Why Snapchat Might Be the Key to Australian Happiness

Latest digital marketing, tech and AI updates! [image]( Hi {NAME}, Ever noticed how something as simple as a message can brighten your day? A new survey says Snapchat is doing just that for Australians. On the tech front, TikTok is shaking things up with a new AI feature that lets you create voice-overs using a digital version of your own voice. And if you’re seeing some weirdness with your Google rankings, you’re not alone. Google just fixed a ranking glitch that coincided with the latest core update. They’ve patched things up, but with the update still rolling out, keep an eye on your rankings in the coming weeks. Lastly, a cool mix of tech and tradition is happening in 4-H clubs across the U.S. Thanks to a partnership with Apple, kids are learning everything from coding to robotics, right alongside their livestock and crafts. Read on to catch up on the latest in digital marketing, tech and AI! Cheers, Jeff What you need to know this week... Social Media Survey says Snapchat elevates joy in Australia Recent research by Snap and YouGov highlights that messaging apps, especially Snapchat, significantly enhance happiness among Australians, with 63% of adults and nearly 86% of teens feeling happy using these platforms compared to social media. Australians are about 2-3 times more likely to view messaging apps as supportive for authenticity and relationship building, while social media often induces feelings of overwhelm. Regular Snapchat users report higher satisfaction in their close friendships, underscoring the app's role in fostering connections and boosting well-being. [Snapchat/Newsroom]( X presents Insights: Real-time data advantage Insights, a powerful analytics tool exclusive to verified organizations, helps understand market trends and public opinion. X invites organizations to subscribe for early access to this valuable resource. [X]() Threads unveils disappearing posts: Share freely, worry less Threads is testing a disappearing posts feature for select users to increase engagement. Posts will vanish after 24 hours, easing worries about a permanent online presence. Meta aims to enhance user comfort, especially for public figures facing scrutiny from past posts. Threads chief Adam Mosseri has considered various options to promote authentic sharing, such as auto-archiving and self-destructing posts. Although feedback on auto-deletion was mixed, disappearing posts may help reduce anxiety around sharing publicly and align with the trend of less permanence in social media. [TechCrunch]( Express yourself with music on Instagram Instagram now enables users to add a song to their profile, enhancing musical self-expression. This feature allows you to showcase a song of your choice, which will remain until you decide to change it. [Threads/@Creators]( Boost engagement: Cross-post to Threads Meta has introduced cross-posting from Instagram and Facebook to Threads, enhancing user connectivity across platforms. This feature is now available globally, allowing users to share content seamlessly, which could boost Threads’ engagement. Users can toggle on the Threads sharing button when posting on Instagram; captions and hashtags will convert for Threads. However, Instagram Reels cannot be cross-posted. Similarly, Threads posts can be shared on Facebook, but only for text and links, not videos. This cross-posting simplifies content management for creators but may not suit all posts due to format differences. [TechCrunch]() [image] Your voice on TikTok: Using AI for video voice-overs TikTok now lets users create AI voice simulations of their own voices for video voice-overs. Introduced by ByteDance, this feature allows users to speak into their devices and generate a digital voice for future clips. While it can reduce vocal strain and enable language translation, it also raises concerns about deepfakes and hoaxes. [SocialMediaToday](=) [image] SEO Google fixes ranking glitch Google has resolved a search ranking bug that lasted over four days, coinciding with the August 2024 core update. Initially, Google acknowledged the issue, stating it was unrelated to the core update and would provide an update within 12 hours. After confirming the fix, Google noted they weren't fully satisfied declaring it complete yet, but no visible effects are expected. Users are advised to monitor their site rankings in the coming days as the core update rollout will continue for about a month, which may further impact rankings. [Google Search Status Dashboard](=) [image] Q&A shorts: Boosting creator growth YouTube has launched a Q&A Shorts series aimed at enhancing creator growth strategies. Creator Liaison Rene Ritchie presents brief videos featuring insights from Senior Director Todd Beaupré. The initial episodes cover key topics such as video filenames, categories, and keyword tags, offering quick, actionable advice. YouTube will continue to release these Shorts to help creators optimize their platform presence. Viewers can access all videos from the YouTube Creator Liaison for further guidance. [YouTube Creator Liaison/Shorts]( Google Search may now use OG title for title links Google Search has updated its search documentation to reserve the right to use the OG title meta data for your title link in the search results. This adds a ninth source Google may pull from for your title links, joining other sources like content in [Google Search Central/Developers]( How to handle 404s Google's John Mueller says that 404 errors (when a web page can't be found) don't directly hurt your website's ranking. You can sometimes fix these errors by redirecting people to a similar page. But it's important to do this carefully. If you redirect people to a page that's not relevant, it can be confusing for them. It's always a good idea to check why a page is showing a 404 error. There might be a bigger problem that needs fixing, like a broken link. [YouTube/Google Search Central]( Improving your video SEO: Four key strategies Google's recent updates to its video SEO guidelines offer valuable insights for content creators. By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your video content's visibility and reach a wider audience. - Remove Outdated Content - Improved Information Density - Add Fresh Information - Update For Brevity And Clarity [Search Engine Journal]( Google confirms core updates influence AI-powered overviews Google's Senior Search Analyst, John Mueller, confirmed that core algorithm updates affect the AI-powered overviews in search results. This means that the sources used in these overviews can change after major algorithm updates. These overviews are generated using Google's Gemini AI, which pulls information from different websites and combines it into a short summary. As Google continues to integrate AI into search, publishers need more clarity about how core algorithm updates impact these features. [LinkedIn/Nicholas McDonough](=) [Buy TikTok Views with Fast Delivery]( Advertising Threads: Ads coming, but not soon Create a catchy 3-5 word heading based on this: Instagram's Threads app is exploring ad technology but has no immediate monetization plans. Developers found references to ads in the app’s code, including a JSON file for testing ad products. Despite these discoveries, Instagram emphasizes that it is not currently testing ads and lacks a timeline for monetization. CEO Mark Zuckerberg indicated that the focus is on community growth and retention before introducing ads. [TechCrunch](=) Technology Tech meets tradition in 4-H Apple and 4-H are revolutionizing youth development by merging traditional skills with modern technology. At the Franklin County Fair, 4-H members displayed livestock and crafts alongside innovative activities like coding and robotics using iPads. As the largest youth development organization in the U.S., 4-H is now focusing on STEM projects through its collaboration with Apple’s Community Education Initiative, which has provided technology access to over 90,000 youth across multiple states. Participants engage in hands-on experiences that teach valuable skills in areas such as robotics and music creation. This integration of technology within 4-H not only enriches learning but also prepares youth for future careers by offering diverse opportunities. [Apple/Newsroom]( Embracing open-source AI: A call for regulatory reform in Europe Mark Zuckerberg and Daniel Ek emphasize the critical need for Europe to adopt open-source AI to drive innovation and competitiveness in the tech industry. They argue that despite Europe's rich talent pool, convoluted and inconsistent regulations are stifling progress and delaying access to cutting-edge technologies. By advocating for clearer regulatory frameworks, they believe Europe can harness its potential, ensuring it doesn't fall behind in the global tech landscape. The CEOs warn that without these necessary reforms, Europe risks missing a pivotal opportunity for technological advancement and economic growth. 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