SEO Daily News Recap for Monday, February 16, 2026
Organic SEO & Search News
Google Stops Parked Domains (AFD) On Search Partner Network – Google AdSense has ended its Parked Domains (AFD) as an ad surface within the Search Partner Network effective February 10, 2026. Google wrote, “Parked Domains (AFD) will cease to be an ad surface within the Search Partner Network effective February 10, 2026.”
Google & Bing Call Markdown Files Messy & Causes More Crawl Load – Google and Bing representatives have commented on the messiness of markdown files, highlighting issues with finding errors and increased crawl load. They prioritize human-readable content over bot-readable content.
Google Warns About Serving “Not Available” With JavaScript Before Content Loads – Google’s John Mueller cautions against loading “not available” in JavaScript before the actual content loads, as it can prevent indexing and ranking in Google Search.
Study: Google AI Overview Clicks Shifting To Shopping Search Ads – New data shows a decline in organic website clicks due to Google’s AI Overviews, with a significant increase in clicks on search ads and product/shopping ads for e-commerce queries.
Paid Search & Platform Innovations
Google Ads Calculate Your Conversion Value For New Customers – Google Ads introduces a feature allowing advertisers to calculate conversion value for new customers, enabling adjustments for bidding strategies targeting this segment.
Bing Adds AI Visibility Reporting – Bing introduces the “AI Performance Report” in Webmaster Tools, offering insights into AI-driven visibility metrics, a first in the industry.
Google Ads tool is automatically re-enabling paused keywords – Concerns arise as Google Ads may automatically re-enable paused keywords, potentially leading to unexpected campaign expenses.
Meta Launches Manus AI Integration in Ads Manager – Meta introduces Manus AI integration in Ads Manager, providing additional AI tools to streamline ad management processes on the platform.
General Digital Marketing
Threads Adds Basketball Mini Game for NBA All-Star Weekend – Threads targets sports fans with a new basketball mini-game, enhancing user engagement during the NBA All-Star Weekend.
LinkedIn Outlines More Measures to Combat Engagement Pods – LinkedIn implements stricter penalties for engagement pod users, aiming to maintain authenticity and quality in user interactions on the platform.
How this visually impaired engineer uses Claude Code to make his life more accessible | Joe McCormick – An inspiring story of a visually impaired engineer leveraging Claude Code to enhance accessibility, transform images into descriptions, correct typos, and summarize links efficiently.
Dive into our detailed sections for more insights and updates.
Organic SEO & Search News
SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates
Meta Looks to Sneak Through Facial ID Update
Meta has been reduce scrutiny on the update by launching amid broader political turmoil.
Source:
Unknown Source
LinkedIn Outlines More Measures to Combat Engagement Pods
LinkedIn is implementing more direct penalties for pod posters.
Source:
Unknown Source
Daily Search Forum Recap: February 16, 2026
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today…
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Google Stops Parked Domains (AFD) On Search Partner Network
Google AdSense has ended its Parked Domains (AFD) as an ad surface within the Search Partner Network effective February 10, 2026. Google wrote, "Parked Domains (AFD) will cease to be an ad surface within the Search Partner Network effective February 10, 2026."
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Technical SEO
How this visually impaired engineer uses Claude Code to make his life more accessible | Joe McCormick
How this visually impaired engineer uses Claude Code to transform Slack images into descriptions, correct typos instantly, and summarize links—all with simple keyboard shortcuts
Source:
Lenny’s Newsletter
Google & Bing Call Markdown Files Messy & Causes More Crawl Load
We covered the topic of markdown files before but now we have more commentary from official representatives from Google and Bing on the topic. In short, they call markdown files messy, it can cause issues with finding errors, cause more crawl load and either way, the search engines use what people/humans can see over what bots can see.
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Google Warns About Serving "Not Available" With JavaScript Before Content Loads
Google’s John Mueller warned one site owner not to load "not available" in the JavaScript before the actual content that loads is available. It can lead Google to believe the page does not exist, preventing indexing and ranking in Google Search.
