5 Social Media News Stories You Need to Read Right Now

Last update: 8 October, 2024

1. TikTok tests re-editing for published videos

TikTok is rolling out a new feature that lets users delete and re-edit videos even after posting, but this functionality only applies to videos created within the TikTok app, not using third-party apps like CapCut. This means no more having to start from scratch if you spot an error. 

Credit: Owen Willis 

Read the comments   

2. Instagram rolls out public comments on Stories

Instagram has launched comments on Stories, which are visible to any viewer. Unless creators opt to turn off the feature, these comments will appear at the bottom of the frame, providing a new way for audiences to engage. 

Get the details  

3. X (formerly Twitter) modifies its block feature

CEO of X, Elon Musk has announced that the platform will be eliminating the block button for public accounts. This change means that blocked users will still be able to view posts from the accounts of people who have blocked them, although they won’t be able to engage with the content. Similar to many of the app's recent changes, this has generated a range of reactions online.  

Dive into the Reddit comments  

4. X (formerly Twitter) launches new TV app

In its push to become a “video-first” platform, X has been experimenting with various features over the past year. The platform has introduced video streaming on Spaces, enabled video calls, and tested video conferencing tools.

Now, X has announced the launch of a new TV app, which will be available on most app stores, with a beta version already accessible on several popular streaming platforms. The TV app aims to showcase videos from a range of organizations, publishers, and creators directly from X. 

Get the full picture  

5. Snapchat revives Bitstrips

Snapchat is reintroducing the original format of Bitmoji through its Bitstrips feature. Following the success of Bitmoji Stories, the platform has decided to expand into Bitstrips, which will offer users episodes showcasing their 3D Bitmoji avatars interacting with friends.  

On their website, Snapchat said: “Our community has long loved Bitmoji Stories as a way to stay connected with fun, comic-strip style stories. Now, we’re bringing brand-new episodes to Snapchatters featuring our 3D Bitmoji avatar for even more personalized content starring you and your friends.” 

Learn more  

Last update: 30 August, 2024

Instagram introduces music to user profiles

In collaboration with singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter, who teased her new single on her profile, Instagram has launched a new feature that allows users to add music to their profiles. By going to the “edit profile” section and searching Instagram’s music library, users can select up to 30 seconds of a song. When others visit your profile, they can click play to listen to the selected track. 

Head to Instagram 

LinkedIn launches new video carousels

LinkedIn is introducing its in-feed video carousels, where videos are tailored to each user based on their profile details and in-app activity. When users tap on a video, they’ll be taken to a full-screen video feed. 

Get the details  

Instagram experiments with profile cards

Selected creators are being given the chance to try out Instagram's new profile cards. These digital cards offer a two-sided design, with one side displaying an overview of your profile, including your picture, bio, category, and any business links. The other side features a QR code that directly links to your profile. 

Flip the profile card 

Credit: @goldiecylon 

X rolls out ad-free experience for premium+ subscribers

X is eliminating ads for its Premium+ subscribers. While this tier previously saw fewer ads, the platform now pledges to remove them from most areas, including the “For You” timeline, following timeline, post replies, and profiles. 

Find out how people feel  

TikTok teams up with Warner Bros.

TikTok’s new “Spotlight” feature is set to revolutionize how users discover movies and TV shows. By partnering with Warner Bros., TikTok will highlight select titles through this feature. Users will be directed to a dedicated landing page with comprehensive details about the movie or show, including short-form content from the creators and where to watch. Videos featured in Spotlight must meet certain view thresholds, and creators involved in these campaigns can enjoy perks like movie tickets, red -carpet access, and exclusive merchandise. 

Learn more  

Last update: 7 August, 2024

1. noplace rises to the top spot on the App Store

A new social media app called noplace has skyrocketed to the #1 spot on the App Store after opening to the public.   

Originally invite-only, the text-based platform uses AI to deliver personalized updates (from users). It features two feeds: one for friends and another global feed. Aimed at Gen Z, noplace has been dubbed a "modern-day Myspace," with profiles, badges, top 8 friends, and chats.   

Creator Tiffany Zhong designed the app to encourage real-time sharing and connection through tagged interests, known as "stars." 

Download the app

2. YouTube launches copyright sound eraser tool

YouTube has introduced a tool that allows creators to easily remove copyrighted music from their videos without affecting other audio.   

This AI-powered tool, tested for some time, can specifically detect and eliminate copyrighted songs. However, YouTube cautions that the algorithm might occasionally fail to isolate only the song. In such cases, creators can opt to mute all sounds in the affected segments or cut them out entirely.   Once the copyrighted music is removed, YouTube will lift the content ID claim from its system for identifying copyrighted material. 

Get the full breakdown

3. TikTok teams up with Eventbrite

Through a new partnership with Eventbrite, TikTok users can now promote events directly within their videos.   

After creating an event on Eventbrite, users can share it on TikTok, featuring a ticket purchase link overlaid on the video. Creators have the option to add multiple event links to their videos, with viewers seeing the most relevant events based on their location.  

On their website, TikTok said: “Through this partnership, any TikTok user can easily become an event creator by hosting their events on Eventbrite, and seamlessly promoting and selling tickets directly to the TikTok community. This offers a great opportunity for any TikTok user to share events with TikTok’s fan communities - such as #BookTok, #NewMusic, or #FoodTok - introducing them to real-life experiences that reflect their passions.” 

Tune in

4. Instagram trials “super likes” for stories

Instagram is testing a new "super like" feature for stories, discovered in the app's latest back-end code.   

This option allows users to express greater enthusiasm for a story by pressing and holding the like button. Users will be limited to one super like per day, which could help the feature signal a stronger interest in content.   Credit: Alessandro Paluzzi 

Learn more

5. X is testing a feature to disable links in replies

X (formerly Twitter) may soon allow users to disable links in replies to their posts. This feature will be accessible in the same menu where users can currently limit replies, aiming to give users more control over their post interactions and potentially enhancing privacy and reducing spam.  

Credit: Nima Owji (confirmed by X employee Christopher Stanley). 

Find out how people feel

Last update: 11 July, 2024

1. Instagram rolls out Close Friends on live broadcasts

Instagram is introducing a new feature allowing users to broadcast live to their Close Friends list. Users will be able to go live with up to three others, making it easy to catch up and interact with each other. This feature offers more control over viewership, encouraging more people to go live. 

Learn more.

2. Pinterest introduces board-to-video feature

Pinterest now lets users create videos of their boards; a feature inspired by Gen Z users sharing boards on TikTok. This new "mecore" trend has boosted searches by 565% and increased "mecore" boards by 255%. 

Unlike screenshots, these video boards will include links directing viewers to the complete board on Pinterest. Avril Lavigne and Tierra Whack helped launch the feature, showcasing its use for fashion ideas, tour promotions, and gathering inspiration. 

Get the full scoop.  

3. TikTok trials message streaks

TikTok is currently testing message streaks in select markets. Users who exchange messages for three consecutive days will receive a flame emoji badge in their inbox. If there's no message sent within 24 hours after the previous one, the streak ends. TikTok will notify users when a streak is about to end and offers an option to disable this feature in the app's privacy settings. 

Dive into the details.

