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Threads App Experiments with Hashtag Integration for Trending Conversations
In a somewhat under-the-radar post-launch phase, Threads seems to be adapting to changing trends and exploring new features. Recent insights into the app’s back-end development suggest that Threads is gearing up to introduce hashtags. This move could potentially enhance the user experience by providing an additional means to discover trending conversations.
However, the development comes with its own set of considerations. The leaked image indicates that Threads might implement a tag limit to prevent the misuse of hashtags and avoid the “trendjacking” of conversations. This cautious approach reflects the Threads team’s concerns about potential downsides, such as spam, scams, and the unintended amplification of offensive content through hashtag use.
Threads has been navigating the delicate balance of providing useful features without compromising user safety and experience. While hashtags could offer a new way to explore content, the app already allows users to search by keyword or topic, making some question the necessity of introducing hashtags. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri’s reservations about hashtags, shared by Threads, stem from the potential for abuse, a sentiment echoed by Meta’s reluctance to create a “Trending Topics” listing.
Meta’s cautious stance is not only aimed at avoiding spam and scams but also stems from concerns about the amplification of sensitive or controversial topics. The company has faced challenges in the past, with the risk of inadvertently promoting harmful or divisive content. Threads, with its current approach, has prioritised steady progress and user engagement over rapid, potentially problematic growth.
As Threads nears the milestone of 100 million users, the app stands at a crossroads. The decision to embrace hashtags and trending topics could propel it into direct competition with other platforms like X. Yet, it also poses the risk of attracting unwanted attention and potential pitfalls associated with rapid expansion. The Threads team must weigh the benefits of optimal growth against the potential challenges of navigating trending content responsibly.
In a landscape where social media platforms constantly tweak their features, Threads seems poised to make a significant move. Whether it chooses the path of measured progress or opts for rapid expansion, the introduction of hashtags could reshape the user experience and the app’s role in the broader social media ecosystem.
Google Strengthens Video Requirements for Enhanced Search Results
In a move to refine the user experience and connect users more effectively with relevant video content, Google is expanding its video requirements. The tech giant has announced a significant change – for a video to appear in search results and within Google’s “Video mode,” it must now be the primary content of the page.
This development is an extension of a previous change where Google only displayed video thumbnails next to search results when the video was the main focus of a page. Now, this requirement is being expanded to encompass the “Video mode” in search, ensuring that users are directed to pages where the video serves as the primary content.
The rollout of this change is expected to take about a week, and once complete, users will exclusively see videos in Google Search and Video mode from pages where the video is the main content. Google aims to improve the relevance and quality of video content presented to users, streamlining the search experience.
The update also brings changes to Google Search Console, affecting video reports. Pages with videos that aren’t the primary content will be labelled as “No video indexed” in the Search Console video indexing report. This adjustment will likely result in a decrease in the number of pages with indexed videos, impacting video impressions in various reports within Google Search Console.
Google’s move aligns with its commitment to refining search results and ensuring that users find the most relevant content. By emphasising primary video content, Google aims to enhance the accuracy of video results and provide users with a more focused and meaningful search experience.
As website owners and content creators adapt to this change, it will be crucial to monitor the performance of pages that have been ranking in video mode within Google Search. The shift in video metrics reported in Search Console highlights the importance of prioritising primary video content for improved visibility and engagement.
GA4 Audiences Come to Google Ads
Google Analytics 4 has introduced a significant update, allowing marketers to create and apply audiences directly within Google Ads. This feature, accessible through the Audience Manager, enables the construction of various Analytics audiences, including predictive ones, during the campaign creation process. Predictive audiences are groups defined by conditions related to predictive metrics, aiding in targeting specific user behaviours, such as ‘likely 7-day purchasers.’
GA4 has also expanded its dimensions, enhancing the Audience Builder, Segment Builder, Custom Reports Builder, and Data API. These dimensions, both pre-defined (like age and country) and custom (user-specific details), contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of audience interactions. Notably, item-scoped custom dimensions have been integrated into GA4, providing descriptive texts about products or services in features like Audience Builder and Segment Builder.
Marketers can leverage these updates to refine audience targeting, make informed decisions, and optimise strategies for better performance within Google Ads. Google’s commitment to enhancing dimension options underscores its dedication to empowering advertisers with robust tools for effective audience analysis and engagement.
