Here's What happened in Social Media and Digital Marketing recently

Top 6 Updates of the Week:

1. YouTube: Launches a new ad format for short-form content, “Select Shorts”.

2. TikTok: Officially launches Notes App in multiple regions, including Canada & Australia.

3. Meta AI: Gets integrated into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

4. X: Plans to charge an annual fee for all new accounts to fight bot sign-ups.

5. Snap: Adds AI watermarks to increase transparency measures.

6. LinkedIn: Testing a new subscription plan for Company pages that provides AI tools to businesses & other features.

Trending:

• EU: Looking to make Meta’s “Pay or Consent to tracking” model illegal with new legislation.

• Snapchat: Shares a new report about the performance of brand campaigns.

• Pinterest: Hosted their first activation at Coachella.

• Stagwell: Acquires PROS Agency, Digital PR Leader in Brazil.

• Amazon: Introduces shoppable ad-supported channel to Prime Video and Frevee.

• Netflix: Added 9.33 Million customers in Q1, the success of password crackdown.

• John Deere: Looking for Chief Tractor Officer to run TikTok Channel & Travel for $200k.

• Coca Cola: Twists its logo for Recycle Me Sustainability Campaign.

• Kraft Heinz: Rebrands Mio Liquid to utilize Gen Z wellness Trends.

TikTok 🎶

• TikTok is testing a way for news publishers to attach links to organic videos.

• TikTok ban bill passes through the US House of Representatives House again.

• TikTok shares new data about Canadian users on the platform.

• TikTok is now rolling ‘Account Check’ feature for creators to check if they’re complying with Community Guidelines.

• TikTok and AXS announce Global Ticketing Partnership.

• CapCut now allows you to record your voice to use across different videos.

Instagram & Threads 🗂️

• Meta’s AI tool is now powered by Llama 3 model.

• Meta is testing DMs on Threads App.

• Instagram generates more ad revenue than YouTube.

• Threads to temporarily shut down in Türkiye.

• Instagram Stories added interactive Polaroid Frame for Coachella.

• Threads is now testing ‘Top’ and ‘Recent’ search filters.

• Instagram is testing ‘Creator AI’ program to turn the best influencers into AI versions.

Meta 😅

• Meta shares insights about lead generation ads.

• Meta releases Llama 3 claiming it's the best in the market.

• Meta rumored to launch ads on Threads later this year.

• Facebook now allows you to pin ads in your ad account on the desktop.

• Meta is rolling out an automatic post removal tool for Group admins.

• WhatsApp launches new filters to find messages faster.

X (Twitter) 🕹️

• X is working on a swipe to response functionality.

• Hyundai pauses ads on X due to Ads displaying alongside harmful content.

• Elon Musk again polled about bringing Vine back.

• X got banned in Pakistan amid political tensions.

• X is having a webinar on 24th April about Advertising on the platform.

• DoubleVerify apologies to X and advertisers for misreporting X’s brand-safety rates.

• X is offering new incentives to attract brands for Verified Organisation plans.

• X is now promoting creator subscriptions in the feed.

YouTube 🕹️

• YouTube gets strict with Ad blockers, announcing even more restrictions on third-party Apps violating their guidelines.

• YouTube testing ‘most relevant’ subscriptions feed and simplifies members-only shorts upload.

Google 🔦

• Adsense launched new Ad Intents format for Auto Ads.

• Google Demand Gen Ads introduces GenAI Image creation.

• Google Search Console security update improves management of ownership tokens.

• Google shares Ad Strength not used in Ad Rank.

• Google Ends Video Carousel Structured Data Test.

Agency News

• Digitas launches Generative AI Platform.

• Psycho Bunny selects Astronomie as its media AOR.

• Ogilvy appoints Rafael Rizuto as Chief Creative Officer.

• Anomaly London to handle Revoult’s EU advertising account.

• Red Brick Road Agency wins Skipton Building Society account.

• Former Walmart and Disney Creative Execs launch DANG Creative Consultancy.

• Red Antler purchases majority stake in Austin Agency Fat Earth.

• Leo Burnett hires Kimberley Gill and Bethany Manning as creative directors.

• University of Sydney appoints CHEP Media.

• HypeJar appoints ROAST and Kitty for Digital Services.

• Republic Airways names MKR as its agency of record.

• Alliance Pharma appoints UM Bristol as New Media Agency.

• Barclays UK appoints Born Social to run social media account.

• The Shipyard acquires Fahlgren Mortine, an integrated communication agency.

• The Out, luxury car rentals appoints Cream, Indie full-service agency.

• Hawke Media acquires Social Thrive, digital marketing agency.

• MoneyGram announces new Agency partners to lead creative, brand, and media.

AI 🤨

• AnNahar launches the World’s first AI President in Lebanon.

• Impact Media launches Guaranteed Attention Suite.

• Amazon Music launches Maestro, AI playlist generator.

• Poe adds a new feature that allows you to chat with multiple bots at the same time.

• Adobe plans to add AI tools like Sora in Premiere Pro.

• PubMatic partners with GroupM to launch First-of-its-kind AI-generated Cohort modeling capability for Advertisers.

• Microsoft Research Asia unveils a new experimental Visual AI tool, VASA-1.

• Webflow acquires Intellimize to add AI-powered webpage personalization.

• Nothing integrates ChatGPT in new earbuds.

• Slack rolls out its AI tools to all paying users.

Marketing & AdTech

• Brave Browser launches AI search engine.

• Netflix announced new partnerships with Ad measurement providers: Kantar, Cint, and NCSolutions.

• Twitch is rolling out their TikTok-style feed to everyone this month.

• LiveScore partners with Permutive to launch new Audience Data platform.

• P&G increased their ad spending by 14% but organic growth slows.

• WPP received 64% more complaints to its whistleblower helpline in 2023.

• GrowthLoop and TransUnion partner to improve advertising spend optimization and audience reach.

• 6 leading agencies partner with Day of Wrk to run campaigns pushing demystification of creative job roles.

• Mozilla improves Firefox page load speed by 10%.

• Wix partners can now sell templates in Wix Marketplace.

• The Sun and Daily Mail receive the highest amount of monthly print and digital reach across the UK.

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