4. Instagram debuts new ‘Creator Insights’ feature

Instagram has launched a "Creator Insights" feature on creator profiles, providing a summary of account performance over the last 30 days. The feature shares metrics like follower growth, accounts reached, and engagement. Creators have the option to showcase these insights, akin to sharing stats in Instagram's Creator Marketplace. This feature is currently only accessible to chosen profiles and viewable exclusively by brand accounts. 

Read more.

5. YouTube launches its ‘Community Notes’ alternative

YouTube is developing its version of 'Community Notes,' enabling users to add contextual information to videos for "relevant, timely, and easy-to-understand" insights.  

Users can rate notes for usefulness, with highly rated notes appearing publicly under videos. The initial test is available exclusively on mobile in the US and in English only.  

YouTube plans to refine the feature based on feedback during testing, considering potential expansions in the future. 

Here's all you need to know.

Last update: 6 June, 2024

1. Instagram is exploring unskippable video ads

Instagram is experimenting with a new video ad format called an 'ad break.' According to photographer @thedanlevy, users will be unable to scroll past these ads until they have watched the entire video, which will be timed by a countdown at the bottom of the screen. 

Find out how people feel.

2. TikTok is launching ‘Symphony’ and ‘TikTok One’

TikTok is introducing a new creative AI suite named ‘Symphony,’ consolidating its existing AI tools into one platform.  Symphony will help with creative touchpoints like scriptwriting, video production, idea generation, and more.  

The video-sharing platform has also announced ‘TikTok One,’ a dedicated space for its marketing tools. This new hub aims to give brands easy access to creators, production partners, and valuable insights. 

Dive into the details.

3. X is gearing up to make ‘likes’ private

Some posts by X employees suggest the platform may hide its ‘"likes’" feature to boost engagement. While users will still be able to view likes on their own posts, they won't be able to see likes on others'.  

@wanghaofei, an engineer at X, revealed that this shift towards privacy is meant to encourage users to interact with more “edgy” content. 

Get the full picture.

4. YouTube is extending its selection of free games to all users

YouTube is expanding its catalog of over 75 free games to all users.  

The ‘Playables’ feature, which has been exclusive to Premium subscribers since November, is now available to everyone. These games include Words of Wonders, Angry Birds Showdown, and Trivia Crack. Players will be able to save their game progress and track their best scores. 

Tune in.

5. TikTok introduces a new music feature

TikTok has introduced “Fan Spotlight,” a new feature that allows music artists to highlight up to five of their favorite fan videos on their music tab.   

Spotlighted videos will stay pinned to the tab for up to seven days, after which the artist can select new posts to feature.  

Learn more.

Last update: 3 May, 2024

1. Meta has rolled out a $5,000 bonus for influencer posts on Threads

In a push to boost engagement on Threads, which already boasts 150 million monthly active users, Meta is offering high-profile creators a financial incentive of $5,000 to post on the platform. The bonus program, first reported by social media consultant & industry analyst, Matt Navarra, is currently invite-only.  

Get the full scoop

2. TikTok has introduced a photo-sharing app called TikTok Notes

TikTok is officially testing a dedicated photo-sharing app, TikTok Notes, in Australia and Canada. This comes after hints popped up across the main app notifying users that their photo posts would be shared to a new "TikTok Notes" app unless they opted out.

Tune in

3. Meet Airchat, social media’s newest app

Already ranked #27 in social networking on Apple’s App Store last month, Airchat was built by AngelList founder Naval Ravikant and former Tinder exec Brian Norgard. What sets it apart? Instead of typing, users chat with their voices, making conversations more engaging and authentic.

Take the app for a spin

4. X (previously Twitter)’s CEO hints at reviving Vine, it’s former video-sharing platform

Vine, originally shut down in 2017, was a popular video-sharing platform owned by X (then Twitter). It is often referred to as a precursor to TikTok and left a lasting impact on the short-form video landscape. 

Following hints from Elon Musk, X’s CEO, the possibility of its return has been gaining traction on social. And X engineer Christopher Stanley has further fueled rumors by sharing an active link to Logan Paul’s old Vine page.

Find out how people feel

5. TikTok is testing AI avatars

TikTok is experimenting with AI integration by introducing "AI-moji" to select users. By tapping the "Get Started" prompt, you can begin the process of scanning your face to generate your digital character. This can be used to react to stories and messages, and as stickers in chats.

Read more

Last update: 8 April, 2024

1. Tiktok is rolling out a new analytics tool for creators

The newly introduced "Creator Search Insights" feature on TikTok helps creators in uncovering the most popular content within their niche and providing insights into trending topics across the platform.

On their website, TikTok said: “Our hope is that Creator Search Insights empowers creators to make content that's relevant to searchers and positioned to perform well on TikTok.”

Find out more

2. Snapchat is trialing an opt-out option for message auto-deletion

Snapchat is experimenting with a new feature that allows users to choose the "Never delete" option in their chat settings. With this feature enabled, conversations within the app will no longer automatically disappear over time, allowing users to opt to retain their chat history indefinitely.

Snapchat shared the following statement on their website: “We’re constantly listening to and learning from Snapchatters, and thoughtfully innovating based on their needs. In response to feedback from our community, we’re excited to offer a new setting in chat that we hope provides even more flexibility and control over conversations with the people who matter most.”

Get the full picture

3. Meta has integrated Threads into its ‘fediverse’ network

Threads has released a demo showcasing an upcoming feature that will allow users to connect their accounts and posts to the fediverse, a decentralized network of social platforms aiming for mutual interoperability. Users will be able to easily access their account settings on Threads to activate "fediverse sharing".

Tune in

4. Pinterest has launched its 'body type ranges' tool in the US

Pinterest has just launched its “body types” tool in the US, offering an exciting new way to explore content. Once the feature is selected, users are shown four different body types at the top of the results page. If they choose the same option twice, they can save their preferred body type selection directly to their device.

Learn more

5. Threads is introducing a ‘now trending’ feature

Threads is gearing up to introduce its "now trending" feature to all users in the US. After trialing the feature among a select group, this latest addition aims to empower users to explore trending topics directly within the app. Available primarily on the search page, it will also be seamlessly integrated into the ‘For you’ feed.

Dive into the details

Last update: 13 March, 2024

1. Instagram is creating a ‘Friend Map’ feature

Instagram is in the process of developing a 'Friend Map' feature, which allows users to track the real-time locations of their friends. Customization lies at the core of this innovation, giving people the ability to tailor their location-sharing preferences, choosing from options such as sharing with everyone, mutual followers only, their 'close friends' list, or opting for complete privacy ('Ghost Mode'). Additionally, you’ll be able to leave ‘notes’ for others to see on the map. For example, asking people to meet up or revealing what you’re doing at that location.

Learn more about the feature

2. X (previously Twitter) has added a video option to Spaces on iOS

X is rolling out a new video feature for its previously audio-only feature, Spaces, on iOS mobile devices. Now, you can choose to 'enable video' when initiating a new session, selecting between your front or back-facing camera and choosing either horizontal or vertical views. At present, only hosts can activate this feature during sessions.

Here's all you need to know

3. TikTok is scaling its in-stream shopping features

The video-sharing platform is broadening its in-stream shopping capabilities by introducing a new feature that enables any object within a video on the app to become 'shoppable.' Currently in the testing phase, this feature is only accessible to select users. The idea is that people will be able to activate a toggle during the video upload process, granting them the ability to 'Identify Similar Objects.'

