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YouTube’s updated Shorts view count now captures every play, but this change won’t affect earnings or monetization eligibility.
Recent data shows that fewer Americans support banning TikTok.
At the same time, Democratic lawmakers warn that President Donald Trump’s current plans may not be enough to keep the platform online after the April 5 deadline.
A Pew Research Center survey found that 34% of U.S. adults support banning TikTok, down from 50% in March 2023.
Fewer Americans now view TikTok as a national security threat, 49% compared to 59% in May 2023.
Opposition to the ban has risen from 22% to 32%, with one-third of Americans undecided. Support for a ban is higher among Republicans (39%) than among Democrats (30%).
Only 12% of TikTok users want a ban, compared to 45% of non-users.
Those in favor cite data security (83%) and Chinese ownership (75%), while opponents often point to free speech concerns (74%).
On March 24, three Democratic senators—Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—wrote to President Trump to criticize how his administration handled the TikTok situation.
They don’t support the ban, but they believe Trump’s order to extend the deadline for selling TikTok by 75 days is “unlawful.” They say this decision creates uncertainty about the platform’s future.
The senators wrote:
“To the extent that you continue trying to delay the divestment deadline through executive orders, any further extensions of the TikTok deadline will require Oracle, Apple, Google, and other companies to continue risking ruinous legal liability.”
Reports say the Trump administration is considering a partnership with Oracle. In this arrangement, Oracle would buy a small share of TikTok and ensure the security of U.S. user data.
However, critics, including John Moolenaar, the Republican Chair of the House China Select Committee, warn that this plan might not fulfill the law’s requirements for a “qualified divestiture.”
Democrats are asking Trump to work with Congress instead of acting alone.
They have put forward two proposed solutions:
The Democratic senators have requested that Trump respond to their questions by March 28.
They want to know whether his administration is considering further extending the deadline, details about the potential Oracle deal, and whether he believes additional legislative action is necessary.
As the April 5 deadline approaches, the future of one of the most influential social media platforms remains uncertain.
Featured Image: RKY Photo/Shutterstock
Google says it values the open web, and a current Googler confirmed in a private conversation at the recent Search Central Live in New York that the company, including CEO Sundar Pichai, cares about the web ecosystem. But that message is contradicted by an ex-Googler, who said Google internally regards sending traffic to publishers as “a necessary evil.”
Elizabeth Reid, VP of Search, is profiled in Bloomberg as the one responsible for major changes at Google search beginning in 2021, particularly AI Overviews. She was previously involved in Google Maps and is the one who revealed the existence of core topicality systems at Google.
Her statements about search show how it’s changing and give an idea of how publishers and SEOs should realign their perspectives. The main takeaway is that technology enables users to interact with information in different ways and search has to evolve with that to keep up with them. In her view, what’s happening is now a top-down approach to search where Google is imposing changes on users but rather it’s Google being responsive to users.
Her approach to search was said to be informed by her experience at Google Maps where Sergey Brin pushed the team to release Maps before they felt comfortable releasing it, teaching her that this enabled them to understand what users really wanted faster than had they waited longer.
According to Bloomberg:
“Reid refers to her approach as a “constant evolution” rather than a complete overhaul. Her team is still struggling to define the purpose of Google Search in this new era, according to interviews with 21 current and former search executives and employees…”
Google Search lost 20% of their search engineers who went over to focus on rolling out generative AI so perhaps it’s not surprising that she believes the search bar will lose prominence. According to the report:
“Reid predicts that the traditional Google search bar will become less prominent over time. Voice queries will continue to rise, she says, and Google is planning for expanded use of visual search, too.”
But she also said that the search bar isn’t going away:
“The search bar isn’t going away anytime soon, Reid says, but the company is moving toward a future in which Google is always hovering in the background. ‘The world will just expand,’ she says. ‘It’s as if you can ask Google as easily as you could ask a friend, only the friend is all-knowing, right?’”
The article offers seemingly contradictory statements about how Google sees its relationship with the web ecosystem. An unnamed former Googler is quoted as saying that “giving” traffic to publishers is a necessary evil.
“Giving traffic to publisher sites is kind of a necessary evil. The main thing they’re trying to do is get people to consume Google services,” the former executive says. “So there’s a natural tendency to want to have people stay on Google pages, but it does diminish the sort of deal between the publishers and Google itself.”
At the Google Search Central Live event at New York City I had the opportunity to have a private conversation with a Googler about Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s inability to articulate what Google does to support the web ecosystem. The Googler told me that they’ve heard Sundar Pichai express a profound recognition of their relationship with publishers and said that it’s something he reflects on seriously.
