Reddit has launched Reddit Answers, an AI-powered feature aimed at improving how users find information. Initially available to select users in the U.S., it will expand internationally. Users can ask questions and receive curated responses from existing discussions, highlighting real user interactions. The feature supports English for now, with plans for multi-language support and broader access in the future.
Meta will impose restrictions on customer list custom audiences starting January 2025 for housing, employment, and financial products in the US. Advertisers must comply to avoid errors in Ads Manager. Key dates include an announcement in October 2024 and potential pauses of non-compliant campaigns by March 2025. Shared customer lists will require matching email domains, and certain domains will trigger restrictions. Advertisers must certify compliance.
Google has expanded its AI-powered Product Studio to 15 new countries, bringing the total to 30. The new countries include Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine. Key features include generating lifestyle images, enhancing resolution, and background editing. The service is available through Merchant Center and the Google & YouTube app on Shopify.
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Google confirmed an indexing issue in its search engine that began on December 9, 2024, affecting a limited number of websites. The technical team is investigating the delays, identifying the root cause, and monitoring the situation. The issue is said to impact a small number of sites, but specific details are not provided. Google will issue another update within 12 hours, advising website owners and SEO professionals to stay informed about the indexing delays.
Bluesky is developing a paid subscription service called Bluesky+. Mockups suggest features like higher quality video uploads, profile customizations, custom app icons, verification badges, and more. Pricing is indicated at $8 per month or $72 per year, but these details are not final. Users are discussing the mockup, although the company warns that the features may change. Bluesky is also exploring other revenue models, including selling domain names and ads.
YouTube is testing a multiplayer gaming feature on its YouTube Playables platform, allowing real-time multiplayer experiences. The initial phase includes two games: Ludo Club and Magic Tiles 3, available on desktop and mobile. This launch is the first step in expanding YouTube's gaming capabilities, with plans for future updates. The testing will be limited to specific games to refine the experience based on user feedback before a wider rollout.
Meta has expanded its educational program to allow users to remove their first policy violation strike, now available to all Facebook users and rolling out on Instagram. Users can erase their first strike by completing a short course instead of facing penalties. Severe violations are excluded. Meta aims to improve understanding of policies and will monitor the program's effectiveness, focusing on education rather than punishment in content moderation.
Meta has updated the Threads API with new features for content discovery, engagement, and analytics. Users can now fetch public posts with specific mentions, access top content through targeted searches, and integrate Threads content via oEmbed API. Engagement options include replying to public posts, reposting, and quoting. The analytics now track share counts and integrate with metrics like views and likes. Developer resources include documentation and sample applications.
OpenAI has launched Sora, a video-generating AI tool for ChatGPT Pro and Plus subscribers at $200 per month. It creates 1080p videos up to 20 seconds long but is not available in the EU. Sora offers various video lengths and resolutions, requiring credits for generation. Pro plans provide more credits and options for priority videos. OpenAI has previously excluded EU users from launches due to regulatory reviews, a trend seen with other tech companies.