Find out more here

4. Instagram is developing interactive games for Instagram Live

Instagram is testing out new features to integrate into its live streams, with selected broadcasters now being able to choose games that they can play with their viewers. These include games like, “This or That” and “Trivia,” aiming to boost more engagement between creators and their audiences within Instagram live-streams.

Get into the details

5. TikTok has launched a new app for Apple Vision Pro

Adding to the mix, TikTok has launched its own Vision Pro app, joining the ranks of over 1,000 apps specially designed for Apple’s latest augmented and virtual reality goggles. The app fosters a more immersive viewing experience through its UI design. For instance, they’ve focused on full-video viewing by removing the navigation bar and like button.

Read more here

Last update: 8 February, 2024

1. Instagram has launched a live test of ‘flipsides,’ their answer to finstas

The photo and video-sharing app has started rolling out their ‘Flipside’ feature to select users. With the popularity of finstas (a "finsta" is a casual term for a secondary Instagram account where people share more authentic and unfiltered photos of their everyday life, in contrast to the carefully curated images they post on their main Instagram accounts), Instagram is now offering an alternative space to mainstream profiles, which is only accessible to users and their curated selection of accounts. 

Read more here

2. TikTok is testing out a new AI song feature

AI song is an experimental feature on TikTok that currently allows select users to create new music based on prompts they enter, personalizing genre, lyrics, and more. Although the feature was not designed for the music industry, this news is trending in the face of Universal Music Group purging all of their artists’ music off of TikTok (including catalogs by Drake, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and The Weeknd). 

Learn about TikTok's AI transparency

3. Instagram is rolling out a ‘nighttime nudge’ feature for teen accounts

The company announced last month that it would be rolling out a nudge to help teens limit the amount of time they spend on the app after 10 pm at night. Nudges will be automatic, popping up when there has been more than 10 minutes spent scrolling in the Reels or DM section of the app. While the feature can’t be turned off, teen users can dismiss the nudge and return to their activities. 

Get the full picture

4. LinkedIn is developing a sponsored post option for company pages

Company page posts on the platform will now have the option to be promoted, including CTA buttons like “Unlock Article,” that require user sign-ups to read the rest of the content.

In a recent post, LinkedIn’s Lead Client Solutions Manager outlined the benefits of the feature:

“Why should you care?

- Use the content you already have on your Linkedin page

- More viral than a blog article hosted externally

- Have all the comments from logged-in members on the article directly

- Better UX 

- Drive leads without sending users off Linkedin to consult your article”

Find out more here

5. Snapchat is introducing new parental controls

Almost a year after the launch of My AI, its AI bot, Snapchat is bringing in the option for parents to restrict their teenagers from interacting with it entirely. This comes after criticism of the bot’s lack of age-gating features. Parents will also be able to view their teenager’s privacy settings and have easier access to their Family Center hub.

Get into the details

Last update: 15 January, 2024

1. Meta has released a free voice cloning program

With Audiobox, users can type the description of a sound or a text they want to generate speech for. This free voice cloning program can also clone a user’s voice if they make a recording and follow the steps to clone their voice.

On their website, Meta said: “Audiobox, the successor to Voicebox, is advancing generative AI for audio even further by unifying generation and editing capabilities for speech, sound effects (short, discrete sounds like a dog bark, car horn, a crack of thunder, etc.), and soundscapes, with a variety of input mechanisms to maximize controllability for each use case.

Most notably, Audiobox lets people use natural language prompts to describe a sound or type of speech they want to generate. If someone wants to generate a soundscape, for example, they can give the model a text prompt like, “A running river and birds chirping.”

Learn more here

2. YouTube is enabling creators to gift ten free subscriptions per month

Eligible creators will be given the opportunity every month to gift 10 of their viewers a membership free of charge. Their YouTube channel will need to have channel memberships enabled, and these memberships last for a month.

Get into the details

3. Instagram is testing a ‘Collections’ feature for public profiles

While Instagram already allows you to create private and collaborative collections (where you can add up to 250 users), the app is now testing public collections. App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi shared that the feature would sit on your Instagram profile and be accessible to any visitor. This type of curation might help potential followers decide whether or not to engage with an influencer, celebrity, or regular person based on their key interests (things like books, movies, travel, hobbies, and fashion preferences). 

Get the full picture

4. Meta makes more strides with its generative AI experience

The platform’s generative AI experience has seen the rollout of several features, including ‘Reimagine’ for group chats and the option to use Instagram reels to find visual examples related to a question or a topic of interest.

Here’s Meta’s description of ‘Reimagine’ according to their website: “Meta AI generates and shares the initial image you requested, then your friend can press and hold on the picture to riff on it with a simple text prompt and Meta AI will generate an entirely new image. Now you can kick images back and forth, having a laugh as you try to one-up each other with increasingly wild ideas.”

Read about all their AI features

5. Snapchat launches e.l.f Cosmetics’ debut Bitmoji beauty drop

The video-sharing app teamed up with e.l.f Cosmetics to launch its first Bitmoji Beauty Drop, promoting e.l.f.’s O Face Satin Lipstick. UK- and US-based Snapchat users can claim a free digital lipstick for their Bitmoji avatar and have it saved to their digital closet so it can be accessed even after the limited-time drop ends. They will also have the option to try on 11 shades of the lipstick virtually through an AR Bitmoji Lens.

See the lipsticks in action

Last update: 7 December, 2023

1. Threads is reinventing the hashtag feature

Meta is testing out a feature that works the same as a hashtag but appears as a blue-text hyperlink. Grouping trending topics together, this feature has been rolled out in Australia, with plans to eventually release it in other countries.

Read more here.

2. YouTube Premium has launched over 30 games

YouTube has rolled out over two dozen mini-games to their premium users following the testing of this feature in September. Referred to as ‘Playables,’ the games can be played within the platform and do not require any additional downloads. 

Games titles include Angry Birds Showdown, Brain Out, Daily Solitaire, Endless Siege, Farm Land, Merge Pirates, The Daily Crossword, Words of Wonder, and 8 Ball Billiards Classic.

Get the full picture

3. TikTok is empowering businesses with content ideas

The vertical video sharing platform has designed a way to help businesses think about their content and make meaningful connections with their customers.

On their website, TikTok said that their: “Creative Cards help you develop new ways to communicate with concise ad concepts displayed on a collection of more than 100 digital cards. With so many thought starters at the ready, it’s easy to keep your content fresh and avoid going stale, which can help you attract attention to seasonal products and gift ideas.”

Learn more here

4. Snapchat is trialing Ad-free subscriptions

Some Snapchat users are being offered the option to pay for a higher subscription tier to remove all Story and Lens ads. For $15.99 AUD per month (approximately $US10.50), most ads within the app will be removed. This excludes sponsored places and possible paid promotions within their ‘My AI’ chatbot responses.

Here's all you need to know

5. Instagram has enabled the downloading of Reels

All Instagram users will now be able to download public Reels on the platform. The feature started as a limited rollout to US users in June and has now been released worldwide.     

On their website, Instagram said: “For public accounts: Anyone on Instagram can download your reels and share your reels, unless you change your reels download settings. New reels that you share after downloading became available will be able to be downloaded. For Instagram users under 18 with public accounts, the default setting for downloading reels will be off, but can be turned on at any time.”

