Search and Social Update: 12 August 2026
Google has opened its generative AI performance report to every Search Console account, complete with a pop-up pointing you at it. It counts impressions…
Read the brief →Search, social and AI news that actually affects South African businesses — short, plain-English, every weekday.
Google has opened its generative AI performance report to every Search Console account, complete with a pop-up pointing you at it. It counts impressions…
Read the brief →YouTube doubles the watch hours a new channel needs to start earning, from 4,000 to 8,000, effective February 2027. Google also banned repeated bilingual…
Read the brief →Google has begun piloting a rule that stops free email addresses like Gmail from making sensitive changes to a Google Ads account. Plus a…
Read the brief →The word yes is showing up as a query in Search Console, and it is coming from AI Mode follow-ups. Google is also about…
Read the brief →WordPress 7.0.3 closes twelve vulnerabilities, including a login screen flaw that needs no password at all. Google Shopping starts printing countdown badges on expiring…
Read the brief →Google switches off Assistant from 4 September with no way to switch it back, handing every Android phone, watch and projected Android Auto screen…
Read the brief →From 2 August, AI generated content shown to European audiences has to carry a label, with fines up to fifteen million euros. Google is…
Read the brief →Google has started asking some searchers to sign in and prove they are human before showing more results. Rankings moved on the first of…
Read the brief →Google switches local inventory ads on for every Shopping campaign from 31 August, and the Ads API will not let you switch them back…
Read the brief →Google starts retiring Dynamic Search Ads in September, migrating eligible campaigns to AI Max automatically. Google Business Profile chat has shut down for good,…
Read the brief →Google Search Console platform properties are now available to everyone, so you can finally see which searches surface your Instagram, TikTok and YouTube posts.…
Read the brief →Google Search Console platform properties went global this week, so you can now verify your Instagram, TikTok, X or YouTube account and see the…
Read the brief →One short email each weekday: what changed in search, social and AI, and what it means for your business.