The digital marketing world never sleeps — and February 2026 has been one of the most eventful months in recent memory. From Google shaking up content discovery to AI officially entering the advertising game, here’s everything you need to know to stay ahead.
1. Google Discover Gets a Major Core Update
On February 5, 2026, Google launched its February 2026 Discover Core Update, one of the biggest changes to content discovery in years. The update specifically targets Google Discover — the personalized content feed used by over 800 million users monthly — and focuses heavily on eliminating sensational, clickbait-style headlines while boosting locally relevant content.
Here’s what this means for publishers and content creators:
- Avoid hyperbolic or misleading headlines
- Use high-quality featured images at least 1,200px wide
- Build a strong presence on YouTube, Reels, and TikTok
- 51% of Google Discover entries in the US are now AI summaries, with 77% of those redirecting to YouTube or X — not external publishers
If you’re publishing content, now is the time to rethink your headline strategy and double down on video.
2. ChatGPT Is Now Running Ads — At $60 CPM
One of the most talked-about February developments: ChatGPT officially launched its advertising platform, with premium pricing at $60 CPM (cost per thousand impressions). This marks a major turning point for AI monetization and signals that AI-powered platforms are no longer content-only environments — they are now full-blown advertising channels.
For marketers, this opens a new frontier. Brands willing to experiment early on ChatGPT ads could benefit from premium positioning before the platform becomes saturated. Watch this space closely.
3. Threads Overtakes X in Daily Users
The social media power shift is official: Threads has overtaken X (formerly Twitter) in daily active mobile users, reaching 141 million daily users globally. Meta also expanded Threads advertising globally this month, making it a viable paid media channel for the first time.
Meanwhile, X continues to face regional ban threats due to its Grok AI generating harmful content without sufficient safeguards. If your brand is still putting all its real-time engagement eggs in the X basket, February 2026 is a strong signal to diversify.
4. YouTube Doubles Down on Shopping, AI & Social Features
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan outlined the platform’s 2026 priority roadmap this month, which includes:
- AI tools for Shorts creation
- Text-to-game features (a completely new content format)
- In-app shopping checkout — turning YouTube into an e-commerce destination
- Instagram-style photo carousels being tested in the Shorts feed
For brands and creators, YouTube is evolving far beyond video. If you’re not treating it as a commerce platform yet, 2026 is the year to start.
5. LinkedIn’s Traffic Dropped 60% — And AI Is Why
LinkedIn disclosed a 60% decline in B2B traffic driven by AI-powered search reducing click-through rates. People are getting answers from AI tools without ever visiting the site. Yet, paradoxically, LinkedIn articles are now one of the most-cited domains in AI-generated answers — making the platform more valuable than ever for building authority.
The takeaway? Shift your LinkedIn goal from driving traffic to establishing AI-cited expertise. Publish long-form articles, share original insights, and position yourself as a thought leader whose content AI tools quote.
6. Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol: AI Agents That Shop For You
Google introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol this month, enabling AI agents to autonomously complete purchases on behalf of users. This is a breakthrough moment for agentic AI — where AI doesn’t just recommend products but actually executes transactions.
For e-commerce and digital marketing professionals, this means product listings, structured data, and feed quality are now more critical than ever, since AI agents scan and act on product data directly.
7. Meta Launches AI Tools for Influencer & Brand Partnerships
On February 14, 2026, Meta upgraded its Creator Marketplace with AI-powered tools that improve influencer discovery, matching, and performance tracking for brands. This makes influencer marketing easier to scale and measure without leaving Meta’s ecosystem.
Combined with Instagram replacing “follower counts” with “friend counts” and expanding Meta Verified features (including competitive insights and business page posting limits), Meta is clearly moving toward a more controlled, subscription-friendly ecosystem.
8. GEO: The New Marketing Discipline You Need to Know
Move over, SEO. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) has emerged as a distinct marketing discipline in 2026. Instead of optimizing for search rankings, GEO focuses on:
- Increasing the frequency with which AI tools cite your content
- Structuring content to be easily quoted by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity
- Creating original data, research, and expert opinions that AI must reference
Every content creator and brand publishing online needs to start thinking about GEO alongside traditional SEO.
9. Micro-Influencers Are Outperforming Mega-Influencers
February 2026 data confirms what many suspected: micro-influencers (10K–100K followers) are delivering higher engagement and better conversion rates than mega-influencers. Brands are reallocating budgets toward smaller, more targeted creators, with performance-based pay models (similar to affiliate commissions) replacing flat-fee arrangements.
For brands in niche markets — from jewelry to B2B services — this is great news. Authentic voices in your industry are now more cost-effective and results-driven than celebrity endorsements.
10. “Human-Made” Content Is Becoming a Trust Signal
As AI-generated content floods the internet, a new trend is taking shape: audiences are actively seeking content verified as human-created . A new FT Strategies report, NextGen News 2, predicts that by 2030, “100% Guaranteed Human” labels will be a major trust differentiator for publishers and brands alike.
This is your competitive edge if you invest in original writing, real photography, and authentic storytelling — especially relevant for marketers in lifestyle, travel, jewelry, and news publishing.
Quick Summary Snapshot
| Trend | What’s Happening |
|---|---|
| Google Discover | Core update targeting clickbait, boosting local & video content |
| ChatGPT Ads | Launched at $60 CPM — new ad channel for brands |
| Threads vs. X | Threads overtakes X in daily users; Meta expands ads |
| YouTube 2026 | AI tools, in-app shopping, photo carousels in Shorts |
| LinkedIn Traffic | Down 60% from AI search, but LinkedIn still key for AI citations |
| GEO | New discipline: optimize for AI citations, not just search rankings |
| Micro-Influencers | Outperforming mega-influencers on conversions |
| Human Content | Becoming a premium trust signal in AI-saturated feeds |