Dive into the details

Last update: 17 November, 2023

1. Threads now allows account deletion separate from Instagram

Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, confirms that Meta is rolling out a way for Threads users to delete their account – without having to delete their Instagram account. This update addresses one of the top complaints about the app, which currently links your Threads account to your Instagram account.

Read more here.

2. X is testing out an AI chatbot named ‘Grok’ for premium subscribers

Spearheaded by Elon Musk, X (formerly Twitter) has debuted an “anti-woke” AI bot to rival ChatGPT. Although in an early beta stage, Grok is already gaining popularity for having a “sense of humor.”

The X AI website outlines that: “Grok is an AI modeled after the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, so intended to answer almost anything and, far harder, even suggest what questions to ask!

A unique and fundamental advantage of Grok is that it has real-time knowledge of the world via the 𝕏 platform. It will also answer spicy questions that are rejected by most other AI systems…”

Take Grok for a spin.

3. Meta is introducing A/B testing to help creators with Reels

Meta will enable creators to test various versions of their Reels, including setting up up to four different thumbnails and captions. 

On their website, Meta said: “Selecting the right image and text to accompany your reel helps draw your audience in, but it can be hard to know what will resonate. We’re rolling out a Reels A/B testing tool that allows creators to test different captions and thumbnails on their mobile device to see which one performs best.”

Get the full breakdown.

4. Linkedin rolls out an AI-powered premium experience

LinkedIn is infusing AI to boost personalization on its premium version. For example, through offering tailored career action suggestions.

LinkedIn said their “innovative AI-powered experience has been crafted to meticulously analyze the content within your feed and across job postings, bringing to light pivotal opportunities.” 

They’re starting the rollout with a select group of Premium subscribers. These members will see more personalization with every interaction to help unlock hidden opportunities.

Find out more.

5. Meta and Amazon partner for a new in-app shopping feature

With live shopping in the rear-view mirror for Facebook and Instagram, Meta has designed a new way to integrate shopping into its apps – by collaborating with Amazon.

An Amazon spokesperson told CNBC: “For the first time, customers will be able to shop Amazon’s Facebook and Instagram ads and check out with Amazon without leaving the social media apps. Customers in the US. will see real-time pricing, Prime eligibility, delivery estimates, and product details on select Amazon product ads in Facebook and Instagram as part of the new experience.”

Learn about the experience.

Last update: October 27, 2023

1. X introduces audio and video calls

X (formerly Twitter) has introduced in-app audio and video calling features on iOS and anticipates a rollout soon on Android.

“The basics:

• Premium subscribers have the ability to make audio and video calls. 
• All accounts are able to receive calls.
• You’re able to control who can call you from the Direct Messages Settings.
• By default, you’re able to receive calls from accounts you follow or have in your address book (if you’ve previously given us access to your address book).
• To be able to call another user, they must have sent you a Direct Message at least once before.”

Read all about these new features  

2. Snapchat launches Creator Collab Campaigns suite

The video-sharing platform has launched a suite of products that facilitate partnerships between advertisers and content creators, ranging from creator discovery API to paid partnership tags.

Here’s all you need to know

3. X is testing out a $1 subscription model

In an attempt to reduce bots and spam, X (formerly Twitter) will be charging new users a fee of $1 per year for its service. This is currently being tested in New Zealand and the Philippines and does not apply to existing users of the platform.

“As of October 17th, 2023 we’ve started testing “Not A Bot”, a new subscription method for new users in two countries. This new test was developed to bolster our already significant efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity. This will evaluate a potentially powerful measure to help us combat bots and spammers on X, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount. Within this test, existing users are not affected.”

Get the lowdown

4. Threads developing direct message and edit functionality

The long-awaited direct message feature on threads is being developed, although no launch date has been announced yet. This comes with news from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that the app has started rolling out an edit button and voice features.

Find out more

5. Meta rolls out broadcast feature to Facebook and Messenger

Following this feature release on Instagram and WhatsApp earlier in the year, Meta is extending the ability for public figures and content creators to share broadcast messages that help them engage directly with their followers.

Last update: September 29.

1. Meta enhances Threads with keyword search

Meta continues to expand their horizons, introducing a dedicated website for Threads, their community-centric platform. One of the most eagerly anticipated feature additions is the ability to search the platform for keywords.

2. Snapchat ventures into the world of AI with Dreams

Snapchat is venturing further into the world of artificial intelligence with a feature known as Dreams. 

“When lenses arrived in 2015, Snapchatters were delighted as they could take on new personas through augmented reality - they sprouted dog ears, changed hair colour in an instant, and shared with their friends who couldn't wait to react to the fun.

Recent advancements in AI are unlocking even more possibilities. Starting today, with a new Gen AI powered feature called Dreams, Snapchatters can create fantastical images that transform their persona into new identities - be it a mermaid in a deep - seascape, or a renaissance era royal.” ~ Snapchat

Dive into Snapchat’s realm of Dreams

3. YouTube's humming search for Android

YouTube is currently testing a search feature that’ll allow users to identify songs by humming on their Android devices. 

“We’re experimenting with the ability for folks to search for a song on YouTube by humming or recording a song that’s currently being played. If you’re in the experiment, you can toggle from YouTube voice search to the new song search feature, and hum or record the song you’re searching for for 3+ seconds in order for the song to be identified…” ~ Google/ YouTube

Get the full breakdown

4. Instagram expands creative possibilities

Instagram has expanded their creative scope with several exciting features. Users can now enhance their posts by adding music to photo carousels and inviting up to three friends to co-author posts and reels. The platform is also experimenting with a feature that permits users to share feed posts with their ‘Close Friends’ only.

Find out more about these features.

5. Pinterest's inclusive body-type technology

Pinterest has launched an inclusive body-type technology that aims to increase representation. The patent-pending feature will initially be rolled out for searches related to women’s fashion and wedding content before expanding more broadly. 

“Inspired by user behavior and the culturally critical discussion around body representation, Pinterest’s Inclusive Product Team partnered with experts inside and outside of Pinterest to develop a body type technology that uses shape, sizes, and form to identify body types in images. With this enhanced understanding of visual content through computer vision technology, Pinterest has shaped its algorithms to increase representation of both body type and skin tone across search results and related Pins. For example, if a user searches for date night outfit inspiration, they will see results inclusive of various body types and skin tone ranges.” ~ Pinterest

So, get ready for a new and improved Pinterest.  

Last update: August 10th.

1. TikTok introduces text posts

Introducing a simpler publishing experience on TikTok: text posts. This new feature allows users to share text content on the video-first platform.

The idea is to “allow creators to share their stories, poems, recipes, and other written content on TikTok – giving creators another way to express themselves and making it even easier to create.”

Learn more about text posts.

2. Meta launches AudioCraft

Meta has released an audio AI tool that allows you to quickly and easily generate high-quality audio and music from text. Simply input some text explaining the audio you need, and AudioCraft can generate it in moments.

Meta are open-sourcing these AI models, “...giving researchers and practitioners access so they can train their own models with their own datasets for the first time, and help advance the field of AI-generated audio and music.”

Discover more about AudioCraft.

3. YouTube is taking Shorts to the next level

YouTube is releasing some brand new features to their Shorts video offering. These releases rival those offered by Instagram and TikTok, bringing Shorts to a whole new level.

