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Meta will mark political and social ads altered by AI starting next year
Meta will require advertisers to disclose whether the ads they submit for its websites have been digitally altered, including through the use of AI tools, if they're political or social in nature.
YouTube is cracking down on ad blockers globally
YouTube has "launched a global effort" to prevent users from using ad blockers.
YouTube is bringing 30-second unskippable ads to its TV apps
YouTube has announced during its Brandcast event for advertisers that it's bringing 30-second unskippable ads to connected TVs.
Google reportedly plans to let companies use AI-generated ad content
Google's advertising customers will soon be able to use the company's generative artificial intelligence to create ad campaigns, according to the Financial Times.
The $5 per month Paramount+ Essential plan with ads launches June 7th
The half-price Paramount+ package with ads launches next week.
Google confirms ads are coming to your Discover feed for the first time
If you're one of the few people who wish for more advertisements across Google platforms, you're in luck. The search giant announced this week a whole heap of new ads that will be served up across a number of its mobile services. The personalized Discover feed in the Google app will be getting ads for the first time, while more promotional posts will be inserted within Google Images search results, YouTube feeds and Gmail inbox tabs.
Hulu to start showing ads during pause breaks this spring
Hulu is set to show you ads from popular brands when you hit pause during a binge. According to the streamer, the static promos will start appearing in the spring for select shows and movies. Unlike traditional TV ad breaks that interrupt your viewing, Hulu says its new ads are designed to be "non-intrusive." They'll also carry messaging that's relevant to a pause break, starting with ads from Coca-Cola and toilet-paper brand Charmin (pictured above). Because, let's face it, you're probably stepping away from The Handmaid's Tale to grab a bite or to visit the john.
Amazon may have to drop next-day delivery claim in UK
Amazon's failure to deliver hundreds of people's parcels in the UK on time last year might have huge repercussions on the way it does its business in the region. According to The Times, UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) plans to announce next week that the company's Prime delivery claims are misleading. The ad industry regulator will reportedly order the platform to scrub the service's "unlimited one-day delivery" promises from its website and other advertising materials. Going forward, it has to clarify which Prime items are available for next-day delivery and which aren't.
Facebook is bringing augmented reality ads to the News Feed
Facebook is now testing augmented reality ads in its News Feed, the company announced today at an event in New York City. The new feature, which is limited to users in the US at launch, will let you virtually try on items including fashion accessories, cosmetics, furniture and more. The goal here, of course, is to help you visualize what a product looks like on you, or around your physical environment, before you buy it. Michael Kors is the first brand to have AR Ads in the News Feed, where it is going to allow people to browse different sunglasses, use the camera to "put them on" and then buy a pair if they like it -- all within an ad.
Amazon may add to its ‘free’ TV streaming in the UK
Amazon's next foray into video probably isn't what you expect. No, the e-commerce juggernaut isn't jumping into VR (that we know of), it will potentially start offering more free, ad-supported channels however. At least in the United Kingdom. According to the UK's This is Money (an offshoot of The Daily Mail), Amazon recently posted a job listing for "head of free to air TV and advertising" based out of London. The expectation is that it'll broadcast Premier League soccer next year for free, with traditional commercials running during the matches.
Facebook will show ads based on the stores you visit in real life
Some things you do in real life will now have influence on the Facebook ads you see. The social network has introduced new tools for its advertisers that rely on your location and the activities you do on your phone. If you've given the Facebook app permission to track your whereabouts, it'll allow select businesses to target you if you've recently been to one of their brick-and-mortar locations. Say, you visit Dick's Sporting Goods, one of the company's partner businesses -- don't freak out when you see its ads on your page.
Facebook will block ads from Pages that spread fake news
In its latest attempt to fix its fake news problem, Facebook will now block Pages that spread fake news from advertising on the site. "If Pages repeatedly share stories marked as false, these repeat offenders will no longer be allowed to advertise on Facebook," it said in a statement.
