TikTok returns to the US after 20-hour shutdown
TikTok is live again in the US less than 24 hours after going dark.
TikTok sent a pop-up message to users late on Sunday welcoming them back and hailed “President Trump’s efforts” in the process. The social media app had gone offline following months of legal wrangling and a failure to secure a US-based buyer.
However, it now appears the brief downtime was a publicity stunt designed to give Trump an easy “win” as he returns to the White House.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”
Google’s search market share drops
Google’s position as the global search engine market leader isn’t under threat, but it’s not as strong as it once was.
New data shows that Google dipped below 90% for the first time in a decade in October, November, and December last year. Both Yandex and Yahoo were among those who picked up the slack, but there weren’t major gains for AI answer engines such as ChatGPT Search.
Google is still the dominant player by some distance, though. Bing, in second place, has just under 4% market share.
Instagram Reels extended to 3 minutes
Instagram Reels are getting longer. The video format is getting a runtime boost from 90 seconds up to three minutes.
Meta has decided to double the limit after creators complained that the previous cap was too short. That’s despite the company’s own data showing longer Reels aren’t that effective and actually result in a drop in engagement.
Instagram previously stated that the sweet spot for keeping viewers hooked is between 30 and 90 seconds.
Google says fact-checking “isn’t appropriate”
Google is the latest big tech corporation to balk at fact-checking. Google has reportedly told the EU that adding fact-checking notices to search results and YouTube “isn’t appropriate or effective.”
The move follows Meta’s decision to rein in content moderation on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram and use a newer, more relaxed community notes system.
It now appears Google and others are on a collision course with the EU and the UK, who both want stricter policies to protect teenagers and vulnerable people.
Pinterest Palette report identifies five trending colours for 2025
Pinterest has highlighted five colours that will help marketers deliver eye-catching campaigns in 2025.
The Pinterest Palette report identified cherry red, butter yellow, aura indigo, dill green, and alpine oat as the biggest colour movers for the year.
Pinterest says it tracked users’ actions—searching, saving, shopping, etc.—on the platform to find the colour tones that are driving the most engagement.
It added: “Brands can tap into the colours shaping the year ahead for mood boards, product launches, or creative campaigns.”