Some of these features include:

• Collab – which gives the ability to record a Short in a side-by-side format with other YouTube or Shorts videos.
• New stickers – including an upcoming Q&A sticker to connect creators with their audience.
• Go live – YouTube are testing a mobile-first vertical live experience.

Read more about these new features.

4. TikTok launches Subscriber-Only Videos

TikTok is opening up new ways for brands and creators to engage with their audiences. Introducing: Subscriber-Only Videos.

“Subscriber-Only Videos are exclusive videos that only subscribers can view. The new perk encourages interactions beyond the LIVE room, enabling subscribers to like, comment, and reply to one another, helping creators foster even more meaningful connections with their community.” ~ TikTok

Find out more about Subscriber-Only Videos.

5. YouTube shares tips on how to gain subscribers

YouTube has spoken to six creators – each with over 10 million subscribers – and asked them to share exclusive tips on growing your platform.

From Mexican Shorts-first creator Liza Baez to Susy Mouriz, who gained 10 millions subscribers in just two years, these creators explain how they found success on YouTube.

Perhaps there’s something there you can use to boost your brand’s social media strategy too. 

Discover how to grow your YouTube presence.

Last update: July 11th.

1. Meta launches Threads

Threads made its debut last Wednesday. In less than two days, Threads reached a staggering 70 million sign ups. It has now exceeded the milestone of 100 million members, making it the fastest app to garner such an impressive user base.

Learn more about Threads.

2. YouTube offers AI-generated quizzes to test your knowledge on subjects of interest

YouTube is testing a new quiz option in their mobile app. It aims to help users learn more about topics of interest and provide YouTube with insights on how people consumer videosThe quiz questions will be generated by AI based on the clips users have watched.

“If you’re a viewer in the experiment, you may see AI-generated quizzes start to pop up on your app homepage. The quizzes will test your understanding of a subject covered in a video you recently watched. If you choose to take a quiz, a link to the recently watched video will appear under it so you can easily navigate back to learn more about the topic at hand.” ~ YouTube

Get ready for an interactive learning experience in your YouTube app.

3. TikTok Launches Creative Challenge

TikTok is introducing a new initiative called Creative Challenge, strengthening the bond between creators and brands. This innovative program allows creators to showcase their talent and pitch their clips directly to brands, potentially paving the way for ad partnerships.

“TikTok Creative Challenge is a new in-app feature that allows creators to submit video ads to brand challenges and receive rewards based on video performance. Creators can browse through the list of challenges, read the challenge’s brief which displays the reward pool and details rules and requirements, and submit their video ad. The Creative Challenge gives creators full creative freedom over their ads, unlocking more opportunities for creators to collaborate with brands in a way that’s most authentic to them.”~ TikTok

It's a win-win situation for both creators and brands on TikTok.

4. Meta inspires with a new guide on how to create great Reels

Meta has released a comprehensive 7-page Reels Creative Mini-Manual that's packed with tips to enhance your Reels creativity and tap into important usage trends and behaviors. 

The manual focuses on helping creators master the language of Reels, described by Meta as a blend of entertainment, digestibility, and relatability. It delves into technical aspects and provides detailed analysis of this approach.

Get ready to level up your Reels game with the insights from this guide.

5. Reddit publishes new guide on holiday campaign planning

Reddit has recently released a helpful guide within their app for planning holiday campaigns. This guide offers valuable insights into key behavioral trends, product categories, and practical planning tips. It's an essential resource for marketers looking to optimize their holiday campaigns on Reddit.

If you are looking for more idea for your social media calendar for August, we've got you covered.

Last update: June 27th.

1. Snapchat reveals what they know about Gen Z's brand expectations

Snapchat's latest insights could be your golden ticket to connecting with Gen Z consumers in the upcoming holiday season. In collaboration with Omnicom Media Group, Snapchat has shared key findings on what Gen Z shoppers desire from brands, and how they respond to different marketing approaches. 

“Unlike the generations before them, these consumers are digital natives who are growing up in different times, including the pandemic disrupting major life events like graduations and first jobs. Gen Z requires an updated media and communication planning strategy that’s not only authentic, but relevant to the lives they live. Context matters for this generation, as well as how brands show up through messaging and media selection.” ~ Snapchat

2. YouTube unveils their ‘Culture and Trends’ report

YouTube's 2023 ‘Culture and Trends’ report was published, offering valuable insights into the latest shifts in audience interests and behaviors. These findings are based on user surveys from 14 countries, coupled with an analysis of key trends.

This year, YouTube's report sheds light on four major components that have made a difference in the digital world:

• Fandom becoming more multilayered
• Multiformat experiences
• Increased access to casual and experiential tools
• An explosion of AI-based technologies

YouTube, in collaboration with creator Airrack, also shared a 'guided tour' of the report, offering an alternate perspective for interpreting the data.

3. TikTok launches a dedicated hub for agency partners and SMBs

Attention agencies and SMBs: TikTok has launched a new educational hub, providing a consolidated resource of case studies, tools, and guides to optimize your in-app endeavors.

Named the Agency Hub, it primarily targets agency partners but also includes a lot of information on key TikTok marketing components. From understanding its ad targeting systems and accessing ad policy documents to offering explanations on shopping ads and brand safety, it's a comprehensive toolkit. 

4. Reddit and Brandwatch publish guide on how to mine Reddit for consumer recommendations

We (Brandwatch) have joined forces with Reddit to offer a fascinating look at how users can harness information about their consumers from Reddit. It's full of usage stats that might just recalibrate your understanding of Reddit's value, and its potential for promotional activities.

“What makes the platform unique is that people don’t need to engage with others on Reddit to be an active part of the Reddit community. Even those who are virtually silent on Reddit can influence others outside the platform as they share what they’ve found. And, according to a recent study, Reddit users are more likely to recommend brands and products they love across key verticals compared to users of other platforms.” ~ Brandwatch

You can dive into our full Reddit guide here.

5. Meta releases new tools for creators: Facebook Reels templates, Analytics, Ad tools

Meta has rolled out new features aimed at empowering creators to amplify the impact and reach of their content on Facebook. The updates include things like new Reels templates, enhanced Reels editing options, a daily checklist for building your social media presence, and new performance insights.

“To help inspire fresh content ideas, we’ve added an Inspiration Hub in the Professional Dashboard to gather popular reels, hashtags, topics and music. And the new Templates Hub in the Reels Composer displays popular, trending and quality templates that you can use to easily create reels.” ~ Meta

Find out more about the new Facebook features for creators here.

Last update: June 13th.

1. Instagram explains the Feed, Reels, and Stories algorithm

Instagram has rolled out a comprehensive overview of Instagram's ranking algorithms when it comes to their Feed, Reels, and Stories. This invaluable resource aims to equip you with the knowledge to enhance your content's reach, and improve its performance. 

“Instagram doesn’t have a singular algorithm that oversees what people do and don’t see on the app. Each part of the app – Feed, Stories, Explore, Reels, Search and more – uses its own algorithm tailored to how people use it. People tend to look for their closest friends in Stories, use Explore to discover new content and creators and be entertained in Reels. We rank things differently in these different parts of the app, and have added features and controls like Close Friends, Favorites and Following so you can further customize your experience.” ~ Instagram

2. LinkedIn unravels a new B2B marketing report

Riding in with their B2B Marketing Benchmark Report, LinkedIn is turning on the spotlight to illuminate the bustling B2B marketing scene. Clocking in at a meaty 86 pages, this report isn't just a quick flip through. With over 1,900 marketing pros weighing in, it's a must-read for the B2B crowd. 