Your favorite Insta celebs aren’t following FTC ad guidelines
In April, the FTC reminded a bunch of celebrities, brands and influencers about how to properly post sponsored content on social media. But a study done by the marketing firm Mediakix found that 93 percent of ads posted by top celebrities don't follow the rules.
Nintendo's first-ever Super Bowl ad is for the Switch, of course
When you consider the fact that Nintendo and its mustachioed mascot are household names, it's a bit strange to realize the company has never run an advertisement during the Super Bowl. That's about to change. A new video on the company's YouTube channel touts itself as the extended cut of the company's first-ever Super Bowl ad. The commercial highlights the portable and home console modes of the Nintendo Switch to an intense soundtrack -- but this is more than your average peek at the company's next game console. It's a five million dollar investment toward the Nintendo Switch's success.
Google crams fully-functional smartphone apps into mobile ads
You probably ignore most of the mobile ads that pop up on your smartphone -- "Cookie Jam" may promise to be a engaging, fun experience but you're not going to hunt down the app to find out for yourself. Now you don't have to: starting today, Google will embed 60-second trials of smartphone apps directly into some of its mobile ads.
Google Play will start labeling ad-supported apps
Google Play clearly states which applications have in-app purchases, and starting in 2016, it'll also be more transparent when it comes to ads. According to Droid Life, Mountain View has notified developers (see the full email below the fold) that they're required to sign into their consoles and declare whether their applications have advertisements. And, if they lie about it, they could face suspension. Google originally launched the "ad-supported" tag in April in its kid-friendly Play Store as part of the Designed for Families program. Now, developers only have until January 11, 2016 to tag their apps, since the label itself is slated to begin showing up in the regular Play Store "early next year."
Instagram ads are coming to UK feeds very soon
While Instagram has been monetising its app for nearly a year, UK users have enjoyed scrolling through timelines that are completely free of ads. Until today, that is. The company has taken to the service to share the very first sponsored post with UK users (shown above), letting them know that "over the coming weeks" it will begin displaying paid content their streams, whether they like it or not. Users are invited to tap the "Sponsored" label to learn more about a specific campaign, but the majority are likely to become acquainted with "..." button, which quickly hides them from view. The dream might be over but Instagram says it's starting out with only a "few" businesses, meaning you shouldn't be bombarded with ads when they begin rolling out.
Don't freak out: Firefox is testing advertisements in new tabs
You know those rectangles that appear when you open a new tab in the Firefox internet browser? They show your most frequently visited websites -- convenient! -- but soon they'll also show a mélange of Firefox sites "and other useful sites on the web." Bummer? Maybe. These are just the tests, still mainly aimed at fresh installs of the Firefox web browser and always to beta users, before the rollout of sponsored tiles.
US Instagram users will soon see ads in their feeds
Instagram is gearing up to monetize all of your colorful border-enhanced photos, and you may not like what that means for your feed. Beginning "in the next couple months," Instagram users in the United States will see "an occasional ad" sandwiched between their friends' photos and videos. The company is insisting that the advertisements will flow with regular content -- and if you don't like a particular ad, you can hide it from view and let the team know what you didn't like. As a final note, the firm clarified that the introduction of ads won't affect ownership rights of the pics and vids you upload -- so if a family member pops up in a sponsored post with a Coke in hand, you'll probably want to send some feedback.
Gmail Android app may get ads soon, APK teardown reveals
Google's Gmail app for Android has remained an ad-free sanctuary, but code uncovered by Android Police in an APK teardown of the application's latest version hints that circumstances might change. Buried within the the program is a new library called "ads," along with messages, functions and classes mentioning advertisements. What's more, a "ShowAdPreferenceManager()" function routes users to the ad settings page for their very own Google account. Its not clear if sponsored bits will make it into the promotions folder just like the web version of Mountain View's inbox, but the clues suggest you should brace yourself to see some marketing relatively soon.
