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Welcome to our monthly Industry News Digest. Explore new online trends and domain industry news to stay up-to-date. Here’s a summary for March 2026.
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has announced the dates of new domain extension registrations. This process allows companies and organizations to launch their own domain extensions, for example, branded or industry-specific domain suffixes like .brand or .tech.
Applications will be accepted from April 30 to August 12, 2026. If there are multiple applicants, an auction will select the winner. The organization also approved key documents and continued infrastructure preparation, including a preliminary assessment of registry service providers (RSPs).
ICANN will review the applications within two months. The timeline for publishing results and next steps may vary depending on the total number of applications submitted, but initial updates are expected to be shared at the ICANN meeting in Muscat, Oman, on October 17. Applicants can replace their extension with a backup option within 14 days of the announcement. This will be followed by a 104-day objection period until February 2027.
After the draw, six months later, competition between similar extensions will be determined. It’s too early to specify the exact timing of the first domain extensions in the second round. Only approximate dates have been announced: late 2027 - early 2028.
This round will be the next major expansion of the domain space following the 2012 round.
Why should you care? The launch of a new gTLD (generic top-level domains) round is an opportunity for companies to create their own domain zones or occupy niche extensions. However, the process requires significant preparation and compliance with strict ICANN requirements. Companies considering participating in the new round should begin preparing now.
Source: ICANN Blog
An ICANN research group is studying the monetization of zero-click domains following Google’s shutdown of the AdSense program. ‘Zero-click’ means that instead of a page filled with advertising links, users are redirected from the main domain directly to the advertiser’s website. Zero-click is often used for parked domains to monetize them while they aren’t linked to the owner’s website or resold. Previously, such redirects often led to fraudulent pages. Infoblox reported that almost all redirects were malicious.
ICANN’s initial research found the problem to be less widespread. However, the current definition of ‘zero-click’ is broad, and unfortunately, these redirects often lead users to fraudulent pages and pages containing malware.
Why should you care? This is a signal that the classic monetization model (via clicks) is changing, and new revenue streams are emerging. However, the effectiveness of these models directly depends on where and how the domain is hosted.
If you want your parked domain to generate revenue, it’s important to choose your parking platform carefully. Reliable and proven services, especially those provided by registrars, help ensure stable income, transparent analytics, and protection from fraudulent schemes. Incorrectly choosing a platform can, on the contrary, reduce revenue or negatively impact a domain's reputation.
Source: Domain Name Wire
ChatGPT continues to develop its advertising model. According to recent reports from OpenAI, the platform has already reached $100 million in annual advertising revenue and is preparing to launch a self-hosted ad system, expected to be available in April.
At the same time, users are increasingly noticing ads in ChatGPT conversations. Sponsored ads appear more frequently and are integrated directly into the interface, typically labeled and separated from the main response.
The introduction of self-hosted tools means more companies will be able to launch and manage campaigns independently, without relying on a direct partnership with OpenAI. This signals a shift toward scaling advertising within conversational AI platforms.
Why should you care? ChatGPT is evolving from a purely informational tool into a full-fledged marketing channel. Businesses will be able to launch advertising campaigns through a dedicated self-hosted advertising interface, similar to Google Ads or social media ad accounts, without the need for direct collaboration with OpenAI. The introduction of self-hosted ads enables a new format for audience engagement, where ads become part of the conversation rather than a standalone banner or link. In such a context, it is especially important to consider the context of the request, the quality of the content, and the relevance of the offers.
This is a signal to begin exploring promotion opportunities in an AI environment now, testing new formats, and adapting strategies to user behavior within chat interfaces.
Source: Search Engine Land
Meta has summarized the results of its campaign to combat unoriginal and AI-generated content on Facebook. In 2025, the platform removed approximately 20 million accounts distributing such content.
According to the company, in the second half of 2025, the number of views of original content and the time spent viewing it doubled compared to the same period in 2024.
