In this week’s digital news, Google Search Central has rolled out a new AI-powered configuration feature within Search Console, aimed at streamlining data analysis for webmasters and SEO professionals. Google Maps now lets users leave business reviews under a custom nickname instead of their real name.
ChatGPT users are up in arms over what seems like advertisements appearing in their conversations. The European Commission secured a commitment from TikTok to implement advertising repositories to ensure full transparency regarding advertisements on its platform, in accordance with the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Google Search Central has rolled out a new AI-powered configuration feature within Search Console, aimed at streamlining data analysis for webmasters and SEO professionals. The update allows site owners to more efficiently interpret complex performance reports, moving beyond manual data sorting to accelerate the identification of key trends, issues, and opportunities.
The immediate SEO impact is not on ranking signals themselves, but rather on the speed and accuracy of diagnostics. This improvement in the core SEO toolset is expected to help technical teams and content managers prioritise technical and content fixes faster. By making high-quality data analysis more accessible, the configuration is designed to improve the overall workflow, ultimately optimising sites for better long-term search performance outcomes.
Google Maps is rolling out a significant global update, allowing users to post business reviews using a custom nickname and profile picture rather than their official Google identity. This move has created a double-edged sword for Local SEO. On the positive side, the privacy shield is expected to boost legitimate review volume in sensitive sectors, such as healthcare and finance, where clients were previously hesitant to post under their real names.
However, the anonymity provided by the nickname feature lowers accountability, making it easier for competitors or bad actors to engage in review bombing, flooding a profile with fake, damaging reviews. Although Google maintains that its spam filters are in place, businesses must now intensify their monitoring efforts to defend against these potentially more frequent, malicious attacks that directly threaten their local search rankings and overall profile integrity.
OpenAI is facing backlash as users, including Pro subscribers, report seemingly advert like “app suggestions” appearing in ChatGPT conversations. They say these aren’t adverts and involve no financial ties, but admits irrelevant suggestions create a poor experience. Complaints across social platforms highlight growing concern that such prompts foreshadow real adverts. Although OpenAI has said proper advertising may come later, reports suggest this rollout has been delayed after a recent “code red.” Many now suspect an ad-free chatbot may not last.
The European Commission has secured binding commitments from TikTok to improve advertising transparency under the Digital Services Act. This follows investigations launched in 2024–25 into possible non-compliance, including concerns over ad disclosure, algorithmic design, age checks, data access for researchers, and protection of minors, as well as risks to elections. TikTok will now provide full ad content, faster repository updates, details of targeting criteria, aggregated audience data, and improved search tools. Deadlines range from two to twelve months. The Commission will monitor implementation to ensure safer, more transparent online advertising.
2025’s Spotify Wrapped has been released. This year, Spotify added a new feature called Wrapped Party, which pits listeners against their friends to see who is the bigger music fan. Users can receive awards for listening to certain genres, and the feature judges the entire group’s music tastes. Spotify has brought back its interactive song quiz and top artist sprint this year. This year’s Wrapped also highlights top audiobook genres for the first time.
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Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is moving forward with exclusive deal talks with Netflix. Netflix offered WBD $30 a share for the studio and streaming assets. The deal includes a $5 billion break-up fee. Netflix obtaining WBD’s assets could dramatically reshape the entertainment landscape and give Netflix even more power over Hollywood.
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