Weekly Marketing Rundown - April 17, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - September 11, 2026 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! We’re diving into the latest updates you need to know including an invite to join out Kavanah Analytics Webinar,  major ways hackers are bypassing security systems and passkeys, Google ads on Waze, Vibe Coding and more! Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Kavanah Analytics- Webinar You're invited to a free online webinar introducing Kavanah Analytics on Monday, October 20, offered at two times to fit your team's schedule: 8:00 AM Eastern and 8:00 PM Eastern.  If your team is using digital tools to reach the lost, you already know the hard part isn't running an ad or posting a video. It's answering the questions that matter: Who responded? Did that conversation lead to a Bible study, a baptism, a disciple? Kavanah Analytics is a free tool built specifically for mission teams that automatically pulls your Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads, messaging, and follow-up data into one clear picture, so you can see the whole journey from first click to real spiritual conversation without stitching together spreadsheets or paying for enterprise software. In this one-hour session we'll show you how it works, walk through a live team dashboard, and explain how to get your own team set up at no cost.  Bring your questions, and bring whoever on your team is asking "is this actually working?"  Register at https://forms.gle/d2mLocY1MrcsazA28 and join us on October 20. kavanahanalytics.com Turning Off Meta's Buggy Multimedia Experience Facebook recently added a new tool that lets you put many pictures and videos into one ad, but it has a lot of bugs. You can easily turn off this new feature in your settings to go back to the older, more reliable way of making ads. For Mission Teams If you are leveraging Meta ads and hate the new UI now you can turn it off. However, even though the system can be buggy at times, members of the Kavanah Media team have come to like the new system and find it easier to use- especially when leveraging diverse creatuves, https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/turn-off-new-creative-workflow-multimedia-experience Clicking 'Allow' Could Give Hackers Access to Your Account In another Google and Microsoft attack surface- hackers can now access your entire Google or Microsoft account by tricking you into clicking "Allow" on a seemingly normal screen. Once allowed, they can read your emails and send messages to your contacts without ever needing your password. For Mission Teams Mission teams must be extremely careful when granting app permissions on devices used for digital evangelism. Hackers can use this trick to access sensitive conversations with seekers, and even changing your password won't stop them unless you remove their access in your settings. https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/clicking-allow-on-a-google-and-microsoft-permission-screens-could-give-hackers-access-to-your-entire-account-fbi-warns 39 Ways Passkeys Can Be Hacked Passkeys were designed to replace passwords by using a secure digital lock, but hackers have found 39 new ways to bypass this security. The hackers attack the systems around the passkey, like the app, browser, or cloud storage, instead of breaking the passkey itself. For Mission Teams Mission teams using passkeys for ministry platforms should not assume they are completely safe from hackers. Since hackers can still access accounts through shared devices or cloud accounts, teams need strong security measures across all digital tools used for evangelism. See the entire list here: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/39-new-methods-that-compromise-passkey-authentication/ OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Ad Tools and Global Reach OpenAI has released new tools for ChatGPT Ads that let creators build campaigns using simple text prompts, manage custom audiences better, and track ad performance more accurately. The platform also added budget pacing controls and expanded ad placement to users in Europe, India, the Middle East, and North Africa. For Mission Teams These AI tools and expanded regional footprints allow mission teams to reach seekers more effectively across Europe and the Middle East. Improved data matching and budget pacing also help teams protect user privacy and steward their evangelism resources wisely. https://ads.openai.com/?utm_source=openai_email&utm_medium=openai_email&utm_campaign=product_update Google Expands Waze Ads to 42 Countries Google is expanding Waze Ads beyond the United States to 41 additional countries through Performance Max campaigns. This update allows local organizations in 42 global markets to show location-based ads to drivers on their routes. For Mission Teams Where available local ministry teams and churches could use these location-based ads on Waze to guide nearby seekers directly to physical churches, community centers, or outreach events. Strategically targeting local drivers could help expand digital engagement into face-to-face discipleship. https://www.seroundtable.com/google-expands-waze-ads-42018.html Brands Emphasize Humanity to Rebuild Consumer Trust Many companies are designing ads that feature real human stories and handmade visual styles. This human-centered approach helps brands rebuild customer trust as public worry grows over artificial intelligence. For Mission Teams Content and news explaining this "Human Centered Content," trend is becoming more commonplace. Brands and marketers are realizing that sharing authentic human experiences in social media ads builds crucial trust with online seekers who are wary of automated content.  