That statement by the Googler was echoed in the article by something that Liz Reid and Sundar Pichai said:
“Reid says that Google cares deeply about publishers and that AI Overviews is a jumping-off point for users to conduct further research on the open web. Pichai, for his part, stresses the need to send ‘high-quality’ traffic to websites, instead of making users click around on sites that may not be relevant to them.
‘We are in the phase of making sure through this moment that we are improving the product, but in a way that prioritizes sending traffic to the ecosystem,’ he says, adding, ‘That’s been the most important goal.’”
Hat tip to Glenn Gabe for calling attention to this article.
Featured Image by Shutterstock/photoschmidt
OpenAI has rolled out a new image generation system directly integrated with GPT-4o. This system allows the AI to access its knowledge base and conversation context when creating images.
This integration is said to enable more contextually relevant and accurate visual outputs.
OpenAI’s announcement reads:
“GPT‑4o image generation excels at accurately rendering text, precisely following prompts, and leveraging 4o’s inherent knowledge base and chat context—including transforming uploaded images or using them as visual inspiration. These capabilities make it easier to create exactly the image you envision, helping you communicate more effectively through visuals and advancing image generation into a practical tool with precision and power.”
Here’s everything else you need to know.
OpenAI highlights the following capabilities of its new image generation system:
OpenAI states in its announcement:
“Because image generation is now native to GPT‑4o, you can refine images through natural conversation. GPT‑4o can build upon images and text in chat context, ensuring consistency throughout. For example, if you’re designing a video game character, the character’s appearance remains coherent across multiple iterations as you refine and experiment.”
To demonstrate character consistency, here’s an example showing a cat and then that same cat with a hat and monocle.
Screenshot from: openai.com/index/introducing-4o-image-generation/, March 2025.Here’s a more practical example for marketers, demonstrating text generation: a full restaurant menu generated with a detailed prompt.
Screenshot from: openai.com/index/introducing-4o-image-generation/, March 2025.There are dozens more examples in OpenAI’s announcement post, many of which contain several prompts and follow-ups.
OpenAI admits:
“Our model isn’t perfect. We’re aware of multiple limitations at the moment which we will work to address through model improvements after the initial launch.”
The company notes the following limitations of its new image generation system:
This update changes AI image generation from mainly decorative uses to more practical functions in business and communication.
Websites can use AI-generated images but with important considerations.
Google’s guidelines do not prohibit AI-generated visuals, focusing instead on whether content provides value regardless of how it’s produced.
Following these best practices is recommended:
Google Search Advocate John Mueller has expressed a negative opinion regarding AI-generated images. While his personal preferences don’t influence Google’s algorithms, they may indicate how others feel about AI images.
Screenshot from: bsky.app/profile/johnmu.com, March 2025.Note that Google is implementing measures to label AI-generated images in search results.
The feature is now available to ChatGPT users with Plus, Pro, Team, or Free plans. Access for Enterprise and Edu users will be available soon.
Developers can expect API access in the coming weeks. Because of higher processing needs, image generation takes about one minute on average.
Featured Image: PatrickAssale/Shutterstock
LinkedIn partners with Calendly, enabling Premium users to schedule meetings directly through profile buttons.
IAB’s latest “State of Data” report reveals that despite recognizing its potential, 70% of agencies, brands, and publishers have yet to integrate AI into their campaigns fully.
Here’s a look at the study, which examines the current use of AI in advertising, the challenges of adoption, and the opportunities for success.
A report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) surveyed over 500 experts and found that AI use varies across the industry:
One SVP from an undisclosed brand stated in the report:
“We have been slow to fully implement AI into our day-to-day processes. We are wary to go ‘all in’ until it’s become a bit more of a societal norm with a long-standing track record of scalable success.”
Companies using AI generally have positive experiences:
AI excels in data-heavy tasks, like audience segmentation and targeting, but struggles with tasks needing human judgment, such as RFP management and campaign setup.
The research found several barriers to adopting AI in media campaigns:
Interestingly, job displacement isn’t seen as a major issue, with only 37% identifying it as a concern.
Agencies, brands, and publishers face unique challenges with AI:
AI is changing media campaigns, and IAB’s report highlights some important points.
First, many companies are in the early stages of adopting AI, but this is happening faster than before. Companies without clear plans risk falling behind by 2026.
Second, companies need good data and solid governance guidelines to succeed with AI. Organizations should train their teams in best practices and set clear goals.
Standards for transparency, privacy, and reliability are still being developed across the industry. Companies that collaborate to set these standards will be best positioned to handle this change in digital advertising.
The full “State of Data” report is available through IAB.
Featured Image: eamesBot/Shutterstock
Google’s March 2025 Core Update, announced on March 13th and expected to complete its rollout this week, is creating turbulence in search results according to multiple industry tracking tools.
Data from Local SEO Guide and SISTRIX indicate this may be a highly impactful update.
