The digital world is changing quickly as 2025 continues to unfold with significant changes in content marketing, advertising, cyber security, and social media. Twitch is enforcing fresh content storage restrictions, while Instagram is improving its messaging capabilities. We break down the recent industry developments in this February 2025 digital marketing news roundup article to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve.
1. Twitch is limiting streamers to 100 hours of highlights and uploads
- Starting April 19th, Twitch will limit streamers to 100 hours of highlights and uploads, automatically deleting excess content (starting with the least-viewed highlights).
- Twitch is adding a storage tracker and filters for length, view count, and creation date to help streamers manage their content.
- They claim highlights don’t drive engagement and the storage cost isn’t justified, affecting less than 0.5% of active channels.
- The speedrunning community, which relies on highlights for record-keeping, strongly opposes the move.
Source: The Verge
2. Instagram upgrades DMs with music sharing, message scheduling, translation, and more.
- Instagram is upgrading DMs with new tools, including message translation (99 languages), scheduling, and pinning messages for easier chat management.
- Users can now share 30-second music previews from Instagram’s music library in group chats and broadcast channels, benefiting artists and fans alike.
- Users can schedule messages up to 29 days in advance and pin up to three messages per chat for quick access to important content.
- Users can now invite friends to group chats via QR codes, which can be shared live or saved for later.
Source: Tech Crunch
3. Facebook now deletes live videos after 30 days
- Starting February 19, 2025, Facebook will automatically delete live videos after 30 days, replacing the previous policy of indefinite storage.
- Users can download videos individually or in bulk and transfer them to Dropbox or Google Drive before deletion.
- Users can postpone deletion for six months or convert live videos into 90-second Reels for longer availability.
- Facebook cites industry standards and notes that most live video views occur within the first few weeks, making long-term storage unnecessary.
Source: Search Engine Journal
4. Australian children able to bypass age limit set by social media platforms, report shows
- 80% of Australian children aged 8 to 12 used social media in 2024 despite platforms requiring users to be at least 13.
- Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat rely on self-declared birthdates, making it easy for children to bypass restrictions.
- Australia approved legislation in November 2024 to ban social media access for children under 16, with enforcement starting by the end of 2025.
- This move positions Australia as a leader in regulating children’s social media use, influencing future global policies.
Source: Reuters
5. Google Ads to Stop Placing Your Ads On Parked Domains By Default
- Starting March 19, 2025, all Google Ads accounts will be automatically opted out of serving ads on parked domains.
- Google aims to enhance ad relevance and improve budget efficiency for advertisers by removing ads from low-value parked domains.
- Advertisers who still want their ads on parked domains must manually opt in via the Content Suitability settings in their Google Ads accounts.
- This change will help businesses focus their ad spend on more valuable, high-engagement placements instead of underdeveloped websites.
Source: Search Engine RoundTable
6. Search plays almost no role in YouTube’s massive viewership, Google claims
- Less than 1% of YouTube views come from Google Search links, according to Google’s attorney.
- The statistic was revealed in a federal court case involving antitrust claims from video platform Rumble.
- Google presented this data to counter allegations] that it favors YouTube content in search results.
- The majority of YouTube traffic comes from users navigating within the platform, not from external search.
Source: Android Authority
7. Reddit will lock some content behind a paywall this year, CEO says
- Some subreddits will require a subscription to access exclusive content, shifting Reddit towards a partially paid model.
- The majority of Reddit will remain free, allowing users to engage in most communities without a subscription.
- Reddit is exploring ways to reward moderators and content creators within paid subreddits.
- Plans are in place to enable transactions within subreddits, allowing users to buy and sell directly on Reddit.
Source: Ars Technica
8. Google Updates Its Gambling & Games Advertising Policy
- The policy now includes online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries.
- Certain gambling ads are restricted or banned in specific regions based on local laws.
- Advertisers must obtain Google certification to prove compliance with legal and responsible gambling standards.
- Ads must not target underage users, and platforms must implement strict age verification measures.
Source: Search Engine Journal
9. Threads Drives 73.6% More Engagement Than X
- Threads posts had a median engagement rate of 6.25%, compared to 3.6% on X (formerly Twitter), making engagement 73.6% higher on Threads.
- Threads fosters deeper engagement due to its more interactive and community-focused environment.
- X has a larger user base, making it ideal for broader content distribution.
- Buffer suggests posting on both platforms, leveraging X for audience size and Threads for higher interaction levels.
Source: Buffer
10. Microsoft advertisers phished via malicious Google ads
- Cybercriminals used malicious Google Ads to trick users searching for “Microsoft Ads” or “Bing Ads.”
- Attackers employed redirection, cloaking, and fake Cloudflare verification pages to evade detection.
- Advertisers’ accounts and sensitive data were at risk of being compromised.
- The issue was reported to Google, emphasizing the need for stronger ad security measures.
Source: Malwarebytes Labs
11. Meridian is now available to everyone
- Google launches Meridian, an open-source Marketing Mix Model (MMM) to help marketers analyse campaign performance.
- It evaluates both online and offline marketing efforts, including external factors like seasonality and economic trends.
- Businesses can tailor Meridian to their specific needs for better accuracy in marketing analysis.
- Companies like Finder use Meridian to gain better insights into marketing effectiveness beyond traditional conversion tracking.
Source: Google Ads Blog
What is there to take away?
As business owners running digital ads, it can be a challenge to keep up with the constant changes in digital marketing. But, not when you follow Primeclick media. Follow Primeclick Media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn so you will never miss a thing!
