Welcome to our 75th edition of the Digital Digest. This week we’ll be covering all the top stories from the past fortnight from Google, YouTube and Instagram.
**Google Fred Update**
Eagle-eyed webmasters and the SEO community have spotted strong signals that there has been a recent (link: http://searchengineland.com/new-unconfirmed-google-fred-update-shakes-seo-world-270898 text: algorithm ranking update). As always, Google haven’t come out and confirmed the update but with automated Google tracking tools such as Mozcast and SEMrush’s tool, there seems to something happening.
**UPDATE:** Gary Illyes from Google may have (link: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-confirm-fred-algorithm-update-23603.html text: confirmed) that the Fred algorithm update targeted low value content on websites in March. In terms of what this means for our clients, we are continuously checking traffic and rankings to ensure we are one step ahead of pending changes from Google.
**Brands pull out of advertising on YouTube and Google**
A number of brands across the globe have (youtube: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/25/google-youtube-advertising-extremist-content-att-verizon text: withdrawn all advertising) from Google and YouTube after concerns that ads were being placed next to extremist material. Companies such as The Guardian, French advertising group, Havas, and a number of US based companies have all pulled advertising on the search giant and YouTube. Google have since apologised and have pledged to give brands more control over where their ads appear.
**YouTube LGBT video block causes outrage**
YouTube have been accused of (youtube: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/20/lgbt-community-anger-over-youtube-restrictions-which-make-their-videos-invisible text: blocking LGBTQ content) from the video platform by the use of its restricted mode and parental controls. A number of users have flagged that their particular videos which reference same-sex relationships had been filtered out under YouTube’s own restricted views.
**Instagram could turn into a Yelp competitor**
According to Bloomberg, Instagram will soon turn into a Yelp type app meaning that users will have the ability to (link: http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/22/15022948/report-instagram-appointments-feature-yelp-competitor text: book an appointment) straight from the app. Currently Instagram allows businesses to add buttons on their profile to let users call them on the phone, send a message and get directions as well as being able to add calls to actions including links on sale items.
**Google’s mobile first index still yet to be launched**
SMX West, an event help by Marketing Land and its sister company Search Engine Land, was held last week, with appearances from numerous companies, the talk which stood out the most was from Gary Ilyes from Google. He (link: http://searchengineland.com/googles-mobile-first-index-still-months-away-271851 text: confirmed) in his talk that Google were still experimenting with Mobile-First indexing and there is currently no timeline for the launch. The proposed move to mobile-first indexing was revealed back in October. We will be sure to keep you updated with more announcements as and when they come.
That’s it for this edition of our Digital Digest, join us again for more news and stories soon!