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”.
Google says it can remove unused content from search results
Google has revealed that unloved content that isn’t used or interacted with can be removed from search results — and from its index entirely.
In a new video on the Google Search Central YouTube channel, Martin Splitt explained that interactions play a key role in determining whether content is useful for end users in the long term.
It means web pages that were initially deemed valuable might later disappear if they don’t perform how Google expects.
Splitt added: “So we thought like, yeah, okay, we gave it a chance but, ehh, you know, others are doing better here.”
Threads rolls out new user controls, including default ‘Following’ feed
Threads introduced a few new updates last week. Most notable for the masses is the ability to set the Following feed as the default, rather than ‘For You’. It’s long overdue — news site The Verge claims people have been asking for this feature since its launch in late 2023.
Users can now also shut out trolls entirely by limiting replies and quote posts to just their followers. There’s also a new, fleshed-out topics list to highlight interests in bios, and a better video player with skip buttons and a pinned progress bar.
At the last count, Threads had 320 million monthly active users — roughly half of X’s 611 million.
TikTok’s US deal could be closed by early April
A deal to purchase TikTok’s US operations is set to be closed in the next couple of weeks. The Associated Press reported that Vice President JD Vance is confident everything will be sorted before the deadline on 4 April — 75 days from the initial extension Donald Trump signed off on.
A report a couple of weeks ago claimed Oracle was in pole position, but that’s not a certainty. Trump recently said there are currently four solid offers on the table. It’s not known who the other contenders are.
Google Business Profile suspensions taking longer to resolve
Finally, you might want to hold off on making any changes to your Google Business Profile (GBP). News site Search Engine Journal has revealed that profile suspensions are not only increasing, but also taking longer to resolve — appeals now take up to five weeks, compared to five days previously.
There has been a steady rise in reported suspensions since January. The exact reason is unknown, but there is speculation that it may have been triggered by a recent algorithm change.
It also appears that Google isn’t handling the re-verification process well at the moment, so any local businesses relying on their GBP for leads should proceed with caution.
LinkedIn adds Calendly integration for easier meetings
LinkedIn just made it a little easier to turn profile visits into real conversations. The platform has rolled out a direct integration with Calendly, allowing users to add a scheduling link straight to their profile — no awkward back-and-forths or extra clicks required.