“The B2B Marketing Benchmark uncovers the trends and practices fueling this optimism: Marketing budgets on the rise worldwide; Excitement among B2B leaders about emerging technologies like Generative AI; Growth in adoption of creative and technical skills that will help marketers meet the demands of these emerging technologies and trends. What follows is a meticulously researched perspective on how B2B organizations can lead (and succeed) through uncertainty. We reveal key areas of opportunity, what B2B leaders need to do to thrive in a rapidly changing environment and how they should plan for the long term.” ~ LinkedIn

You can find the full LinkedIn B2B Marketing Benchmark report here.

3. TikTok launches new learning resources

Looking to refine your TikTok marketing strategies? TikTok is here to assist, announcing new enhancements to their TikTok Academy. This resource provides straightforward, free guides to help you leverage the various features of the platform effectively. 

Initially launched in October of the previous year with only two courses, TikTok Academy has since grown to 17 courses. The latest 5 additions are on: 

• Celebrating Diverse Cultures on TikTok
• Developing Always-Engaged Strategies
• TikTok Fundamentals
• Creative Codes
• Lead Generation

You can find out more about the TikTok Academy here.

4. YouTube launches a new Shorts cross-promotion

Hoping to cast a wider net for your YouTube short videos? This could be your golden ticket – YouTube rolled out a fresh initiative, #ShortsFriends. It is a platform where Shorts creators can boost each other's visibility by sharing each other's content within the app. It's all about creators helping creators, in a world where every view counts.

“Our YouTube Shorts Creator Community is nothing without our wonderful network of creators. We are able to cultivate and connect creators much in part to working collaboratively with them to build the community together. Many of the rising stars in our Shorts Community come from referrals from fellow Shorts creators.” ~ YouTube

5. Meta shares new tips on maximizing your ad performance

Meta has shared a few fresh pointers on providing you with practical steps to improve your campaigns with the Performance 5 framework.

“When an advertiser starts an ad campaign on our platform, the campaign goes through a learning phase where our delivery system explores which audiences and placements are best for your ad. And as we continue to invest in AI to help advertisers see increased performance of their ads investment, account simplification becomes critical so that the recommendations our AI proposes continues to improve with a larger set of inputs.” ~ Meta

Here are the main 5 tips Meta suggest:

1. Simplify your account
2. Utilize automation tools
3. Differentiate your creative
4. Use the Conversions API
5. Utilize Conversion Lift measurement

Find more on how to unlock Meta’s Performance 5 framework here.

Last update: May 31st.

1. Meta introduces AI Sandbox for advertisers

Meta is testing new AI built-in tools to improve the ad creative process for advertisers. Those tools are meant to help you build ad campaigns and perform A/B testing by providing you with text variation of your ad copy, background generation, and image outcropping.

“The AI Sandbox will act as our testing playground for early versions of new tools and features, including generative AI-powered ad tools. Our goal is to learn what works for advertisers and make these features easy to use in our ads tools. To start, we are building tools like text variation, background generation and image outcropping to do things like make an ad’s text more engaging or improve parts of its creative.”~ Meta

Learn more about the new Meta AI tools for advertisers here.

2. Pinterest combines their creation features in a single stream

Good news marketers! Pinterest are merging their content creation flows. Now, you have all creator features in the same place, which means that you can access features that were previously only available to certain Pin formats or user profiles. 

Handy, ain’t it? 

Before, when creating a Pin, you needed to add videos via Idea Pins, but with the new unified stream, you can mix and match features for videos and photos in the same spot.

“Pinterest users will now be able to access features that were previously only available to certain Pin formats or users with a business account, including links, post-publish editing, and flexible aspect ratios. All content creators will also be able to include expressive features like music, text overlay, and stickers to their Pins.” ~ Pinterest

Pinterest is also releasing enhanced metrics on Pins, including views and watch time, which will make marketers’ life easier to track and measure Pin performance.

You can learn more on how to utilize the new features in the Pinterest Help Center.

3. TikTok inspires marketers with tips for content creation

The third annual TikTok event was bliss for marketing managers and brought useful insights about content creation. If you weren’t able to follow it live, they’ve got you covered with a mini-site where you can find all the announcements from the event – the TikTok World Hub.

During the event, two interesting content guides were launched, which can help you improve your marketing strategy on TikTok:

• Creative Codes, which gives you 6 practical tips on content creation
• A guide on how to create a TikTok content strategy with creativity in mind

4. Meta releases new guides for creators on Facebook

Meta introduced new guides and resources in its Professional Dashboard to help creators optimize their performance on Facebook. They are available to all users who have the “Professional Mode” switched on or have converted to the new Pages experience. 

“View 20+ topics that’ll help you succeed on Facebook, such as essential Reels tips, how to avoid engagement mistakes, how to monetize content and understanding distribution. You can also track your learning progress and earn badges as you learn new information along your creator journey.” ~ Meta

Read more tips on the new releases from Meta here.

5. Google shares their AI advancements

Google held their annual I/O event to announce their newest developments around Search, Google ads, visual creation elements, and more. Not surprisingly, AI was the focus of the conversations, together with the latest advancements of Google in implementing it.

“With new generative AI capabilities in Search, we’re now taking more of the work out of searching, so you’ll be able to understand a topic faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights, and get things done more easily. Let’s take a question like ‘what’s better for a family with kids under 3 and a dog, bryce canyon or arches’. Normally, you might break this one question down into smaller ones, sort through the vast information available, and start to piece things together yourself. With generative AI, Search can do some of that heavy lifting for you.” ~Google

Find out more about the event and Google’s future here.

Last update: May 9th.

1. Meta advises creators on monetization

Meta launched a new Facebook video series to facilitate the connection between brands and creators for affiliate marketing. The videos reveal what opportunities Facebook can offer creators and discuss any myths or challenges around those. 

In the series, the social network gives creators the floor to share their success stories and give tips on optimizing and monetizing their efforts on Facebook.

To stay up-to-date with the Facebook video series, follow Facebook for Creators.

2. TikTok educates small businesses with tips about, well, TikTok

During National Small Business Week, TikTok launched a new workshop series to inspire SMBs on how to utilize the platform and make the best out of it for their businesses. 

Brands can enjoy the four-week TikTok TakeOff series with tips for businesses at every stage of their journey. The workshops will happen on Wednesdays throughout the month, starting May 10. You can sign up for the TikTok workshops here.

3. YouTube offer inspiration on video content trends

YouTube launched a new video series to inspire and educate brands on what type of content is trending on the platform and beyond.

“Today, we’re launching a new series where we surface trends that really pop, that our experts are seeing around the world on YouTube. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your next video, general YouTube knowledge, or opportunities to get ahead of rising trends, here are some key trends and insights to chew on.” ~ YouTube

For example, YouTube covers trends within virtual humans, narrative horror, majorette dancing, wash day routines, and nail art. You can find out more about the YouTube video series here.

4. Reddit tips brands on effective ad campaigns

Also celebrating National Small Business Week, Reddit published an insightful overview on how small businesses can create cost-effective ad campaigns. The social network guides brands on repurposing their social copy from other platforms on Reddit.