Meta has also updated its approach to defining original content. Priority is now given to materials created directly by the author, as well as reworked content that adds new value, such as analysis or commentary. At the same time, posts with minimal edits or duplicates of others’ work will lose reach. The company is also developing a program to protect authors from copying content.
Why should you care? The tightening of rules means that platforms are increasingly combating mass AI content and reposts without added value. Simply generating or copying content is no longer enough to gain reach.
Originality and genuine value to the audience are becoming key factors. And this applies not only to social media, but also to blog content and website materials. Content that offers unique insights, expertise, or a clear benefit to the user is more likely to perform well.
This impacts content strategies, SEO, social media promotion, and the use of AI tools. It’s important not just to leverage technology but also to add human touch to remain visible in feeds and recommendations.
Source: TechCrunch
The UK government has changed its position on copyright in AI following criticism from the creative community. Previously, it had discussed allowing companies such as OpenAI and Google to train their models on copyrighted material without the consent of copyright holders. This drew criticism from artists including Paul McCartney and Elton John, who warned of the risk of losing revenue and control.
Amid criticism, the government abandoned its previous approach and announced that the issue would be reconsidered from the ground up. Music industry representatives welcomed the decision and expressed their willingness to participate in the development of new rules.
The government plans to develop a new approach that will protect copyright holders and ensure developers have access to high-quality data, while ensuring creators are fairly compensated.
AI startup Perplexity has signed a long-term agreement with Getty Images, granting it the right to use images from its library in its products, marking a shift toward formal relationships with copyright holders.
Why should you care? Changes in copyright regulations directly impact how businesses can use content and AI tools. This applies to both content generation and the use of third-party materials in model training.
Companies must monitor legislative developments and consider the legal risks when working with AI. This could impact the cost of content, access to data, and strategies for using it in marketing and products.
Source: Engadget
Stay up-to-date with digital trends and news - visit it.com Domains blog and follow us on social media.
Continue reading at the it.com Domains blog...
ICANN Announces Dates for Second Round of New gTLD Registrations
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has announced the dates of new domain extension registrations. This process allows companies and organizations to launch their own domain extensions, for example, branded or industry-specific domain suffixes like .brand or .tech.
Applications will be accepted from April 30 to August 12, 2026. If there are multiple applicants, an auction will select the winner. The organization also approved key documents and continued infrastructure preparation, including a preliminary assessment of registry service providers (RSPs).
ICANN will review the applications within two months. The timeline for publishing results and next steps may vary depending on the total number of applications submitted, but initial updates are expected to be shared at the ICANN meeting in Muscat, Oman, on October 17. Applicants can replace their extension with a backup option within 14 days of the announcement. This will be followed by a 104-day objection period until February 2027.
After the draw, six months later, competition between similar extensions will be determined. It’s too early to specify the exact timing of the first domain extensions in the second round. Only approximate dates have been announced: late 2027 - early 2028.
This round will be the next major expansion of the domain space following the 2012 round.
Why should you care? The launch of a new gTLD (generic top-level domains) round is an opportunity for companies to create their own domain zones or occupy niche extensions. However, the process requires significant preparation and compliance with strict ICANN requirements. Companies considering participating in the new round should begin preparing now.
Source: ICANN Blog
ICANN Is Studying Zero-click Domain Monetization
An ICANN research group is studying the monetization of zero-click domains following Google’s shutdown of the AdSense program. ‘Zero-click’ means that instead of a page filled with advertising links, users are redirected from the main domain directly to the advertiser’s website. Zero-click is often used for parked domains to monetize them while they aren’t linked to the owner’s website or resold. Previously, such redirects often led to fraudulent pages. Infoblox reported that almost all redirects were malicious.
ICANN’s initial research found the problem to be less widespread. However, the current definition of ‘zero-click’ is broad, and unfortunately, these redirects often lead users to fraudulent pages and pages containing malware.
Why should you care? This is a signal that the classic monetization model (via clicks) is changing, and new revenue streams are emerging. However, the effectiveness of these models directly depends on where and how the domain is hosted.