According to tracking data from Local SEO Guide, which monitors 100,000 home services keywords, the week of March 10th showed the highest SERP volatility observed in over a year. This aligns with Google’s official announcement of the March Core Update on March 13th.
SISTRIX data confirms these findings, with its Google Update Radar showing movement beginning March 16th across both the UK and US markets. The company monitors one million SERPs daily to track the update’s impact.
Local SEO Guide identified several clear winners and losers in their tracking data. Sites gaining the most visibility include:
Conversely, sites experiencing the most significant drops in visibility include:
SISTRIX’s analysis revealed additional impacted domains in the UK market, with significant losses for quora.com (-15.76%), vocabulary.com (-10.93%), and expedia.co.uk (-20.60%). Government sites weren’t spared either, with hmrc.gov.uk showing a dramatic 52.60% visibility decrease.
The retail sector has seen interesting shifts. SISTRIX data shows that notonthehighstreet.com experienced a 56.28% visibility increase in UK searches, while uniqlo.com saw a 76.12% gain.
On the negative side, several retailers lost ground, with zara.com dropping 24.00%, amazon.com declining 13.84%, and diy.com falling 7.75% in visibility.
Andrew Shotland, CEO of Local SEO Guide, identified several potential patterns in this update:
Two forums, DIYChatroom and GarageJournal, saw visibility drops despite having experienced a 1,000%+ increase over the past year.
Shotland notes this may not be a direct demotion, but Google is elevating sites like Reddit alongside features like Discussions and Forums widgets and Popular Products grids.
Sites like Bluettipower.com, which appears to have created thousands of data-driven pages likely using AI, have seen visibility declines. Other sites with “kitchen-sink, made-it-for-SEO” content are similarly affected.
Unlike some updates targeting specific niches, this core update affects sites across various sectors, including retail, government, forums, and content publishers.
Google has provided little information about the improvements to its search algorithm in this core update. The full effects may not be clear until the rollout is complete.
Google’s March Core algorithm update is still rolling out. Search Engine Journal will monitor changes and offer updates as more information becomes available. Please continue sending in your reports.
Featured Image: eamesBot/Shutterstock
Google has publicly committed to December 31 as a deadline for improving how independent publishers appear in search results.
This timeline emerged during an exchange on X between Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, and several concerned publishers.
The exchange began with Jonathan Jones sharing notes from a discussion where Google addressed concerns about independent content creators.
Danny covers “independent” content creators.
“How do we spend more time to guide smaller independent sites to succeed”
Reference to a trip to Zurich where they discussed how they could do more. What could they do internally.
Reference to “we’ve done things to help”
Unlikely… https://t.co/tzt9xvkfoO pic.twitter.com/Ob2C8KNNwt
— Mr Jonathan Jones 🇹🇼🇬🇧 (@Jonny_J_) March 20, 2025
According to Jones’ post, Sullivan acknowledged Google’s need to “reward sites better” and expressed interest in helping “smaller independent sites to succeed.”
What made this conversation notable was publisher Nate Hake’s push for accountability, which resulted in Google providing a deadline. Something Google typically avoids when discussing ranking improvements.
“Can we take that to mean ‘December 31, 2025’ (if not before)?” Hake asked directly.
“Yes,” responded Google’s Search Liaison, adding the caveat that “this doesn’t mean all sites will go back up to wherever they were if they are down from a previous peak.”
1) Yes. With the important caveat that this doesn’t mean all sites will go back up to wherever they were if they are down from a previous peak.
Our results have continued to change since 2023, including showing more social content, for example. The results are going to continue…
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) March 21, 2025
The exchange highlighted the tension between Google and independent publishers, which have seen their search visibility decline in recent years.
“Honestly, everything you are saying sounds exactly like what you said when we visited Google HQ in October,” Hake wrote. “Same words, same inaction.”
Hake then detailed what he claims Google has done since October: “reduced independent publisher visibility even more” while continuing “to preference Reddit, Quora, and the 16 VC-backed media companies.”
Others joined the conversation, expressing similar frustrations with Google’s communication style. Mordy Oberstein characterized Google’s guidance as “ethereal” and “anything but concrete and consistent,” noting that publishers need more precise models of “what good sites look like.”
In response to these criticisms, Sullivan explained that improvements would be incremental rather than delivered in one major update:
“There’s no specific date because there’s no one specific thing that the teams are working on to improve. There are multiple things, because search has multiple things that are involved in ranking.”
He added:
“There have been some changes already launched with that goal. Some sites may have benefited from them; others might not, but that’s also because the sites themselves are all different.”
Sullivan acknowledged the need for better guidance, stating:
“I’d like to see us do a better job with guidance and documentation focused on content issues to add to our existing stuff that’s primarily about technical issues.”
