Google rolls out March 2025 core algorithm update
Google is rolling out the first core update of 2025. The search giant confirmed on Thursday (13 March) that the latest algorithm tweak—the first since December’s core update—is now live and will take around two weeks to complete.
In a LinkedIn post, Google said: “This is a regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites. We also continue our work to surface more content from creators through a series of improvements throughout this year. Some have already happened; additional ones will come later.”
TikTok most downloaded app globally in February
TikTok’s long-running legal battle in the US doesn’t appear to be stalling its momentum elsewhere. The ByteDance-owned app was the most downloaded mobile app—not just social media—in the world last month, with around 42 million downloads across iOS and Android.
Other social media heavyweights Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp also featured in the top five alongside ChatGPT. Interestingly, Threads was the second-most downloaded app on iOS but didn’t appear in the overall top ten.
Meta to start testing Community Notes on 18 March
Meta has confirmed that Community Notes will enter its testing phase this week. The new system will allow users on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads to provide additional context to posts that may be misleading or unhelpful. It will work similarly to the Community Notes feature on X, which Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg has referenced.
Around 200,000 people have already signed up across the three apps to take part in the trial, which begins on Tuesday. Once it launches, participants will be able to rate and write notes of up to 500 characters on posts. Meta believes the ‘community’ can act as a form of moderation.
Oracle leads race to buy TikTok US
With less than a month to go until TikTok’s ban extension expires, new reports last week claimed that Oracle is the “leading contender” to acquire the social app’s US operations.
The Information reported that Oracle is close to finalising a deal brokered by former US President Donald Trump. TikTok is allegedly satisfied with the development. The two companies have previously worked together on data projects.
Google plans more Search personalisation with Gemini
The newly updated Gemini will integrate with Google’s other services, including YouTube, Photos, and users’ search history, later this year in an effort to deliver more relevant recommendations.
Google says: “This will enable Gemini to provide more personalised insights, drawing from a broader understanding of your activities and preferences to deliver responses that truly resonate with you.”
The closer integration will arrive in the “coming months”. Users can activate the feature, which is labelled as “experimental”, by navigating to the Gemini app, enabling it in settings, and accepting the permissions.
Google upgrades AI Overviews
Google rolled out upgrades to AI Overviews this week. The AI-generated summaries atop search results are now tapping into Gemini 2.0, a new multimodal model with improved capabilities.
In an official announcement on Wednesday (5 March), Google said:
“Today, we’re sharing that we’ve launched Gemini 2.0 for AI Overviews in the U.S. to help with harder questions, starting with coding, advanced maths and multimodal queries, with more on the way.”
Google added that AI Overviews will appear more frequently for these query types and that the responses will generally be faster and of better quality.
TikTok removes “chubby filter” after backlash
TikTok has removed a “chubby filter” from the app after users and experts claimed it fuelled anxieties and toxic culture around diet and weight.
The AI filter edited images to make users look bigger and created a before-and-after for emphasis. However, it quickly drew the ire of mega influencers, who claimed it was mean-spirited and promoted forms of body shaming.
TikTok eventually pulled the filter on Friday (21 March). It also said any content uploaded to the app using the filter would no longer be eligible for recommendations.
Dr Emma Beckett said that was the right move but believes social media has a lot to answer for in “making people obsess over food and exercise in unhealthy ways”.
More than 5 trillion Google searches made every year
Google’s popularity might be waning slightly, but it’s still racking up 5 trillion searches every year, according to a new study. That equates to 417 billion searches a month and a colossal 158,548 every second.
Google revealed the number in an official blog post. It’s almost a decade since the tech giant last disclosed it was handling around 2 trillion queries annually.
A separate study also published this week found the average American desktop user conducts 126 Google searches every single month, with around nine in ten — surprisingly — still navigating to Google’s homepage to perform them.
