The Volkswagen Middle East “Reflections Enroute” which commenced during Ramadan and will conclude this week in April, aimed at promoting introspection and mindfulness, has recorded impressive results.Aligning with the spiritual values of the holy month, the campaign highlights and encourages introspection during Ramadan commutes. The series of twelve 50-second episodes invites viewers on a contemplative journey of self-discovery focusing on humanity, authenticity, and overcoming challenges.The campaign, which brings Volkswagen's values of Humanity, Authenticity, Emotion, and Accessibility to the forefront, achieved a phenomenal 64% view rate on YouTube by March end, exceeding the industry benchmark by an impressive 84%. Instagram view rates reached 22%, surpassing the benchmark by 60%, highlighting the transformative impact of content that strikes a chord with viewers and tackles themes relevant to their values.Scripted by renowned life coach Shazia Hussain, the videos feature familiar voices in the region, including para-athlete, content creator, and Volkswagen brand ambassador Zainab Al-Eqabi. These videos prompt viewers to reflect on their values and life aspirations.

Google is launching a new short video series to answer the top searched questions on AI on Google by users in the Middle East and North Africa. The six-episode short video series in Arabic which aims to demystify the most common misconceptions around AI will be hosted by popular Saudi content creator, Abdullah AlAlawi and will feature veteran AI experts from Google including Mehdi Ghissassi, Director of Product Management at Google DeepMind.According to Google, Arabic queries on AI by users in the Middle East and North Africa region rose significantly in the last 12 months, and many of them are related to its daily practical uses. The six episodes will address the top searched questions -Episode 1: What is Generative AI?Episode 2: How can I use AI in my studies?Episode 3: What is the difference between AI and Machine Learning?Episode 4: How can I use AI everyday?Episode 5: How can I protect my data while using AI tools?Episode 6: How can I use AI to be more productive and creative?Googleyat will be published every week starting February 5th and will run on Google Arabia’s channels on YouTube, Instagram and X, as well as the channels of Abdullah AlAlawi on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

YouTube will incorporate disclosure requirements and regulations for content generated using artificial intelligence (AI). These upcoming changes are part of the platform's initiative to integrate and adapt to generative AI, wrote Jennifer Flannery O’Connor and Emily Moxley, vice presidents of product management at YouTube, in a blog post. Expressing enthusiasm about the potential of this technology, O’Connor and Moxley emphasized the profound impact it will have on creative industries in the years to come. They stated: “We’re taking the time to balance these benefits with ensuring the continued safety of our community at this pivotal moment — and we’ll work hand-in-hand with creators, artists, and others across the creative industries to build a future that benefits us all.”The disclosure requirements and new content labels will be rolled out in the coming months, obliging creators to specify whether content has been manipulated or artificially generated, with or without the use of AI tools. According to the post, this new label will be added to the description panel or, for sensitive topics, displayed more prominently on the video player. Creators who fail to disclose such information could face penalties, including content removal. Additionally, YouTube plans to introduce a feature allowing individuals to request the removal of AI-generated or synthetically altered content mimicking the face, voice, or other identifiable characteristics of a person.Requests to remove material that is a parody or involves well-known individuals will be subject to a higher standard. Simultaneously, YouTube is actively enhancing the speed and accuracy of its content moderation systems, incorporating both human reviewers and machine learning technology.This announcement follows Meta's recent declaration about imposing new controls on AI-generated ads in anticipation of the 2024 presidential election.

YouTube has introduced a new feature aimed at attracting more content creators and enabling them to earn money by pursuing their passion for creating and sharing content. This latest feature is an expansion of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and allows eligible creators from seven MENA countries, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Oman, to monetize their content.The YPP expansion brings fan-funding features such as Super Chat, Super Thanks, Super Stickers, and channel memberships to creators in the Middle East and North African regions, specifically in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Oman. Furthermore, YouTube plans to extend access to these features to more creators from other countries in the region in the near future.To qualify for fan funding in Saudi Arabia, creators need to meet certain criteria, including having at least 500 subscribers, posting a minimum of three public uploads in the last 90 days, and accumulating a total of 3,000 watch hours within the last 365 days.Tarek Amin, YouTube's Director in the MENA region, said: “Creators are the lifeblood of YouTube and we’re committed to making it the most rewarding place for them — creatively, emotionally, and financially. We hope that this lower eligibility criteria will help support creators who are early in their YouTube journey, paving the way for a new generation of content creators.”

Google has announced the pilot launch of an experimental AI tool aimed at generating draft replies to user comments on YouTube. This initiative is part of a larger social campaign designed to enhance user engagement and foster meaningful interactions within the YouTube community.The objective of this AI tool is not to replace human creativity but rather to empower and liberate it. By leveraging the capabilities of artificial intelligence, Google aims to enable users to draft thoughtful and engaging replies with greater ease and efficiency. The tool will serve as a valuable resource for creators and users alike, providing them with inspiration and suggestions while maintaining the human touch that makes each interaction unique.During the demonstration of the AI tool, one thing became abundantly clear: the most successful outcomes are achieved when AI is coupled with individuals who possess curiosity, creativity, and compassion. It is not AI alone but the collaboration between humans and AI that yields the most compelling results.Robert Wong, VP of Google Creative Lab, emphasized the role of creative individuals in times of change.“We see the same potential for AI to help us connect, be more productive and liberate our imaginations. And we’re excited about how it will interplay with human creativity. Throughout history, humans have always pushed the boundaries of what’s possible – driven by curiosity, creativity or necessity. All eras of discovery and innovation began with someone imagining possibilities,” said Robert Wong.

