This fortnight, social platforms have leaned heavily into AI, creator monetisation, and immersive experiences, rolling out updates that have directly impacted creators, marketers, and users in India. Google has clarified Gemini AI usage limits and expanded AI-powered search to Hindi, helping users access more relevant and efficient results. Meta has launched Click-to-Message and Status ads on WhatsApp, giving businesses and creators new ways to engage audiences.
Meanwhile, Snapchat has upgraded its AR ecosystem with Snap OS 2.0, offering faster in-glasses browsing, live AI translations, and improved developer tools. Across platforms, these updates have enhanced usability, rewarded engagement, and provided creators and brands with more powerful tools to grow their presence in India.
Clear Daily Limits for Gemini AI
Google has introduced specific daily usage caps for its Gemini AI, ending previous ambiguities. Free-tier users have received five prompts daily, while Pro subscribers have gained 100 prompts, 1,000 image generations, and 20 Deep Research reports per day. The Ultra plan has offered even higher limits, including 200 Deep Research reports daily.
Insight: Users have been able to select plans more confidently based on their needs.
AI-Powered Search in Hindi
Google has expanded its AI-powered search feature, “AI Mode,” to include Hindi, along with Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese.
Insight: Users in India have gained access to more culturally relevant and helpful AI responses.
AI-Generated Ad Assets for Retailers
Google has rolled out AI-powered content generation tools in its “Asset Studio” element in the Google Ads app, making it easier for retailers to create product images and videos in-stream. Retailers can upload a photo of their product and, with a simple text prompt, Google AI will generate a new image featuring a model using their product in that exact scene.
Insight: Retailers have been able to create authentic, campaign-ready assets in seconds, enhancing their advertising efforts.
Meta
Facebook Revives ‘Pokes’ Feature
Facebook has brought back the ‘Pokes’ feature, letting users send a virtual poke to friends.
Insight: Nostalgic interactions have been encouraged, boosting engagement on the platform.
WhatsApp Click-to-Message Ads
Meta has launched Click-to-Message ads on WhatsApp, enabling businesses to connect directly with potential customers.
Insight: Businesses have streamlined communication and reached leads more efficiently.
WhatsApp Status Ads
WhatsApp has started displaying ads in the Updates tab, reaching up to 1.5 billion daily users.
Insight: Meta has unlocked a new revenue stream and offered brands broader visibility.
Snapchat
Launch of Snap OS 2.0
Snapchat has unveiled Snap OS 2.0 for its fifth-generation Spectacles AR glasses. The update has introduced a faster web browser, a gallery app for in-glasses playback, and live AI-enabled translation across 40+ languages.
Insight: Developers and users have experienced improved AR functionality and more immersive experiences.
Publisher Tools in Reddit Pro
Reddit has added new publisher tools in Reddit Pro, including a “Links” tab to track which posts are being shared, monitor engagement, and sync RSS feeds. The platform also offers AI suggestions for communities where content should be shared.
Insight: Publishers have gained better visibility and distribution of their content, helping them reach more relevant communities.
Save and Send Metrics Added to Content Insights
LinkedIn has added “Saves” and “Sends” to its Content Insights, showing how many users have bookmarked posts or shared them via private messages.
Insight: Creators and brands have gained deeper insights into audience engagement, allowing them to optimise content strategy more effectively.