Many publishers have reported traffic declines following recent Google updates, with some claiming visibility has dropped despite maintaining high-quality content.
As Google’s March Core Update continues to roll out, publishers are anxious to see if it will resolve their ranking issues.
Some websites might notice changes with this update. However, we can expect improvements for more publishers by December.
Sullivan’s commitment is a small but notable victory for those who have pushed for greater transparency and accountability from Google.
Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, shared insights about AI Overviews, explaining how predictive summaries, grounding links, and the query fan-out technique work together to shape AI-generated search results.
Danny Sullivan shared insights into how AI Overviews are generated, helping explain why Google may link to websites that don’t match the typical search results. While the links can differ, he emphasized that the fundamentals of search optimization remain unchanged.
This is what Danny Sullivan said, based on my notes:
“The core fundamental things haven’t really changed. If you’re doing things that are making you successful on search, those sorts of things should transfer into some of the things that you see in the generative AI kind of summaries.”
One of the main takeaways from this part of Danny’s presentation was his explanation of why Google AIO search results are different. This is the clearest explanation of why the AIO search results are different, every SEO and publisher needs to know this.
He introduced two concepts to familiarize yourself with in order to better understand AIO search results.
Danny solved the mystery behind AIO search results that show content and links that are different from what organic search results show, which makes it harder to understand how to optimize for that kind of AI search results.
He shared that the reason for that kind of AIO is something called predictive summaries. Predictive summaries show answers to a search query but also try to predict related variations of what a user will also want to see. This sounds a lot like Google’s patent about Information Gain. Information Gain is about predicting the next question that a searcher may ask after reading the answer to their present question. Information gain is a patent that is strictly to the context of AI Search and AI Assistants.
Here is what he said, according to my notes:
“One thing I think that people find really confusing sometimes is that they’ll do a query and especially you’ll see …these are the top 10 results, but I don’t see them in the AIO, what’s going on?
And it’s like, yeah, the query in the search box is the same query, but the model that’s going out there to try to understand what to show is kind of an overview, going beyond just the top 10 results. It’s understanding a lot of results and it’s understanding a lot of variations that you might kind of get and so that it’s coming back and it’s trying to provide its predictive summary of what the query is related to.”
Sullivan also revealed that “grounding links” are another reason why AIO search results are different from the regular organic search results. An AIO search result is a summary of a topic that includes facts about multiple subtopics. The purpose of grounding is to anchor the entire summary to verifiable information from the web ecosystem.
In the context of AIO, grounding is the process of confirming the factual authenticity of the AI summaries so that a searcher can click to read about any subtopic discussed in the answer summary provided by AIO. This is the second reason why the links in AIO show a variety not normally seen in the organic search results.
One way to look at this is that the links are more contextual than the regular ten blue links of the organic search results. These contextual links are also referred to as qualified clicks or qualified links, links that are hyper-specific and more relevant in general than organic search results.
Danny appears to say that the grounding links are created from searches that are related to the initial search query, but are not the same. Like, if you want to explain how a conventional automobile runs, you need information about the powertrain which is made up of a gas combustion engine, a transmission, the axles and so on. Answering a complex question requires grounding from a wide array of information sources.
According to my notes, this is how Danny Sullivan explained it:
“And then on top of that, it’s then also trying to bring in the grounding links. And those grounding links, because it kind of comes from a broader set aren’t just going to match. The queries are going to be different and the overall set is going to be different.
Which is why it’s a great opportunity for diversity and whatever our query thing is that we say, but that’s why you can see different things that are showing there.”
Sullivan cautioned about trying to rank for both the organic and the different parts of the AIO summaries, saying that it’s likely to “mess things up” because “it doesn’t really work like that.”
Danny Sullivan also touched on the topic of AI Mode, saying that right now it’s not really something to optimize for because it’s still in Google Labs and it’s very likely to change and be something different if it ever gets out of Google Labs.
But he did say that AI Mode uses something called a query fan-out technique.
He said:
“…one of the things they talk about is like ‘we use an advanced query fan out technique with multiple related queries in it…’ And it’s basically that what I said before.
You issued a query. You try to understand the variations and things that are related. which by the way is not that much different to how search works at the moment even when you didn’t have the AI elements to it. Because when you would issue a query now we try to understand synonyms, we try to understand the meaning of the entire query. If it’s a sentence, we try to match it in all sorts of different ways …because sometimes it just brings you better results.”
Google Search Liaison, aka Danny Sullivan, encouraged the use of the core SEO fundamentals, saying that they are still relevant for ranking. Danny explained why the links in AI Overviews can sometimes differ significantly from those in the organic search results, introducing three concepts that help understand AIO search results better.
Three concepts related to AIO search results to understand:
Anthropic’s AI assistant Claude now searches the web, providing current information with source citations for paid US users.