Meatball lollipops, AI Mark Zuckerberg clone & more
This week's highlights across Search, Social, PR and AI.
Search
1. Google tests in-app shopping within Gemini
Google appears to be making moves in the AI shopping world, testing a built-in shopping cart within Gemini to let users browse, select and buy products without leaving the app. The feature builds on its existing “agentic shopping” push, which already allows checkout across selected retailers. If rolled out, this would make it easier for users to make multi-item purchases and compare products all in one place.
2. Google cracks down on “back button hijacking”
In other Google news, the search engine is set to punish websites that manipulate browser behaviour to prevent users from leaving pages – AKA “back button hijacking.” From 15th June, sites using the practice could face ranking drops or spam-related penalties. This stricter enforcing of Google’s malicious practices policy signals a continued focus on user experience as a ranking factor, with sites being handed a 2-month warning to eliminate the practice or face the consequences.
3. Meta set to overtake Google in ad revenue
Meta is forecast to surpass Google in global digital ad revenue for the first time by the end of this year, with projected earnings of $243bn compared to Google’s $239.5bn. The shift is being driven by Meta’s faster growth rate, particularly across its social platforms. It’s a notable change in the balance of power, reinforcing Meta’s strength as a performance channel and highlighting the increasing competition for ad spend across platforms.
Social
4. EU unveils age verification app amid social media crackdown
The European Union has introduced a new age verification app designed to standardise how users prove their age online, as more countries consider restricting social media access for minors. The tool requires ID verification and is intended to be used across platforms to comply with child protection regulations.
Following recent news about social media sites failing to enforce the ban for under-16s in Australia, which raised concerns around the reliability of age verification software, the EU’s announcement demonstrates how seriously governments are taking the issue.
5. YouTube adds option to completely disable Shorts
YouTube now lets users set a zero-minute limit on Shorts, effectively removing short-form video from their app experience. Initially designed as a parental control feature, the option is now being rolled out more widely to all users. This may be a relatively minor update, but it’s no doubt a welcome one for users who miss YouTube’s original long-form focus. It’ll be interesting to see if it becomes part of a broader push toward giving users more control over how they engage with algorithm-driven feeds.
6. Instagram introduces long-awaited comment editing
The day is finally here: you can now edit Instagram comments.
The platform has granted users a 15-minute window to make changes after posting. This is another relatively minor update, but it addresses a long-standing friction point in the app’s user experience.
7. “Anti-social media” feeds dominated by brands and recommendations
A new report from IPPR suggests social media feeds are now largely made up of content from influencers, brands and algorithms, rather than friends and family. Among top feed posts, just 18% come from personal connections, while the majority are driven by recommendations or paid content.
The stats highlight just how much social media has changed since its inception, with platforms shifting focus from helping people connect to keeping them scrolling for as long as possible.
PR
8. IKEA turns April Fools’ stunt into real product
IKEA is launching a meatball-flavoured lollipop. Yes, really. The collaboration with Chupa Chups turns an April Fools’ joke into a real product after strong social engagement, with online buzz prompting the brands to bring it to market as a limited-edition release. It’s a good example of brands using social response as a validation tool, turning low-stakes, experimental content into something more tangible when it resonates.
9. Festival activations evolve as Coachella season returns
Coachella is in full swing, and so are the brand activations. Searches for “Coachella outfit ideas” are reportedly up 465% year-over-year on Pinterest, with brands jumping on the hype to capture attention. This year’s festival has seen some brands take a slightly more utility-driven approach, like Gap with its limited-edition Gap x Coachella hoodies available onsite.
While festivals remain a key moment for social-first brand exposure, the activations gaining traction are those that offer genuine value in the moment, suggesting a move away from “Instagrammable” stunts toward more considered engagement.
AI
10. Google adds reusable AI “Skills” to Chrome
Google is introducing a new “Skills” feature in Chrome, allowing users to save and reuse AI prompts across different web pages. Built into Gemini, the feature lets users trigger pre-written prompts (e.g. summarising content or adapting recipes) without retyping them each time. There will also be a dedicated Skills library to help users get started, letting them browse common tasks across things like shopping and budgeting.
11. Meta reportedly building AI “clone” of Zuckerberg
In one of the slightly more bizarre news stories of the week, Meta is reportedly developing an AI clone of Mark Zuckerberg, designed to replicate his thinking and communication style for internal use. The tool is apparently intended to help employees engage more directly with leadership strategy, and forms part of Meta’s broader push toward AI-powered productivity.
12. Google launches Gemini app for Mac
Google has launched a dedicated Gemini app for Mac, allowing users to access the AI assistant via a shortcut without switching windows. The app can analyse on-screen content, answer questions, and interact with files, positioning Gemini as a more integrated desktop assistant. The new app sees Google attempting to compete with competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic, with all of them hoping to become the default desktop AI bot.
13. OpenAI introduces new $100 ChatGPT tier
OpenAI has launched a new $100/month ChatGPT plan, sitting between its existing $20 and $200 tiers. The plan offers increased access to advanced tools and coding capabilities, and is designed to appeal to power users who need more than the basic offering but aren’t ready for the highest tier.
That’s a wrap for this week. We’ll be back next Friday with another round-up of the best and biggest stories from across the Search-Verse™.