There are 6 main tips that Reddit wants you to know about:

• Communicate your brand’s vision and value proposition 
• Don't be too formal
• Tweak copy to include humor or cultural references
• Use Reddit like an actual Redditor with callouts to specific subreddits, users, or themes 
• Experiment with longer headlines
• Strike a balance of copy and creative to reinforce your message

Get more inspiration and knowledge on effective Reddit ad campaigns here.

5. LinkedIn celebrate their 20th birthday

LinkedIn is turning 20 this May, which makes it the oldest remaining social media platform. To mark the occasion, LinkedIn published an infographic with the milestones they’ve achieved through the years and how they evolved into the network for professional communications as we know them for today.

You can find more insights about LinkedIn’s 20 years of milestones here.

Last update: April 25th.

1. Instagram lets brands use 5 links in their profile bio

Instagram announced a long-desired new feature for brands. Now, you can add up to 5 links in your brand’s profile bio and thus drive more traffic to your website, e-commerce shop, or other hubs.

Instagram also shared new updates for Reels that can help brands tap into trends, boost their engagement, and create appealing content.

With the new Reel updates, you can:

• Discover fresh and trending ideas for content
• Improve your editing experience by bringing together video clips, audio, stickers, and text
• Get a better understanding of your Reels’ performance with new insights on total and average watch time
• Recognize fans and send gifts to creators

Read more about Instagram’s Reel updates here.

2. Twitter moves on with “Verification for Organizations”

Twitter’s Verification for Organizations program is now available worldwide. This is a replacement for the previous verification process for business users.

“Any organization that purchases a subscription to Verified Organizations will receive a gold checkmark and square avatar if they are a business or non-profit, or a grey checkmark and circular avatar if they are a governmental or multilateral organization. Learn more about profile labels on Twitter and what they mean.

In addition, organizations can choose to affiliate any individual or entity associated with them. An affiliated account receives verification (denoted by either a blue, gold, or grey checkmark) as well as an affiliate badge, a small image of their parent company's profile picture, displayed next to their checkmark. Clicking or pressing this badge takes a user directly to the affiliated organization, making it a great driver of followers from your whole network on Twitter.” ~ Twitter

You can read more about Twitter’s Verification for organizations here.

We will keep an eye out for more news on the topic and keep you updated.

3. TikTok teaches brands about creator collaborations

TikTok shared an 11-page guide for building effective influencer marketing campaigns based on research within the TikTok Creator Marketplace. The guide provides tips on how to find the right influencers for your brand and develop successful campaigns with them.

“We wanted to better understand how and why videos like this are so successful. So we analyzed more than 300 top-performing videos from the Creator Marketplace, TikTok's official platform for brand-partner collaborations, looking for patterns among the videos with the highest engagement rates. Then we validated our findings with first-party research to make sure they aligned with user sentiments. (Which they did.)” ~ TikTok

TikTok’s four main tips in the Making Creator Marketing Easy guide are:

• Ditch the script
• Find a natural hook
• Be strategic with trends
• Pick the right community

4. LinkedIn reveals viral spam detection

LinkedIn published a new technical overview of its attempt to stop viral spam on the platform. Along the way, LinkedIn has hinted on insights about successful content on LinkedIn and how to align with the feed algorithm.

“As soon as a piece of content surfaces, the existing ML classifiers act based on the immediate features that can be computed, such as author and content related features. If it is found to be spam or policy-violating, then we either take an automatic action or send it for human review to decide on the action to be taken. For the content that is still present on the platform, we monitor the engagement signals, temporal signals, and spam related signals to detect the potential for viral spam during the content lifecycle on the platform.” ~ LinkedIn

You can find the full overview of LinkedIn’s spam combat here.

5. Meta inspires with marketing webinar series for SMBs

Meta released a new series of webinars with tips on how to improve your advertising performance on Meta’s platforms. 

The webinars are based on Meta’s “Performance 5” framework and provide knowledge for SMBs on how to drive better campaign results with more efficient use of budgets.

Last update: April 11th.

1. Twitter published their code – oh, and Twitter Inc. no longer exists

Exciting times at Twitter! On March 31st, they revealed their algorithm recommendation code on GitHub and promised further transparency around their algorithms. This brings exciting insights for brands on how their content ranks on the social network.

“On GitHub, you’ll find two new repositories (main repo, ml repo) containing the source code for many parts of Twitter, including our recommendations algorithm, which controls the Tweets you see on the For You timeline. For this release, we aimed for the highest possible degree of transparency, while excluding any code that would compromise user safety and privacy or the ability to protect our platform from bad actors, including undermining our efforts at combating child sexual exploitation and manipulation.” ~ Twitter

Another major change occurred to Twitter when on April 10, the company was merged into a new entity called X Corp.

“Twitter Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists. X Corp. is a privately held corporation, incorporated in Nevada, and with its principal place of business in San Francisco, California.” ~ Twitter

You can read more on the Twitter merger here.

2. Instagram guides brands on DM usage

Instagram equipped brands with useful tips on how to use DMs to build personal relationships with customers and grow their business with Instagram messaging. On their new info page, Instagram shares what Instagram Direct is, practical tips on how and where to start their DM connection process, and case studies to get inspired by.

Learn more on how to maximize your Instagram presence via DMs here. 

3. LinkedIn is changing our feeds

LinkedIn revealed some product updates that will affect our feeds. Those changes and tweaks aim to engage LinkedIn users with topics they are more interested in.

The LinkedIn feed changes, in a nutshell, are:

1. Navigate your feed around what matters to you

2. Search, discover, and go deeper on topics you care most about – posts, newsletters, groups, events, and more

3. Unlock knowledge from the world’s professionals

4. Discover suggested posts to help you find interesting and relevant content

5. Control and give indications to what you like (or don’t like), so LinkedIn can continuously improve the user experience

You can read the full overview on the LinkedIn feed here.

4. TikTok advises brands to tap into communities

TikTok shared tips for brands on utilizing the power of communities on the social network. They believe that’s a great way to maximize your messaging and boost your brand awareness towards new audiences.

“Embrace communities and their subcultures—that’s where true inspiration lives. 76% of users say they like it when brands are a part of special interest groups on TikTok.” ~ TikTok

TikTok recommends brands take on a 3-step approach:

1. Find your communities
2. Develop your content strategy
3. Create content

The social network recommends using their Keyword Insights Tool to find your brand's relevant TikTok communities and then tailor your messages. 

You can find the full overview of how to utilize the power of TikTok communities here.

5. Meta gives tips on maximizing ad campaigns

Meta launched two new video series to help brands boost their ROI from Facebook and Instagram ads. The tips and guidance are based on the experiences of internal and external experts.

The first video series is called Performance talks where Meta and other marketing experts like True Classic’s Ben Yahalom, Pepper’s Jaclyn Fu and PMG’s Carly Carson talk about the latest trends and innovations in ad buying and digital marketing.

“In this series, we will hear from innovative businesses about their marketing priorities, the industry trends making an impact and the Meta tools they use to grow.” ~ Meta

The second video series is called Ask an Expert, which provides guidance on questions asked by the community on hot topics around Facebook and Instagram ads.

“Our new Ask An Expert series has the answers to these questions and more! In four episodes, our best-in-class in-house experts break down how to use Meta tools to help grow your business. To get started, find a question below, then watch the accompanying video to get an answer.” ~ Meta

Last update: March 28th.