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
SEO Tools and Data Analysis
X Looks to Combat Bots with New Detection Tools
X has launched a new offensive to weed out AI-powered bots.
Source:
Unknown Source
Bing Adds AI Visibility Reporting
The new "AI Performance Report" in Webmaster Tools is an industry first.
Source:
SEO – Practical Ecommerce
7 Steps for Tracking Your ChatGPT Visibility With Ahrefs
Follow our 7-step guide to track your ChatGPT visibility, monitor mentions, assess AI share of voice, and outrank your AI competitors.
Source:
SEO Blog by Ahrefs
AI and Machine Learning in SEO
Meta Launches Manus AI Integration in Ads Manager
More AI tools to help streamline your Meta ads process.
Source:
Unknown Source
🎙️ This week on How I AI: AI for Accessibility — and the Opus vs. Codex Showdown
Your weekly listens from How I AI, part of the Lenny’s Podcast Network
Source:
Lenny’s Newsletter
Content Marketing and Strategy
Threads Adds Basketball Mini Game for NBA All-Star Weekend
Threads is making a bigger push to win over sports fans.
Source:
Unknown Source
Career Development and Industry Trends
How to work with your SEO agency to drive better results, faster
From kickoff to technical execution, learn how to remove bottlenecks, empower cross-functional teams, and prove ROI from your SEO investment.
Source:
Search Engine Land
Paid Search & Platform Innovations
Paid Search and Advertising
Google Ads tool is automatically re-enabling paused keywords
Google Ads may be re-enabling paused keywords automatically, raising concerns about unexpected campaign expense
Source:
Search Engine Land
Google Ads Calculate Your Conversion Value For New Customers
Google Ads has this new feature that lets advertisers calculate your conversion value for new customers. It says, "Select a lower target ROAS to adjust the incremental conversion value used to bid for new customers."
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Study: Google AI Overview Clicks Shifting To Shopping Search Ads
There is some new data out that shows that yes, Google’s AI Overviews are causing a huge decline in clicks to websites organically but it is also showing that for e-commerce queries, there is a massive increase in clicks on search ads and product/shopping ads.
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Job Postings
Job Postings
2/16/2026
SEO Specialist – Contract – The SEOFOMO Hub
Overview You will be working with an internal team that functions as an SEO helpdesk for a large international client in the hospitality sector with over 120 locations worldwide. The helpdesk receives a wide range of SEO-related requests from internal senior members and locations via email daily, and it is their responsibility to triage, process, <a href="https://hub.seofomo.co/job/seo-specialist-contract-2/" class="more-link">…<span class="screen-reader-text"> SEO Specialist – Contract</span></a>
Source:
The SEOFOMO Hub
Job Postings
2/16/2026
Digital Marketing Manager (SEO, SEM, Social, Local SEO)
The Company Renewal by Andersen is the replacement division of the 120 year old Andersen Corporation. Andersen is the oldest and largest window and door manufacture in North America. We focus on doing one thing, and doing it well, building the best products in the industry. We build the only unique window offering available in […]
Source:
In-house SEO jobs – SEOjobs.com
Job Postings
2/16/2026
Senior Marketing Manager, SEO & GEO
Job Description Sr. Marketing Manager, SEO & GEO Location: US or Pune, India Reports to: Senior Director, Brand and Communications About HG Insights HG Insights delivers AI-powered Revenue Growth Intelligence solutions that modernize GTM strategy and activation for B2B companies. Our platform turns deep market, account, technology, spend, and intent data into actionable insights and […]
Source:
In-house SEO jobs – SEOjobs.com
Job Postings
2/16/2026
Principal Digital Strategist
Job Description Principal Digital Strategist Location: Austin, TX (Hybrid. In office Monday, Wednesday, Friday) Reports To: Chief Digital Officer Team: Digital Strategy The Opportunity Intellibright is entering its next phase of growth. Our clients are larger. Their expectations are higher. And the work is no longer about managing channels or reporting metrics. It is about […]
Source:
SEO Agency Jobs – SEOjobs.com
