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Internet Today

Meta’s AI Ad Updates: A Game-Changer for Social Media Marketing in 2025

Picture this: You’re scrolling Instagram, sipping your morning coffee, when an ad pops up that feels eerily perfect—like it knows you better than your best friend. That’s Meta’s latest AI magic at work. In March 2025, the tech giant dropped a batch of ad updates for Facebook and Instagram that are shaking up how brands connect with us. As a marketer (or just someone curious about the ad world), these changes feel like a mix of exciting possibilities and a little “what’s next?” uncertainty. Let’s unpack what’s happening and why it matters.

AI That’s Smarter Than Ever

Meta’s new AI system, dubbed Andromeda, rolled out on March 23, 2025 (Social Media Today spilled the beans), and it’s like having a super-smart assistant who never sleeps. It’s sifting through millions of ads to figure out what’ll catch your eye, whether you’re shopping online or popping into a store. I imagine it like a librarian who’s read every book and knows exactly which one you’ll love—except it’s ads, not novels.

The updates come with some cool tricks up their sleeve:

  • Ad Frequency Control: Ever get annoyed seeing the same ad ten times a day? Now brands can dial it back, so you’re not rolling your eyes at yet another shoe promo.
  • Business vs. Personal Split: Companies can keep their ads separate from their CEO’s vacation pics—finally, a clean slate for business vibes.
  • Instagram Post Ideas: The AI’s like, “Hey, that post you made last week? It’d make a killer ad!” It’s a time-saver that feels almost too easy.

It’s all part of Meta’s push to let AI do the heavy lifting. For marketers, it’s less fiddling with settings and more trusting the tech to nail it. Honestly, it’s a bit like handing over the car keys to a robot driver—convenient, but you hope it doesn’t take a weird detour.

Influencers Get a Front-Row Seat

Here’s where it gets fun: Meta’s blending influencer magic into its Advantage+ Catalog ads. Imagine your favorite fashion influencer strutting their stuff in a reel, and bam—it’s part of a shoppable ad for that exact jacket. This update, fresh this week (check Meta’s blog for the full scoop), lets brands team up with creators to make their products feel less “salesy” and more like a friend’s recommendation. I’ve fallen for this myself—seeing someone I follow rave about a gadget makes me way more likely to hit “buy.”

Meta’s stats back this up: 53% of people they surveyed say they’d buy stuff pitched by creators on Reels, where content gets shared 3.5 billion times a day. For marketers, it’s like striking gold—authentic vibes with a sales boost.

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Smoother Shopping, But Ads in Your Notifications?

Shopping’s getting a tweak too. Meta’s testing new checkout flows to make buying stuff as easy as ordering takeout. Details are hush-hush, but X chatter hints at fewer clicks between “ooh, I want that” and “it’s mine.” For brands selling impulse buys—like that quirky mug I definitely don’t need—it could be a win.

But then there’s this: ads in your notifications. Yep, Meta’s dipping a toe into that territory. I get it—more eyeballs, more clicks—but it’s risky. Notifications are my sacred space for friend texts and calendar pings, not ads. X posts from March 24 show people are split—some see the potential, others are ready to riot. Marketers, tread lightly here.

The Good, The Tricky, and The “Hmm”

These updates are a goldmine in some ways. Andromeda’s precision could save brands cash while racking up sales—think Casetify’s 13% ROAS boost last year with AI-generated backgrounds. The influencer-catalog mashup? It’s like a cheat code for trust. But there’s a flip side. Handing over targeting control to AI (like with Advantage+ Audience) feels like letting go of the steering wheel. And if notification ads annoy too many people, it could backfire big time. Plus, with AI cranking out creative, I worry my brand’s quirky voice might get lost in the shuffle—Meta’s still figuring out how to let us tweak that.

Crime and JusticeInternet Today

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Historic Settlement with Facebook-Parent Meta

A $1.4 Billion Victory for Texans' Privacy Rights

So, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton just totally owned Facebook’s parent company, Meta. He won a huge lawsuit against them for a billion and a half bucks! The whole thing was about this creepy feature on Facebook where they’d secretly scan people’s faces without telling them. Yeah, not cool.

KenPaxtonCase

The Unseen Invasion

Back in 2011, when Meta was still known as Facebook, the company rolled out its "tag" feature. This seemingly innocuous tool allowed software to recognize and sort faces in photos. However, what most Texans didn't realize was that it automatically activated without clear explanations. For over a decade, Meta quietly ran facial recognition software on virtually every uploaded photo, collecting records of people's facial geometry.

Violations and Accountability

Paxton's legal team argued that this violated a 2009 state statute governing biometric data usage and ran afoul of Texas' deceptive trade practices act. The $1.4 billion settlement, the largest ever obtained by a single state against a business, will be paid out over five years. Paxton emphasized that this historic victory demonstrates their commitment to holding tech giants accountable for privacy breaches.

Paxton: A Maverick in the Legal Arena

Ken Paxton, an outspoken conservative, has long criticized large tech companies. His alignment with right-leaning figures like Elon Musk has fueled speculation about his potential role in a second Trump Administration. Despite facing a federal investigation, Paxton's tenacity in pursuing justice remains unwavering.

In the end, this settlement serves as a powerful reminder: even the mightiest corporations must respect Texans' privacy rights. Meta's misstep has cost them dearly, and Paxton's victory reverberates far beyond the courtroom.

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