available on Instagram) - allowing users to swipe through images to find out more about the products that they’re interested in. Meta is also rolling out multi-destination call-to-action features for Reels Carousel ads, meaning businesses will be able to direct people to multiple product pages for a more seamless shopping experience. Meta is also improving the Advantage+ creative suite with new automated solutions and music, as well as rolling out a brand suitability Inventory Filter control.
Bytedance launches CapCut for Business, an enterprise-focused version of its video creation & editing tool
TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, has announced a new tier of CapCut specifically created for businesses. CapCut for Business offers a range of creative and editing roles to help brands create better content for ads, promotions, organic video uploads and more. These include access to TikTok’s Ad Script, business templates (including commercially licensed elements), product URL to Ads tool and AI characters. In addition, CapCut for Business will also include collaboration tools to allow businesses to share concepts among team members and agency partners.
Adobe introduces new ‘Content Credentials’ icon to be embedded into the metadata of content created using Adobe AI software
As AI-generated content continues to mislead people online, Adobe has developed a tamper-proof CR (Content Credentials) symbol that can be embedded into content metadata, to provide more information about how the image was created. Described as ‘nutrition labels’, the new CR symbols will show when an image was created, who created it, the AI software used and additional information about the content and its history. These labels will be used on all Adobe content, as well as that from partners such as Bing Image Creator.
Google Ads rolls out new AI-powered tool, Demand Gen, to all customers globally
Google has begun a global rollout of its new AI-powered tool, Demand Gen, designed to help social platform advertisers streamline their process of discovering and converting consumers through visually engaging content. Described as the “next generation of Discovery campaigns’, Demand Gen is being rolled out with new features, inventory, and insights as well as an enhanced ad creation flow. The VP of Google Ads, VIdhya Srinivasan, explains, “Demand Gen campaigns can help you capture the interest of billions of users as they spend time on YouTube and Google’s visually immersive touchpoints. The engaging creatives can spur action while our audience and bidding solutions help you nurture interest with more potential customers”.
TikTok partners with Disney to create a dedicated content hub as part of its Pulse Premiere offering
TikTok has announced a new partnership with Disney to provide new ways for Disney fans to engage with content within the app. During the four week activation, users will be able to watch video clips across Disney’s 48 different handles, create their own videos with Disney music and effects, play Disney trivia, collect and trade digital character cards in the app, and more. This will form part of TikTok’s Pulse Premiere offering, a program designed to place advertisers alongside premium content created by trusted media brands.
Threads spotted testing new ‘Paid Partnership’ content tag to help creators disclose ads
Whilst Meta has previously claimed that it will not launch ads on Threads until the app reaches a level of mass adoption, users have spotted a new ‘Mark as paid partnership’ label to help creators disclose any ads that they post themselves. This feature has been in development for some time, but now that it is appearing on some users' posts it is likely close to being rolled out. According to data.ai, Threads’ downloads have seen a surge during the last week, which some attribute to reports of misinformation around the Israel-Hamas war spreading on X.
Google is introducing the ability to create images with its generative AI-powered Search Experience
Google has upgraded its Search Generative Experience to create imagery with generative AI. Its Search Generative Experience (SGE) will now provide up to four generated images based on a user's search query. The new feature allows users to tap on one of the images to edit the description further and create a more detailed image. In addition, Google is also testing an option to create AI-generated images directly within Google Images - designed to appear when searching for inspiration. Finally Google also claimed that they are developing a tool called ‘About this image’ that will help people easily assess the context and credibility of images.
TikTok now supports direct posting from range of popular editing apps including CapCut & Adobe
TikTok has rolled out a new feature that allows its users to post directly to the platform via a range of popular editing apps - including Adobe’s Premiere Pro and Adobe Express, as well as CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, SocialPilot, and Twitch. This new tool is aimed at developers of third-party apps that want to integrate more closely with TikTok - and also allows these apps to take use of TikTok’s features such as setting captions, audience settings and more. The API will soon also support photos as well as videos, according to TikTok.
X rolls out new feature allowing community admins to require users to answer preliminary questions before joining
X recently announced a new feature that gives admins more control over who is able to join their Communities - similar to a feature often used within Facebook Groups to vet members. Admins are now able to require users to answer a question as well as agree to the group’s rules, before being allowed to join a Community. While this could help Communities reach a more exclusive status, and have more control over the people that users interact with - it could also allow users to violate X’s terms and policies without being found out.
Google is planning to phase out third-party cookies for 1% of Chrome users starting early 2024
Google has announced that it will begin phasing out support for third-party cookies in Chrome, by disabling them for 1% of Chrome users starting in Q1 2024. This is the initial phase of deprecation, with Google planning to remove third-party cookies entirely by the end of 2024. This is likely to have a huge impact for advertisers, with Google’s new Privacy Sandbox IPAs introduced to ease the transition. This initial 1% deprecation gives websites, publishers and advertisers crucial time to assess and prepare for the broader rollout.
To improve accessibility, TikTok is implementing auto captions by default
TikTok has announced that all videos will now have auto captions turned on by default, to make the app more accessible and more engaging for its users. TikTok explains that creators will still be able to edit and delete these captions after posting, but users will no longer have the choice to opt-out of having captions. While this is a positive step for accessibility, it is likely also a move to further engage with users watching TikTok’s in sound off situations.
Google has updated its privacy controls, including clearance of browsing data & expansion of passkeys
To mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Google has announced that it is launching several new products and features designed to keep people safer online. Firstly, Google is making passkeys the default sign-in method for all users - which uses biometric data to verify a users identity. The platform is also making it easier to clear your browsing data on Android - enabling users to delete data from the last fifteen minutes. Google is also offering a dark web report to help see if your Gmail address has been exposed to the dark web - as well as putting in additional protection against spam, phishing and malware within Gmail.