Dubai: YouTube continues to maintain a formidable position in the online video advertising market, as confirmed by recent insights from WARC Media Platform. The platform is actively seeking ways to foster deeper connections with viewers, creators, and brands through its multi-format video strategies.YouTube has surpassed Netflix to become the largest TV streaming platform in the United States. Accounting for 22.9% of over-the-top (OTT) viewing in March 2023, YouTube dominates as the go-to channel for catching up with sports news among US Gen Z viewers. Additionally, YouTube claimed the title of the most popular platform for music and podcast listening in the US last yearAd investment with YouTube is projected to rise by 4.0% in 2023, reaching a substantial $30.4 billion. This marks a significant turnaround from Q4 2022 when ad revenue experienced an 8.8% decline due to a shift in investment towards retail media and search. Growth is expected to resume in 2023 at more than double the rate recorded in 2022. WARC Media forecasts an accelerated revenue growth of 10.3% for YouTube in 2024, reaching an estimated $33.5 billion by year-end.With a strong emphasis on Shorts and Connected TV (CTV) engagement, YouTube is spearheading innovations such as unskippable 30-second ads and "pause experiences" on TV, enabling marketers to effectively engage audiences across various screens while achieving their performance and brand-building objectives.Key Takeaways from WARC Media Platform Insights:1. Commerce brands are anticipated to spend $4.1 billion on YouTube ads in 2023, representing a 4.6% increase from 2022. While retail remains YouTube's primary category for ad investment, growth from other sectors has proven to be more challenging. However, certain categories are expected to experience double-digit spending increases in 2023, notably technology and electronics (+13.9%) and toiletries and cosmetics (+12.1%), while figures elsewhere show more modest growth.2. YouTube advertisers have the opportunity to reach approximately half of all internet users worldwide. With over one billion hours of video watched daily on the platform, YouTube maintains its position as the world's most popular online platform. Its adult advertising reach is estimated at an impressive 2.07 billion people, nearly double that of TikTok and Instagram individually. While YouTube Shorts (60 seconds or less) provides marketers with opportunities to engage new audiences, its daily viewer total of 50 billion still trails behind Instagram Reels' 140 billion daily views. Notably, the under-18 demographic spends an average of 60% more time on TikTok than on YouTube content.According to Kantar research, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is a pivotal growth area for YouTube, particularly in domains such as live shopping, Shorts, and gaming. In Latin America, YouTube demonstrates cost-effective brand impact compared to other video platforms.These remarkable insights demonstrate YouTube's unwavering position as a leading force in the online video advertising market, presenting abundant engagement opportunities for brands, creators, and viewers alike.

Ofcom’s News consumption in the UK 2021/22 report shows that, for the first time, Instagram is the most popular news source among teenagers used by nearly three in ten in 2022 (29%). TikTok and YouTube follow closely behind, used by 28% of youngsters to follow news.BBC One and BBC Two – historically the most popular news sources among teens – have been knocked off top spot down to fifth place. Around a quarter of teens (24%) use these channels for news in 2022, compared to nearly half (45%) just five years ago.BBC One remains the most used news source among all online adults, although it is one of several major TV news channels to reach fewer people in 2022. News viewing to BBC One, BBC Two, BBC News channel, ITV and Sky News is now below pre-pandemic levels, resuming a longer-term decline in traditional TV news viewing.TikTok clocks up millions more news usersConversely, TikTok has seen the largest increase in use of any news source between 2020 and 2022 – from 0.8 million UK adults in 2020 (1%), increasing to 3.9 million UK adults in 2022 (7%). This brings it onto a par with Sky News’ website and app.TikTok’s growth is primarily driven by younger age groups, with half of its news users aged 16 to 24. Users of TikTok for news claim to get more of their news on the platform from ‘other people they follow’ (44%) than ‘news organisations’ (24%).Teenagers today are increasingly unlikely to pick up a newspaper or tune into TV News, instead preferring to keep up-to-date by scrolling through their social feeds.And while youngsters find news on social media to be less reliable, they rate these services more highly for serving up a range of opinions on the day’s topical stories.Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom’s Group Director for Strategy and ResearchTV news remains trustedTV news remains the most trusted news source among UK adults (71%), with news on social media considered the least reliable (35%). CNN (83%) and Sky News (75%) are highly trusted by their viewers for news, while the public service broadcasters are also trusted by the majority of their viewers – BBC (73%), ITV (70%), Channel 4 (66%) and Channel 5 (59%). Sixty-seven per cent of newcomer GB News's viewers trust its news reporting.Among teens, half of YouTube and Twitter users think they provide trustworthy news stories (51% and 52% respectively). Despite its popularity for news, fewer than a third of youngsters (30%) trust TikTok’s news content.Decline in print news appears to accelerateThe combined use of print and online newspapers among adults is 38% in 2022, a significant decrease from 2020 (47%) and 2018 (51%).This is being driven by the substantial decrease of print newspaper reach in recent years, with the trend seen pre-pandemic appearing to accelerate, likely exacerbated by the pandemic. Less than a quarter (24%) of UK adults use print newspapers for news in 2022, compared with more than a third (35%) in 2020, and two in five (40%) in 2018. Use of newspapers among teenagers fell from 19% to 13% in the last five years.INTERNATIONAL3 MINUTES TO