Overview
- Multiple outlets found Instagram inserting headline-style text into posts’ HTML title tags that surfaces only in search results, as verified with Google’s Rich Result Test.
- Dataconomy reports Meta said it recently began using AI to generate titles for posts that appear in search results and noted users can turn off search indexing for their accounts.
- Google told reporters it is not creating these headlines and that Search is pulling the text directly from Instagram.
- Users have flagged inaccurate or clickbait-like results, including Jeff VanderMeer’s bunny video and a library post that implied a VanderMeer appearance when none was planned.
- Reporters also observed longer autogenerated descriptions distinct from accessibility alt text, with examples mislabeling content and suggestions that the titles may be served primarily to search bots.