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Latest Updates

Social media updates and new features to know this week
March 23, 2026
LinkedIn is rolling out new tools, including an AI interview feature for Hiring Pro. Meta warns EU advertisers of rising costs due to digital service taxes, and X is reworking its verification process after user complaints — with updates also coming to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp. Here’s what matters most.
PR Daily
Netflix show made in South Africa hits number 1 worldwide — renewed for another season
March 23, 2026
Netflix released the second season of its live-action adaptation of the beloved One Piece anime on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, most of which was filmed at Cape Town Film Studios in South Africa. According to data from Flix Patrol, the show’s second season has proven highly popular among global audiences.
MyBroadband
AI will soon run an entire ad campaign
March 23, 2026
Advertisers have criticised Google’s ad automation, and now generative AI is taking it further, automating the entire ad supply chain, with a new agentic platform using “neuro-contextual intelligence” to plan and activate media campaigns.
MediaPost
News media ‘trusted in theory but not in practice’ as agencies and advertisers remain wary of brand safety
March 23, 2026
The News Alliance surveyed media agencies and advertisers, finding that brand safety concerns are still causing hesitation to include news on media plans, despite research showing advertising on news doesn’t have adverse effects on brands.
The Media Leader
Ivan Moroke joins Ann Nurock at Relationship Audits
March 23, 2026
Ivan Moroke, a respected marketing leader and strategic advisor, until recently the CEO of Kantar, is joining Ann Nurock as an executive director at Relationship Audits SA.
Bizcommunity
South African shoppers prioritise value amid changing purchasing patterns
March 23, 2026
South Africans are not making fewer purchases overall, but they are making different purchases, such as using smaller baskets, travelling more frequently, and selecting brands more carefully.
Bizcommunity
Google preparing for AI agents to leave the building
March 23, 2026
Pinterest said that its report reveals a cultural shift away from perfectionism and reinvention, and toward brands, foods and experiences that enhance self-expression, comfort and positive vibes. As per Pinterest: “People want to feel good about their lives in 2026, not upend them.”
MediaPost
UK programmatic DOOH investment to rise by 41%, study forecasts
March 23, 2026
This growth outpaces the 32% projected for 2024, signalling rising advertiser confidence. VIOOH’s State of the Nation report shows pDOOH is now firmly mainstream in the UK, appearing in 34% of campaigns over the past 18 months, up from 31% in 2024.
The Media Leader
Google develops opt-out search generative AI feature for U.K.
March 23, 2026
In its response to the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority's goals, Google ensured fairness and said it will promote publisher choice and controls across its platforms while protecting user experiences.
MediaPost
Good news for DStv subscribers in South Africa
March 23, 2026
Canal+ Africa CEO David Mignot says the company won't cut Afrikaans or Zulu content on M-Net, kykNET, or Mzansi Magic.
MyBroadband
Why the SABC and public broadcasting still matter in the streaming era
March 23, 2026
In debates about South Africa’s media future, two claims often surface at the same time: that the future of broadcasting lies entirely in streaming, and that “Nobody watches the SABC anymore”. Both arguments overlook something important. They fail to recognise how the public broadcasting ecosystem actually works, and the role it continues to play in South Africa’s media landscape.
The Media Online
Meta reportedly considering layoffs that could affect 20% of the company
March 23, 2026
Meta may cut more than 20% of its workforce, Reuters reports, as the company looks to offset heavy spending on AI infrastructure, acquisitions, and hiring. Meta had nearly 79,000 employees at the end of December.
Tech Crunch
WARC reveals 100 most effective brands and campaigns
March 23, 2026
The WARC Effective 100 has been released, highlighting the work of big brands in creating value and putting fans at the centre of their campaigns. WARC totals the results of the most important global and regional effectiveness awards of 2025.
Media Shotz
United Stations Welcomes Candy Dempers and Mingi Makhubele
March 23, 2026
The United Stations has announced that it has welcomed Candy Dempers as Commercial Manager, and Mingi Makhubele as Brand Manager of Kaya959
Media Update
YouTube introduces unskippable 30-second ads on TV app as advertising revenue surges
March 23, 2026
YouTube is taking a major step to expand its advertising business by introducing longer, unskippable commercials for viewers watching through television devices. The change comes after the video platform reported a record year for advertising revenue, underscoring how dramatically the media landscape has shifted toward digital video.
Tech Story
20 years of Gagasi FM
March 23, 2026
March 2026 marks a monumental milestone for Gagasi FM as the station celebrates 20 years of servicing and connecting with people of KZN. The anniversary follows the unveiling of “The Sound of KZN” as the station’s refreshed payoff line towards the end of 2024, reinforcing its deep connection with the people, culture and vibrant energy of the province.
Bizcommunity
WPP maintains dominance in annual Warc Media 100 rankings
March 23, 2026
The Warc Media 100 rankings, an independent global benchmark of the world’s most awarded campaigns and companies for media, have been released.