https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/humanity-in-advertising-ai-distrust?utm_source=tldrmarketing European Union Enforces Stricter Safety Rules on Popular Platforms The European Union placed ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox under its highest level of platform regulations after user growth surged. These services must now regularly assess risks involving minor safety, illegal content, and automated recommendation systems. For Mission Teams Tighter platform regulations in Europe could affect how ministry ad campaigns and conversational AI tools operate. While this platforms are not as widely leveraged for digital engagement by missions teams and churches, the adjustments these platforms must conform to may still affect other digital platforms, how users find and engage with content, and more. Teams should be prepared to adjust their strategies accordingly. https://www.politico.eu/article/chatgpt-reddit-roblox-face-eus-strictest-platforms-regime/ Meta Releases AI Tool for Real-Time Multilingual Transcription Meta introduced a new artificial intelligence model that transcribes live audio in over seventy languages simultaneously. The system accurately identifies more than twenty different speakers in a single recording, even when people switch languages mid-sentence. For Mission Teams This real-time translation tool allows global ministry teams to host live, multi-language meetings and broadcast outreach content seamlessly. Leveraging instant transcription helps teams securely engage diverse seekers and disciple international communities without language barriers. https://www.engadget.com/2249112/meta-new-ai-transcription-model-can-distinguist-between-multiple-speakers-and-languages-in-real-time/ Meta Disables Cameras on Smart Glasses Modified by Users Meta remotely turned off the cameras on thousands of smart glasses because users tampered with the recording lights. The company took action to prevent people from secretly filming others without their permission. For Mission Teams As smart glasses become increasingly common, the battle for user privacy intensifies. This development highlights several important concerns: Workers may be recorded at any time without their knowledge. Our sense of ownership is diminishing. While Meta's ability to detect tampering and disable devices can protect personal privacy, it also raises significant concerns about control and autonomy. https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-glasses-camera-disabled-tampering-recording-light-update-2026-9 Google Avoids Forced Breakup in Major Antitrust Ruling A federal judge ruled that Google will not have to sell its advertising exchange despite breaking antitrust laws. Instead of breaking up the company, the court ordered Google to make its ad tools work better with competing platforms. For Mission Teams Keeping Google's advertising network intact allows mission teams to continue using familiar tools to run targeted digital outreach campaigns. Improved compatibility between ad platforms helps teams protect user privacy while efficiently finding seekers and making disciples online. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/us-court-rules-google-will-not-have-to-sell-ad-exchange-after-losing-antitrust-case/?utm_source=tldrmarketing Vibe Coding Replaces Traditional Website Building Vibe coding is a new way to build websites by telling artificial intelligence what you want instead of writing complicated code. This easy method lets anyone quickly turn their ideas into a working webpage just by giving the AI specific instructions. For Mission Teams Using AI to build websites allows mission teams to quickly launch digital evangelism sites, however, it is not a complete replacement. AI can hallucinate and oftentimes misses critical website components involved in security, data privacy, compliance and more. Teams should be cautious when launching sites with AI and audit the products before launch to ensure security and compliance where relevant.   https://yoast.com/traditional-coding-vs-vibe-coding-website/?utm_source=mailblue&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_080926&utm Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement  Looking for ways to use digital tools to grow evangelism and disciple-making? Check out our other resources: Kavanah Media Blog – Learn from our experiences serving hundreds of mission teams worldwide. We share practical lessons, real stories, and best practices to help your team avoid mistakes and grow in digital outreach. Subscribe here. Jon Ralls' new book–  Check out Jon Ralls' new book The Reluctant Whisper on Amazon, where he talks of evangelism from a sales pitch into an authentic act of presence—sharing faith through story, not scripts! Check it out here. Ad Resource Store- Stumped on what ads to run next? Check out Kavanah Media's Ad Resource Store for ideas, templates and more! Digital Strategies got you stumped? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Church GAP Analysis Tool- Uncover hidden risks before they become problems. Use our Free GAP Analysis Tool to evaluate your church or non-profit’s cybersecurity, compliance, and governance today.  