Platform Update History: Every Major Algorithm & Feature Change
Dated timelines of the algorithm, feature and policy changes that shaped Google, Meta, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, Snapchat and AI search.
Latest updates across all platforms
- YouTube Partner Program Clarification & Studio Insights (2026)
Defined 3 kinds of non-monetisable inauthentic content; Analytics renamed Insights with AI cards; custom Shorts thumbnails.
- Google May 2026 Core Update
Completed Jun 2, 2026.
- Google March 2026 Core Update
Completed Apr 8, 2026.
- LinkedIn LLM Retrieval & Generative Recommender Feed (2026)
New LLM-based retrieval, a generative recommender using 1,000+ past interactions, and action against pods and engagement bait.
- Google February 2026 Discover Core Update
Core update aimed at the Discover feed rather than regular Search.
- TikTok USDS Joint Venture (2026)
US joint venture led by Oracle and Silver Lake; licensed copy of the algorithm retrained on US data.
- Google December 2025 Core Update
Completed Dec 29, 2025.
- Meta GEM (Generative Ads Recommendation Model) (2025)
Large model predicting engagement for each candidate ad. Meta claims about 4x efficiency over its predecessor.
- Meta ASC/AAC Folded into Advantage+ Campaigns (2025)
New Advantage+ Shopping/App campaign creation blocked in the API; unified Advantage+ campaigns replace them.
- Google Spam Updates 2025–2026
Five spam updates: August 2025, March 2026, June 2026, August 2026 and September 2026 (Sep 24 – Oct 8, 2026). One page, updated each time.
- Google Asset Studio (2025)
AI image and video creation tool inside Google Ads.
- Instagram Reposts & Friends Map (2025)
Repost button and a location-sharing map added.
Why update history matters
Most ranking and reach problems make sense once you know which update caused them. A traffic drop in March 2024 points to the March 2024 core update and its new spam policies. A sudden change in Meta ad performance in 2025 points to the Andromeda rollout. Knowing the timeline helps you diagnose faster, explain results to clients and avoid repeating old mistakes.
Each entry gives the date, what changed, who it affected and what it means today, with links to sources. Entries are added as platforms announce changes. For the latest, follow our Updates category or subscribe to the Weekly Marketing Pulse.