Bizcommunity
Rolex, Burger King Lead for ad time at Oscars
March 23, 2026
Rolex led all advertisers during the 2026 broadcast with three minutes of airtime.
The Measure
Unlock marketing ROI: Three growth blockers to beat in 2026
March 23, 2026
Google's head of advertising in Sub-Saharan Africa discovers the factors hampering brand growth.
The Media Online
Synthetic data is rewriting the rules of measurement
March 23, 2026
Synthetic data offers a compelling solution. Organisations can generate statistically representative versions of their proprietary data and share them with measurement partners—preserving privacy while restoring analytical depth. It enables analysis of customer transactions or niche audiences without exposing personal data.
MediaPost
Canal+ to end Showmax subscriptions on 1 April 2026, will axe streamer on 30 April
March 23, 2026
Canal+'s Showmax will end subscriptions for its doomed video streaming service from 1 April 2026 as Showmax content will temporarily be moved to DStv Stream, and later Canal+'s app, also known as Canal+.
TV With Thinus
Agency agenda: Tony Harradine outlines Omnicom Media APAC’s post-deal plan
March 23, 2026
As Omnicom Media settles into its new reality following the landmark acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG), Asia Pacific CEO Tony Harradine is focused on one thing, and that is giving the business clarity and momentum for what comes next.
Marketing Interactive
Africa’s creator boom gets a system: Dentsu X unveils The Creator Catalyst
March 23, 2026
Dentsu X has launched the Creator Catalyst for Africa, strengthening its position as one of the continent’s most connected media networks, with teams on the ground who understand how influence really works across African cultures, platforms, and communities.
Bizcommunity
Pinterest shares rising trends in new report
March 23, 2026
Pinterest said that its report reveals a cultural shift away from perfectionism and reinvention, and toward brands, foods and experiences that enhance self-expression, comfort and positive vibes. As per Pinterest: “People want to feel good about their lives in 2026, not upend them.”
Social Media Today
YouTube Surpasses combined ad buys Of Disney, Paramount, NBC, WBD
March 16, 2026
YouTube now ranks as the world’s largest video media company -- beating out Disney, Paramount, NBC and Warner Bros. Discovery in total ad revenue intake for 2025, according to a new report from financial research firm MoffettNathanson.
MediaPost
Why Meta’s Moltbook acquisition changes all
March 16, 2026
Meta Platforms on Tuesday acquired Moltbook, the internet forum launched in January 2026 for artificial intelligence (AI) agents, imitating Reddit's format, where humans simply observe. The web is shifting from tools that answer questions to agents that execute tasks.
MediaPost
NIQ State of the Retail Nation: South African FMCG retail lifted by economic tailwinds
March 16, 2026
NielsenIQ (NIQ) South Africa has released its State of the Retail Nation analysis* for the calendar year of 2025, showing healthy growth in retail sales value and volume. South African consumers spent nearly R683.3bn on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) through traditional and modern trade channels during the year under review. This represents year-over-year value growth of 5.7%, with unit sales increasing by 6.7%.
Bizcommunity
SA Retail Ad Spend Report 2026
March 16, 2026
An overview of retail advertising investment in South Africa from October to December 2025, including ad spend levels, media mix, and competitive activity across major retailers. Get the report here.
Ornico
Social media updates and new features to know this week
March 23, 2026
LinkedIn is rolling out new tools, including an AI interview feature for Hiring Pro. Meta warns EU advertisers of rising costs due to digital service taxes, and X is reworking its verification process after user complaints — with updates also coming to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp. Here’s what matters most.
PR Daily
Netflix show made in South Africa hits number 1 worldwide — renewed for another season
March 23, 2026
Netflix released the second season of its live-action adaptation of the beloved One Piece anime on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, most of which was filmed at Cape Town Film Studios in South Africa. According to data from Flix Patrol, the show’s second season has proven highly popular among global audiences.
MyBroadband
AI will soon run an entire ad campaign
March 23, 2026
Advertisers have criticised Google’s ad automation, and now generative AI is taking it further, automating the entire ad supply chain, with a new agentic platform using “neuro-contextual intelligence” to plan and activate media campaigns.
MediaPost
News media ‘trusted in theory but not in practice’ as agencies and advertisers remain wary of brand safety
March 23, 2026
The News Alliance surveyed media agencies and advertisers, finding that brand safety concerns are still causing hesitation to include news on media plans, despite research showing advertising on news doesn’t have adverse effects on brands.
The Media Leader
Ivan Moroke joins Ann Nurock at Relationship Audits
March 23, 2026
Ivan Moroke, a respected marketing leader and strategic advisor, until recently the CEO of Kantar, is joining Ann Nurock as an executive director at Relationship Audits SA.
Bizcommunity

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