Kavanah Analytics- How is your digital content truly impacting lives? We created Kavanah Analytics to help churches and mission teams answer that question. Learn More Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Jon Ralls, Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: September 11, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - October 16, 2026 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! We’re diving into the latest updates you need to know including changes to Google Ads and Tag Manager, a warning about fake GPT tools, Meta's Tiktok ad ban and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Kavanah Analytics- Webinar You're invited to a free online webinar introducing Kavanah Analytics on October 20, offered at two times to fit your team's schedule: 8:00 AM Eastern and 8:00 PM Eastern.  If your team is using digital tools to reach the lost, you already know the hard part isn't running an ad or posting a video. It's answering the questions that matter: Who responded? Did that conversation lead to a Bible study, a baptism, a disciple? Kavanah Analytics is a free tool built specifically for mission teams that automatically pulls your Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads, messaging, and follow-up data into one clear picture, so you can see the whole journey from first click to real spiritual conversation without stitching together spreadsheets or paying for enterprise software. In this one-hour session we'll show you how it works, walk through a live team dashboard, and explain how to get your own team set up at no cost.  Bring your questions, and bring whoever on your team is asking "is this actually working?"  Register at https://forms.gle/d2mLocY1MrcsazA28 and join us on October 20. kavanahanalytics.com WhatsApp AI Privacy Rumors and Group Security Members of the Kavanah Media team noticed a message circulating around several missions circles claiming that artificial intelligence will automatically read all WhatsApp chats unless admins change their privacy settings. According to Meta's own documentation your group messages remain encrypted and private and are not automatically scraped by Meta's AI systems. However, it is true that individual group members could still use AI to generate summaries of group chats and more. Turning on Advanced Chat Privacy remains a helpful way to block chat exports and disable AI features in the room. Additionally, Meta is changing the name "Advanced Chat Privacy," to "Restricted Chat." It is still recommended to turn this feature on and teams that previously had Advanced Chat Privacy enabled may have to manually turn on Restricted Chat after the change rolls out. For Mission Teams For online churches, discipleship groups, mission teams, and others leveraging WhatsApp Groups, Meta states that their conversations remain secure and are not being secretly scanned by AI. However, mission teams should still turn on Advanced Chat Privacy or Restricted Chat in sensitive groups to prevent chat histories from being exported or summarized by AI for users. See Meta's actual documentation below: https://faq.whatsapp.com/715385484388016 Meta's TikTok Ad Ban Turns Platform Rivalry Into a Traffic Fight Meta has reportedly stopped accepting ads from TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and may also be blocking third-party ads that link to TikTok or other ByteDance properties. This means that brands running campaigns on Facebook or Instagram can no longer use those ads to direct traffic to TikTok creators, product pages, or accounts. For Mission Teams While this change may not directly affect teams leveraging digital engagement, it does highlight the importance of not relying too heavily on one platform to drive traffic to another, as platform rules can change quickly. Mission teams should consider building independent websites or using platform-native features to ensure their digital evangelism campaigns remain accessible and effective. https://wersm.com/meta-tiktok-ad-ban-platform-rivalry-traffic-fight Fake ChatGPT Tools Trick Users into Downloading Malware Cybercriminals are creating fake ChatGPT websites and AI tools that imitate legitimate services. Some scams target Windows users by directing them to fraudulent security pages and persuading them to copy and run malicious commands on their computers. For Mission Teams Mission teams should be cautious when trying unfamiliar AI tools or clicking on sponsored search results for ChatGPT and AI summaries. Sponsored results are not necessarily malicious, but scammers can use online advertisements to promote fraudulent websites. Be especially alert if a website or tool instructs you to open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or another terminal and paste or run commands. https://www.esecurityplanet.com/news/news-chatgpt-clickfix-malware-windows/ The Impact of Call-to-Action Buttons on Ad Performance Teams using Meta for ads may start seeing a flag at the ad level, in the Call to Action section, suggesting that switching the button to “See Details” could improve engagement by around 2.3%. This suggests the button label can affect ad performance, but its impact is small compared to other factors. For Mission Teams For mission teams running digital evangelism ads on Meta, small adjustments like this can improve engagement, and small gains add up over time. Still, not all of Meta’s recommendations carry equal weight. They’re worth testing, but don’t obsess over them. The difference between button labels is usually minor compared to your creative, audience and messaging. