Why is YouTube likely to be included in any UK social media ban for under-16s? The MD of Ziggurat XYZ looks at the evidence.

During a presentation at SXSW London, Neil Patel, co-founder of American digital marketing firm NP Digital, advised brands to acknowledge AI search as a demand-generator.

The tech giant announced a slew of new ad formats for AI search and will roll out its Universal Commerce Protocol to AI Mode and YouTube. It is also launching a new Ask Advisor AI marketing assistant to help brands automate their campaigns across Google’s adtech stack.

The lobbying effort comes after the announcement of the Regulating for Growth Bill, with IAB UK finding that 95% of digital advertising companies are using AI, compared to just 16% of total UK businesses.

Total digital listening now comprises more than three-quarters (76%) of overall radio listening, according to the latest Rajar figures.

96% of advertisers are backing audio, now investment needs to follow, writes the president of Bauer Media Audio.

The United Nations and Conscious Advertising Network are appealing to advertisers to use their leverage as commercial partners to push tech companies for greater transparency and to tackle fraud and disinformation.

The latest IPA Bellwether reported a net balance of 4.5% of firms upwardly revising their media budgets in Q1, driven by growth in online and video advertising.

The latest Digital Publishers’ Revenue Index Report found that total digital publishing revenues grew for the fourth consecutive quarter in Q4 2025, even as this growth was captured by a minority of titles.

A spokesperson for IAB UK said it aims “to work with the broadest possible membership to help make digital advertising better for everyone and address shared industry challenges.”