AI is reshaping brand safety by amplifying risks around placement, accuracy, and authenticity while offering new tools to control them. As automation scales, marketers face a growing tradeoff between performance gains and trust.

Sony AI released the Fair Human-Centric Image Benchmark (FHIBE), a freely available image data set to test AI fairness using images from 2,000 volunteers across 80 countries—all consent-based and removable on request, per Engadget. Independent data sets like FHIBE give marketers, platforms, and regulators a common reference point for evaluating AI performance. That helps brands prove compliance, reduce reputational risk, and speed up adoption of trustworthy automation. Tools like FHIBE could excise bias and rebuild trust in how AI sees—and represents—people in marketing and advertising processes.

TikTok’s US operations may soon be spun off into a new entity majority-owned by American investors, with Oracle, Andreessen Horowitz, and Silver Lake leading the deal. The framework, aimed at complying with the 2024 divest-or-ban law, would give US investors roughly 80% control while ByteDance retains under 20%. The sticking point remains TikTok’s algorithm—whether ByteDance licenses its technology or a US-controlled version is rebuilt. For marketers, continuity is key: any disruption in recommendation performance, targeting, or data oversight could alter ad outcomes on one of their most important platforms.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri clarified that using “link in bio” in post captions does not affect reach, aiming to dispel creator concerns that the algorithm punishes off-platform engagement. Despite his statement, creators remain skeptical, citing anecdotal dips in engagement when directing followers externally. As creators increasingly monetize through affiliate links, paid communities, and platforms like Substack, visibility control has become a high-stakes issue. Misinformation about Instagram’s algorithm leads to caution and second-guessing, creating friction for entrepreneurs growing businesses across multiple platforms. Real or perceived, lack of clarity undermines trust—and for creators, platform policies directly impact their bottom line.

With TikTok in limbo, Neptune is pitching itself as a mental-health-conscious, creator-first alternative, but it’ll need more than good vibes to scale

Financial institutions that have relied on the platform to reach young consumers must come up with a Plan B—or face losing brand awareness.

TikTok’s growing Western European user base means it should be an important consideration in the marketing mix. There’s strong advertising potential, too, though adherence to European regulation could be a limiting factor.

TikTok isn’t solely driven by its famous algorithm: ByteDance employees can make posts go viral without any disclosures.

TikTok’s recommendation oversight could usher in a new era for social media: The embattled app promised regulators access to its algorithm, which could mean similar changes for competitors.

TikTok’s highly engaged and ever-growing user base is more attractive than ever to UK marketers. To resonate with their audiences on the platform, brands’ marketing strategies should consider content first and foremost.

On today's episode, we discuss how much Netflix and Disney+ will make from ads, what Snapchat+ is, how best to prevent customers from leaving you and trading down, Facebook's algorithm change to take on TikTok, why Apple and Google are coming for your car, an unpopular opinion about email newsletters, what the new "Squid Game" game show will look like, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Suzy Davidkhanian and Max Willens and director of reports editing Rahul Chadha.

Communities, creators, and connection are the keys to success for brands looking to generate sales on TikTok in 2022.

Uber will call you a cab: Driver shortages and rising ride prices drive Uber to embrace the cab industry. The shift into localized services could accelerate Uber’s transformation into a super app.

Read the latest stories from Insider Intelligence about artificial intelligence in social media.

China deems personalized recommendations discriminatory and harmful to user well-being: The new law could discourage users from spending time—and money—on retail and social media platforms.

TikTok's success has renewed social platforms' interest in algorithms: Instagram, Snap, YouTube, and Twitter have all begun implementing algorithmically-recommended content over the past year.

TikTok’s Shopping tab marks a big but necessary shift: The feature will let select Shopify merchants add product catalogs to their profiles, likely the first of many interface changes to facilitate ecommerce on the TikTok.

To deliver an effective customer experience, marketers must first identify their customers and audiences. This report focuses on how marketers identify audience segments and target groups today.