Search SEO expert says websites lose rankings because they're doing too much SEO Lily Ray warns excessive optimization tactics now trigger Google penalties as AI content floods search results. Recovery requires sustained effort spanning years.
Audio iHeartMedia opens OTA broadcast radio to Viant's programmatic buyers Viant integrates iHeartMedia's podcast, streaming and broadcast radio inventory through Triton Digital, marking first OTA broadcast programmatic access for DSP.
AI Google's Gemini now lets users verify AI-generated video content Google introduced video verification tools within the Gemini app on December 18, 2025, letting users detect content created or edited with Google AI.
AI Adobe teams with Runway to build AI video tools for creatives Adobe partners with Runway on December 18, bringing Gen-4.5 generative video models to Firefly users while developing exclusive AI video capabilities for professionals.
Search Google's John Mueller calls SEO content "digital mulch" Google Search Analyst John Mueller endorsed criticism of formulaic SEO content on December 19, warning blogs ranking solely for search algorithms face "borrowed time."
Data Apple pauses Texas age verification rules after court injunction Apple halts Texas SB2420 implementation following district court injunction while keeping developer tools available for Utah and Louisiana laws taking effect in 2026.
AI Alexa+ gains Expedia, Yelp, Angi and Square to handle travel and home tasks Amazon extends voice assistant booking capabilities across hotels, home services, and wellness appointments coming throughout 2026, expanding agentic commerce infrastructure.
Data Looker Studio adds 15 partner connectors in year-end expansion Google expands Looker Studio Connector Gallery with 15 integrations from Supermetrics, Dataslayer, and others spanning retail media, social platforms, and CRM on December 23, 2025.
Video Nielsen and Roku deepen ties with Roku Channel becoming #2 in ad-supported TV Nielsen and Roku expand strategic partnership on December 22, integrating streaming data while revealing The Roku Channel ranks #2 in ad-supported TV time.
Video Paramount climbs to third despite losing ground year-over-year Paramount captured 8.9% of TV in November 2025 with strong monthly gains, though down from 9.3% in 2024. Netflix grew to 8.3% while YouTube leads at 12.9% share.
AI Snapchat brings AI video generation to users with new Animate It lens Snapchat launched Animate It on December 22, offering Lens+ subscribers access to prompt-based video generation powered by an internally developed AI model.
Social TikTok leads platforms in misinformation exposure, new EU study reveals Comprehensive research measuring disinformation across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X/Twitter and YouTube finds TikTok users face highest exposure to false claims.
Data Brazil's data watchdog adds child protection to enforcement agenda ANPD approves priority enforcement map including child safety online following Digital Statute passage while postponing consent rules and governance frameworks.
Data Belgian data watchdog targets adtech with sweeping enforcement strategy Belgium's privacy regulator is shifting enforcement resources toward large-scale advertising technology platforms and data brokers under a strategic plan announced December 23, 2025 that fundamentally reshapes how the authority approaches data protection.
Display OpenX integrates Amazon's machine learning to filter low-value impressions OpenX enhanced its traffic optimization using Amazon Ads' Dynamic Traffic Engine to route higher-quality impressions to Amazon DSP through automated signals.
Data France slashes Amazon's GDPR fine from €32M to €15M over warehouse monitoring French Council of State reduces Amazon France Logistique's €32 million GDPR penalty to €15 million, finding some employee monitoring systems legally justified under European data protection rules.
Data McDonald's hit with class action over McRib's missing rib meat Four consumers claim fast-food chain misled millions by naming sandwich after meat it doesn't contain, seeking damages across multiple states.
Social Meta Ads Library adds WhatsApp filter and low impression labels Meta Ads Library introduced WhatsApp platform filtering and low impression count labels, enhancing competitive research capabilities for digital advertisers.
Search News publishers lose half their Google search traffic in two years Google Web Search traffic to news publishers declined from 51% to 27% between 2023-2025 while Discover feed climbed to 68%, creating volatility for content creators.
Data Google slashes audience targeting thresholds to 100 users across all networks Google reduced minimum audience size requirements to 100 active users across Search, Display, and YouTube networks for all segment types, marking a substantial expansion of remarketing accessibility for smaller advertisers.
Data Europe's Data Act reshapes connected device rules for marketers European Data Act establishes data sharing obligations for connected devices and cloud services starting September 2025, affecting digital advertisers' access to IoT data.
Social Anonym brings privacy-protected measurement to Pinterest advertisers Mozilla-owned Anonym partnered with Pinterest to enable brands to measure campaign performance using tightly governed first-party data through encrypted infrastructure.
Social TikTok users are complaining about search TikTok search quality has deteriorated significantly according to user complaints across Reddit and industry reports, raising questions about the platform's viability as Gen Z's preferred search engine despite 57% of users searching on the app.
Data Apple bends to Japan's competition law with app store and payment changes Apple announces iOS changes for Japan on December 17, introducing alternative marketplaces and payment options to comply with MSCA regulations affecting developers.
Data Italy fines Apple €98.6 million for making developers ask users twice Italian regulator rules Apple's App Tracking Transparency policy forces unfair double consent on third-party developers while benefiting its own ads.
