Subscribe now to our weekly social round-up
Latest News
⚖️ Meta and Google to halt political ads in the EU
In a significant response to upcoming EU regulations, both Meta and Google have announced they will stop selling and showing political ads in the European Union starting this October. Meta stated in a blog post that the new “Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising” (TTPA) law introduces an “untenable level of complexity and legal uncertainty.” The new rules would require platforms to clearly label political ads, disclose their sponsors, and obtain explicit consent for using data for targeting, while banning the use of sensitive data for profiling. Both tech giants argue that these requirements are currently unworkable.
👉 You can read all about it at TechCrunch.
🤖 Google reimagines search with AI ‘Web Guide’
Google is testing a new AI-powered search feature called “Web Guide” that could change the classic “10 blue links” we’re all used to. This experimental feature, available for opt-in via Search Labs, uses a custom version of Gemini to process search queries and group results into helpful, AI-generated categories. When tested, a search for “how to care for a mango tree” returned two relevant links at the top, followed by an AI summary and categorized links to articles, YouTube videos, and even Reddit threads. The Web Guide can also handle more complex questions, attempting to address different parts of your query at once.
👉 You can learn more about it at The Verge.
🍇 Is vine making a comeback?
Remember Vine, the pioneering short-form video app from the early 2010s that essentially originated the short-form video trend before being shut down by Twitter in 2016? Well, it might be making a comeback. Elon Musk has announced that he plans to bring back Vine, but “in AI form”. While the exact details are still under wraps, it’s unlikely to be a standalone app. The new Vine will probably be a feed of short, AI-generated videos within the X platform itself, likely using a new text-to-video tool.
👉 You can read all about it at Social Media Today.
🎵 Trump administration puts pressure on TikTok
The future of TikTok in the US is once again in the spotlight. The Trump administration is threatening to shut down the app if a deal isn’t reached with China. The proposed deal would see US investors take control of TikTok’s technology and algorithm, with China retaining a small stake. According to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, if China doesn’t approve the deal soon, “TikTok is gonna go dark”.
👉 You can learn more about it at Mashable.
🎄Pinterest says it’s time to plan for the holidays
Believe it or not, it’s already time to start thinking about your holiday marketing campaigns. Pinterest has released a new Holiday Marketing Guide, emphasizing that users start planning for the holidays as early as July and August. The guide offers tips for marketers, including maintaining brand awareness campaigns, finding high-intent shoppers, highlighting value and deals, and using AI-powered tools like Performance+ to enhance campaign performance.
👉 You can read all about it at Social Media Today.
🗓️ Newsjacking opportunities
Opportunities to celebrate this week:
- Wed 30 Jul – International Day of Friendship 🫶
- Thu 31 Jul – World Ranger Day 🌲
- Fri 1 Aug – International Beer Day 🍻
- Sat 2 Aug – Canal Parade Amsterdam 🏳️🌈
- Sun 3 Aug – Watermelon Day 🍉
- Mon 4 Aug – White Wine Day 🥂
- Tue 5 Aug – National Oyster Day 🦪
And next…
- Wed 6 Aug – Pride Antwerp🏳️🌈
- Thu 7 Aug – International Transgender Rights Day🏳️⚧️
- Fri 8 Aug – International Cat Day🐱
- Sat 9 Aug – International Coworking Day 💻
- Sun 10 Aug – World Lion Day🦁
- Mon 11 Aug – Son and Daughter Day🧑🤝🧑
- Tue 12 Aug – World Elephant Day🐘
Anything else you would like to discuss and see for next week’s social newsflash? Just share it with me via e-mail or slide in my LinkedIn comments or DM.
And don’t forget to subscribe to our Weekly Social Round Up newsletter so you get this delivered directly into your inbox each week!
Until the next one. XoXo, Erik 👋
Subscribe to our Weekly Social Newsletter and receive the weekly trend straight to your email.
