Google adds links to AI Overviews
Google has started adding links to the text in AI Overviews (AIOs). After testing the update behind closed doors for several weeks, the search giant has now rolled it out officially. The change should be a welcome one for websites that’ve suffered from lower visibility and traffic since the arrival of AIOs.
In a statement, Google said: “To help people more easily explore topics and discover relevant websites, we’ve added links to some terms within AI Overviews when our systems determine it might be useful.”
BeReal launches ads service in the US
BeReal now has 40m monthly active users and is launching ads in the United States. The French company recently brought in former TikTok leader Ben Moore to spearhead a new growth-driven strategy after app downloads slumped 60% in 2024. The new ad service is seen as key to kickstarting its fortunes.
It’s been a couple of years since BeReal first broke through with its unique and authentic take on socials, including a time-limited notification to post one unedited photo daily.
Google quality raters now flag AI-generated content
Google’s team of quality raters are on the hunt for AI-generated content. Resident SEO expert John Mueller has revealed that quality raters will now look through content to determine whether it’s been created by AI tools such as ChatGPT. He noted that this content may now be rated at the bottom of the pile as the lowest quality.
Instagram tests lockable posts
Instagram is taking exclusive content to the next level with lockable posts that require a code to be unlocked and viewed. The feature is only being tested for now, but it appears to be targeted at influencers and accounts who want to drive engagement with ‘superfans’ and other tight-knit communities.
TikTok way ahead of competition in daily usage metrics
TikTok has got its rivals beat when it comes to engagement. The average US user spends 108 minutes on the app every single day, which is more than double the figure for Instagram (48 minutes). Only YouTube comes close, but it’s still some way back at 87 minutes.
The popularity of TikTok in the US helps explain why an outright ban is unlikely to happen. The latest data is also worrying for X, where users only spend 24 minutes per day — down 5% from a year ago.
Trump signs another extension for TikTok deal
Right on cue, TikTok has got another extension to its sell-off deadline. US President Donald Trump confirmed that the app will get a further 75 days to secure a deal to sell its US operations. Recent reports have claimed talks were progressing well with several interested parties.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days.”