If you want your parked domain to generate revenue, it’s important to choose your parking platform carefully. Reliable and proven services, especially those provided by registrars, help ensure stable income, transparent analytics, and protection from fraudulent schemes. Incorrectly choosing a platform can, on the contrary, reduce revenue or negatively impact a domain's reputation.
Source: Domain Name Wire
ChatGPT Expands Advertising: Revenue Growth and Wider Ad Adoption
ChatGPT continues to develop its advertising model. According to recent reports from OpenAI, the platform has already reached $100 million in annual advertising revenue and is preparing to launch a self-hosted ad system, expected to be available in April.
At the same time, users are increasingly noticing ads in ChatGPT conversations. Sponsored ads appear more frequently and are integrated directly into the interface, typically labeled and separated from the main response.
The introduction of self-hosted tools means more companies will be able to launch and manage campaigns independently, without relying on a direct partnership with OpenAI. This signals a shift toward scaling advertising within conversational AI platforms.
Why should you care? ChatGPT is evolving from a purely informational tool into a full-fledged marketing channel. Businesses will be able to launch advertising campaigns through a dedicated self-hosted advertising interface, similar to Google Ads or social media ad accounts, without the need for direct collaboration with OpenAI. The introduction of self-hosted ads enables a new format for audience engagement, where ads become part of the conversation rather than a standalone banner or link. In such a context, it is especially important to consider the context of the request, the quality of the content, and the relevance of the offers.
This is a signal to begin exploring promotion opportunities in an AI environment now, testing new formats, and adapting strategies to user behavior within chat interfaces.
Source: Search Engine Land
Meta Removes 20 Million Accounts in Fight Against AI-Generated Content
Meta has summarized the results of its campaign to combat unoriginal and AI-generated content on Facebook. In 2025, the platform removed approximately 20 million accounts distributing such content.
According to the company, in the second half of 2025, the number of views of original content and the time spent viewing it doubled compared to the same period in 2024.
Meta has also updated its approach to defining original content. Priority is now given to materials created directly by the author, as well as reworked content that adds new value, such as analysis or commentary. At the same time, posts with minimal edits or duplicates of others’ work will lose reach. The company is also developing a program to protect authors from copying content.
Why should you care? The tightening of rules means that platforms are increasingly combating mass AI content and reposts without added value. Simply generating or copying content is no longer enough to gain reach.
Originality and genuine value to the audience are becoming key factors. And this applies not only to social media, but also to blog content and website materials. Content that offers unique insights, expertise, or a clear benefit to the user is more likely to perform well.
This impacts content strategies, SEO, social media promotion, and the use of AI tools. It’s important not just to leverage technology but also to add human touch to remain visible in feeds and recommendations.
Source: TechCrunch
UK Revises Rules on Using Copyrighted Content for AI Training
The UK government has changed its position on copyright in AI following criticism from the creative community. Previously, it had discussed allowing companies such as OpenAI and Google to train their models on copyrighted material without the consent of copyright holders. This drew criticism from artists including Paul McCartney and Elton John, who warned of the risk of losing revenue and control.
Amid criticism, the government abandoned its previous approach and announced that the issue would be reconsidered from the ground up. Music industry representatives welcomed the decision and expressed their willingness to participate in the development of new rules.
The government plans to develop a new approach that will protect copyright holders and ensure developers have access to high-quality data, while ensuring creators are fairly compensated.
AI startup Perplexity has signed a long-term agreement with Getty Images, granting it the right to use images from its library in its products, marking a shift toward formal relationships with copyright holders.
Why should you care? Changes in copyright regulations directly impact how businesses can use content and AI tools. This applies to both content generation and the use of third-party materials in model training.
Companies must monitor legislative developments and consider the legal risks when working with AI. This could impact the cost of content, access to data, and strategies for using it in marketing and products.
Source: Engadget
Stay up-to-date with digital trends and news - visit it.com Domains blog and follow us on social media.
Continue reading at the it.com Domains blog...