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/cta-button/ Google Ads Rolls Out Five Updates to Engagement, Tracking, Video, and AI Tools Google Ads made four changes this week. A video now has to be watched for at least ten seconds, up from five, before it counts as an engagement, so reports may show fewer engagements even when viewer behavior hasn't changed. Google Tag Manager now starts containers automatically and logs setup commands as new data events, which could fire tracking tags you didn't mean to fire. Demand Gen videos now get automatic text overlays pulled from your ad assets. This is on by default, but you can turn it off in video optimization controls. Google also launched AI Asset Studio, which creates text, images, and video from your brand guidelines. In the European Union, any ad changed by AI will now carry an AI label. For Mission Teams Teams may see a drop in their engagement metrics with this change. Be sure to grab a seeker's attention in the first few seconds of a video so it holds them for the full ten. Check your Tag Manager settings to protect seeker privacy and keep your analytics accurate. Also, be sure to test automatic text overlays and check if they would cover gospel visuals or captions. AI-generated ads are worth testing, but think about how the AI generated content might appear in different languages and formats and be received by the intended audience. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-41-adriaan-dekker-asfwe/ Turkey Bans Social Media for Young Teenagers Turkey passed a new law banning social media for all children under the age of fifteen. Existing under-15 accounts must be closed by March 31, 2027. Platforms must now use a government system to check ages and block targeted ads for older teenagers. Breaches risk 3% global-revenue fines, ad bans, and internet throttling. For Mission Teams Most mission teams already target ads to adults 18 and older, but it is worth double checking ad targeting to ensure compliance. This is also a good reminder that even massive social media platforms are beholden to the actions and decisions of local governments. Teams should assess their platforms for compliance to local regulations to help prevent fines, restrictions, and more. https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-bans-social-media-for-kids-under-15/ Meta Updates Ad Placement Controls for Advertisers Meta is slowly removing the ability for advertisers to choose exactly where their ads appear, such as in search results or between Reels. The company wants advertisers to trust its artificial intelligence to automatically decide the best places to show ads to get the most people to click. For Mission Teams As Meta takes over ad placement decisions, mission teams will be forced to trust the platform's artificial intelligence (labeled as Advantage+) to find seekers across different locations on Facebook and Instagram. Many of the targeting parameters marketers once had are mere suggestions now, but you can still guide the system by testing different images and videos, so focus your effort on creating strong visual messages that invite people to connect. As always, testing is recommended.  https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-offers-updated-ad-placement-control-guidance/832791/ https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1546753450586085/ WhatsApp Introduces Free Guest Video Calls WhatsApp now allows anyone to join free video calls through a web browser without needing to create an account. These secure meetings can host up to thirty-two people and include helpful tools like screen sharing and waiting rooms. For Mission Teams This update makes it easier to host online discipleship groups with seekers who are hesitant to share personal information or download new apps. Because guests can join without seeing other participants’ phone numbers, leaders can host meetings while protecting everyone’s privacy. However, this is a double-edged sword: anyone with the link could join anonymously, which raises security concerns. Leaders should still manage call access carefully, verify who is participating, and avoid sharing sensitive information in the group. https://blog.whatsapp.com/now-you-can-invite-anyone-to-a-whatsapp-call-no-account-needed-no-cost-no-time-limit Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement  Looking for ways to use digital tools to grow evangelism and disciple-making? Check out our other resources: Jon Ralls' new book–  Check out The Reluctant Whisper on Amazon, where he talks of evangelism from a sales pitch into an authentic act of presence—sharing faith through story, not scripts! Check it out here. Ad Resource Store- Stumped on what ads to run next? Check out Kavanah Media's Ad Resource Store for ideas, templates and more! Digital Strategies got you confused?- Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Church GAP Analysis Tool- Uncover hidden risks before they become problems. Use our Free GAP Analysis Tool to evaluate your church or non-profit’s cybersecurity, compliance, and governance today.  Kavanah Analytics- How is your digital content truly impacting lives? We created Kavanah Analytics to help churches and mission teams answer that question. Learn More Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Jon Ralls, Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: October 16, 2026