Latest Tech Updates From WordPress, X, Google, And TikTok

by | May 30, 2024 | Tech News & Updates

In the ever-evolving world of technology, major platforms like WordPress, X, Google, and TikTok are rolling out significant updates aimed at enhancing user experience and functionality. From SEO improvements to new content capabilities, these changes promise to reshape the digital landscape.

WORDPRESS 6.5 ENHANCES SEO WITH ‘LASTMOD’ SUPPORT

WordPress has released version 6.5, which introduces native support for the ‘lastmod’ element in sitemaps. This update aims to improve crawl efficiency for search engines, making it easier for them to prioritise and schedule crawls. The ‘lastmod’ metadata tag indicates the last significant modification date of a webpage, providing a crucial signal for search engine crawlers.

X / TWITTER TO REMOVE PUBLIC LIKES

In a controversial move, X (formerly known as Twitter) is set to remove public “likes” from users’ profiles. This change, driven by the platform’s owner Elon Musk, means users will no longer be able to see what posts others have liked. The platform’s Director of Engineering, Haofei Wang, confirmed the forthcoming update, which has received mixed reactions from the user base.

GOOGLE INTRODUCES AI OVERVIEWS, PHASING OUT SGE

Google has rebranded its Search Generative Experience (SGE) as ‘AI overviews’. These overviews provide AI-generated snippets in response to search queries, utilising the Google Gemini AI model (formerly Bard). The AI overviews draw content from various sources, including social media, Q&A sites, discussion boards, forums, videos, and images. While the feature is currently live in the US, it is expected to expand to over 200 markets throughout 2024.

TIKTOK TESTING 60-MINUTE VIDEO UPLOADS

TikTok is experimenting with a new 60-minute video upload limit, potentially revolutionising content creation on the platform. This update could benefit brands, marketers, and content creators by allowing them to upload longer videos, such as cooking demos, beauty tutorials, educational lessons, and comedic sketches. The extension aims to provide more flexibility and facilitate new types of long-form content.

GOOGLE SHOPPING ADS INTRODUCE CONVERSION ANNOTATIONS

Google is enhancing its Shopping Ads with conversion annotations—social proof badges that highlight a product’s purchase popularity. Labels such as “best-selling” or “1K shopped here recently” will now appear in ad units, providing visual cues about a product’s sales performance. This feature is designed to enhance the shopping experience, build trust, and drive more purchases. However, merchants need to enable conversion tracking in the Merchant Center and opt-in to share purchase history for annotation use.

These updates reflect the dynamic nature of the tech industry, with platforms continuously evolving to enhance user experience and engagement.

CONCLUSION:

As these tech giants introduce innovative features and updates, users can expect enhanced functionality and new possibilities for content creation and engagement. Staying informed about these changes is crucial for leveraging the latest advancements in the digital world.