Platform pulse: April / Easter 2026

Hello, we hope you’ve had a fantastic Easter break and managed to avoid a total chocolate coma. As we shake off the bank holiday cobwebs and dive into the new financial year, we’ve put together a bit of a bumper edition for you.

This month, we’re looking at everything from Meta’s new location fees (consider it a holiday tax for your ads) to YouTube's "zero-minute" feed limit for those craving a digital detox. We’ve also got the lowdown on OpenAI’s new Ads Manager and a landmark verdict that's shaking up the live music scene. There is a lot to catch up on, so grab a cuppa and scroll through the highlights to get your Q2 strategy off to a flyer.

01. META

The Cost of Geography: New 'Location Fees'

Meta has confirmed new ‘Location Fees’ (2% in the UK) starting 1 July to cover Digital Service Taxes. Unlike traditional billing based on business residency, these fees are triggered by where your audience is located. Precision in geo-targeting is no longer just about relevance; it is now a matter of fiscal efficiency. Read more

One-Click Native Checkout: The Stripe Integration

Stripe & Meta’s new integration reduces friction by letting users purchase directly within Facebook ads using saved Meta Wallet credentials. This is a massive leap for "Agentic Commerce"—turning passive discovery into an instant storefront and bypassing traditional mobile web friction. Read more

Precision Retargeting: Meta’s New Engagement Logic

Meta has significantly upgraded its custom audience architecture for Facebook and Instagram engagement, moving beyond simple binary lists to more sophisticated, frequency-based targeting. We are now seeing the rollout of two critical new settings: the ability to target users who have engaged at least "X" times within a set period, and a cleaner "X - Y" day window system. Read more

Threads: API and Analytics Expansion

Meta has expanded the Threads API, enabling professional scheduling and deep analytics. As the platform reaches 400 million active users, these tools provide the infrastructure needed to manage Threads as a strategic, rather than experimental, channel. Read more

02. GOOGLE

The April Core Update: A Mandate for Originality

Google’s broad April 2026 Core Update is a decisive re-evaluation of quality, rewarding sites with genuine E-E-A-T. As generic AI-generated filler becomes a liability, your content strategy must serve as a high-authority filter. Success now requires original reporting to survive real-time algorithmic suppression. Read more

Predictive Budgeting: Cross-Channel Forecasting in GA4

Google is bridging the gap between reporting and planning with Cross-Channel Budgeting in GA4. Using Bayesian regression modelling, you can now simulate "what-if" scenarios to forecast how media mix shifts impact your bottom line before you spend a single pound. Read more

YouTube’s ‘Zero-Minute’ Limits

YouTube has introduced a "zero-minute" option for its Shorts feed, allowing users to disable the feature entirely. As the infinite scroll becomes optional, brands must pivot to intentional, high-value content that users actively choose to watch rather than passively swipe past. Read more

YouTube A/B Testing 2.0

YouTube has expanded its testing ecosystem, allowing creators to upload up to three variations of both titles and thumbnails simultaneously. This transforms the creative process into an evidence-based strategy where experimentation is a foundational requirement for growth. Read more

YouTube Premium Price Increase

YouTube is increasing the cost of its Premium service, reflecting the platform's commitment to supporting high-tier creators and advanced AI feature sets. As ad-free access becomes more expensive, the "strategic requirement" to capture attention within the ad-supported pool becomes even higher. Read more

Crawl Limit Fluidity: The 2MB Technical Sweet Spot

Googlebot is getting more selective. New insights show the crawler often dials its limit down to just 2MB for speed. Bloated code is now a direct barrier to indexation; lean, high-authority technical structures are the only way to ensure your most valuable content is seen. Read more

03. OPEN AI

The Infrastructure of Intent

The foundation for AI commerce is being laid. OpenAI has launched its self-serve Ads Manager pilot, signalling a move from search discovery to intent-based conversational transactions. The era of Agentic Commerce has officially arrived. Read more

04. LINKEDIN

Authenticity as a Digital Asset

LinkedIn is undergoing a transformation into a high-intent video hub. New video tools and AI insights are now aggressively rewarding "real human voices." For B2B brands, this is the time to transition to original, personality-driven video content. Read more

05. SPOTIFY

Override AI with ‘Steer’

In a response to algorithmic fatigue, Spotify’s new Steer features allow users to manually override their AI profiles. Success now depends on capturing high-intent moments where users consciously choose to engage with a brand’s sound. Read more

06. TIDAL

The Direct-to-Fan Storefront Revolution

Tidal has entered the "storefront era," allowing artists to sell digital downloads directly to fans with a 90/10 revenue split. This signifies a return to intentional, transactional loyalty where fans "own" the high-res content they love. Read more

07. TIKTOK

TikTok x Universal

TikTok and Universal Music Group have reached a new licensing agreement, bringing major artists back to the platform with improved remuneration and AI protections. This deal turns viral moments into direct revenue through integrated e-commerce tools. Read more

08. REGULATION & POLICY

Live Nation Verdict

A landmark antitrust ruling has found Live Nation and Ticketmaster guilty of operating an illegal monopoly. This verdict signals a forced decentralisation of the live event industry and a move toward competitive ticketing and venue access. Read more

Google Bows to EU Browser Choice

Following DMA pressure, Google will now place the user’s selected default browser into the homescreen hotseat on Pixel devices. This dismantles a long-standing steering tactic, allowing independent browsers to compete on merit. Read more

Times One Hundred is the embedded partner for brands with fans, specialising in releases, events, and venue-led launches. We provide the media strategy and precision execution required to turn your most critical windows into record-breaking successes.