1.Twitter announces changes in For You tab

Elon Musk shared that starting April 15, the only tweets displayed in the For You tab will be from Twitter Blue verified accounts. 

Voting in Twitter polls will also become an exclusive feature for Twitter Blue subscribers only. 

As announced earlier by Twitter, they are removing the legacy blue checkmarks starting from April 1 and focusing on the new Twitter Blue verification program.

2. Meta introduces new Meta Verified program in the US

It’s official! Meta announced its new Meta Verified program is now available for users in the US. They can subscribe for a blue checkmark on Facebook and Instagram for $11.99 monthly (Facebook only) on the web or $14.99 in-app. You need to sign up separately for each social network if you want to be verified.

The Meta Verified program gives you:

• A blue checkmark on Facebook or Instagram
• Proactive account protection from impersonation
• Dedicated account support from Meta’s team
• Exclusive stickers for Facebook and Instagram Stories and Facebook Reels
• 100 Stars a month to allocate to other creators on Facebook

Find out more and become Meta Verified here.

3. TikTok enables branded AR campaigns

TikTok added a new element to its Effects House AR creation tool to help brands make more engaging campaigns. It gives marketers new possibilities to use AR effects in their content and create more immersive experiences on TikTok.

“Branded Effects are custom effects sponsored by brands. They can be highly customized with branded elements and include features like calls-to-action and custom audience targeting to fit a brand’s specific campaign needs. To kick off Branded Effects in Effect House, brands can begin working with top effect creators who are already creating enormously popular effects on TikTok’s effect creation platform, Effect House.” ~TikTok

Find more on how to evolve your brand’s storytelling on TikTok with Branded Effects here.

4. Pinterest shares tips on effective Pin advertising

Pinterest published a guide with new Pin ad tips on how brands can attract, engage, and convert leads on the social network. It is based on feedback from over 120,000 Pinners and reveals that a multi-format approach across the different stages of the marketing funnel can be very effective on Pinterest.

"A full-funnel media strategy is the most effective way to keep your brand top of mind across the purchase journey. It lets you connect with customers not just when they’re in discovery mode, but also when they're ready to take action. When a customer sees ads on Pinterest from across the funnel—across awareness, consideration and conversion objectives—conversion rates are 3x higher.” ~ Pinterest

You can find more insights and tips in Pinterest’s Pin advertising guide.

5. LinkedIn starts new Podcast Academy

LinkedIn launched a new LinkedIn Podcast Academy. The academy is related to the LinkedIn Podcast Network, which is a collection of LinkedIn podcasts that was initiated last year.

“The LinkedIn Podcast Academy is a 6-month incubator pilot, which will connect emerging business podcasts with exclusive programming, coaching, tools and LinkedIn co-branding to expand and better reach their audience. This inaugural group of professional voices cover a wide range of topics in the professional arena: From leadership and entrepreneurship to human resources and technology.” ~ LinkedIn

Last update: March 14th.

1.TikTok wants to inspire copywriters

The social network added a tool that inspires marketers on how to finetune their ad copy. It’s in TikTok’s Creative Center under Keyword Insights and your copywriters can play with it to explore the keywords and phrases in TikTok ads that best fit your brand.

“Sometimes the biggest obstacle to making meaningful creative is finding the right words to use. Our new Keyword Insights tool helps you discover the top keywords that resonate with your audience and industry. Browse keywords that have appeared in real, successful ad campaigns. Then watch the ads themselves for ideas about how to incorporate those keywords into your script, ad text and overlays.” ~ TikTok

2. Twitter empowers marketers to do better video marketing

Twitter launched a new video marketing education course on how to make your ads unskippable on the social network. Eight videos, ~ 2 minutes each, and lots of inspiration. 

“Receiving a list of best practices is always helpful, but it can be tough to translate a list of do’s and don’ts into a high-performing video. Content can become watered down when every tip on the list is implemented in a single advertisement without proper care - losing its entertainment value and creative spark. That’s why this course was created for creatives, by creatives, and doesn’t just teach you what the best practices are, but how to use them to think about and approach your next piece of content.” ~ Twitter

If you feel like it’s time to up your game with Twitter, check out the courses here.

3. Facebook brings Messenger back into the main app

Facebook reached a milestone: 2 billion daily active users and counting. Let’s hear from them on future plans which revolve around artificial intelligence, messaging, creators, and monetization.

“Over the last nearly 20 years, people have come to Facebook for lots of things, including to see what’s going on with their friends, family and groups where meaningful connection happens. There has been a shift the last couple years with people coming to Facebook more to be entertained, discover something new or see what’s going on in the world. These new reasons are why we are investing in AI-powered discovery.” ~ Facebook

We’re all excited to experience all new AI opportunities Facebook plans to offer on relevant content whatever the format as well as creators that can be interesting to brands.

Read more here.

4. LinkedIn introduces collaborative articles

LinkedIn launched Collaborative Articles powered by AI, which will match your brand with a user with specific expertise and input to join the conversation.

“These articles begin as AI-powered conversation starters, developed with our editorial team. Then, using LinkedIn’s Skills Graph, we match each article with relevant member experts who can contribute their lessons, anecdotes, and advice based on their professional experience. And, that’s when the real magic happens: when professionals share real-life, specific advice by contributing their perspectives to the work questions we’re all facing every day. Because starting a conversation is harder than joining one, these collaborative articles make it easier for professionals to come together and add and improve ideas - which is how shared knowledge is created.” ~ Daniel Roth, LinkedIn

Are you ready to try this new LinkedIn magic? Learn more here.

5. Reddit may delight marketers with a new option for video lovers

Reddit is looking into joining the video marketing scene on social media with a new Watch feed in the app. It’d let users enjoy a never-ending stream of video posts.

“As we head into our 18th year, a lot has changed, but our core ethos hasn’t: Reddit remains the de facto space for online communities. In line with this, in 2023, the product and design improvements you’ll see from us will simplify and streamline how people discover, join, and contribute (post, vote, comment) to communities and bring new ways to engage in conversations and content.” ~ Reddit

Last update: February 28th.

1. Meta tests paid verification program

Meta launched a test of a paid verification program ‘Meta verified’ on Facebook and Instagram. It is a subscription-based offering for brands to get special authentication via a badge on the social networks. This program is said to build trust for brands among their audiences and provides more support from Meta.

The program seems like Meta’s answer to Twitter’s verification scheme. Meta is testing it out in New Zealand and Australia for starters.

If you want to learn more on how to get your brand verified on Instagram (the good old fashioned way) check out our blog.

2. Snapchat integrates ChatGPT

At their 2023 Investor Day, Snapchat surprised us with the news that they launched a new chatbot element for Snapchat+ subscribers called ‘My AI.’ It will integrate ChatGPT elements in the platform and offer AI-generated responses to queries.

Grab the popcorn and let’s see where this will take brands on their social media journeys.

3. TikTok adds data to Insights tools and Creative center

TikTok added 70,000 new insights to its TikTok Insights tools, which is an interactive app to help brands understand specific consumer trends and shifts. If you want to know more about TikTok’s Insight tools read more here.

TikTok also added insights to its Creative Center to highlight how popular specific products are in the app based on ad performance like impressions, view-through rate, comments, likes.

4. LinkedIn improves ad targeting and shares B2C tips

LinkedIn added new targeting options for their ads, enabling brands to reach the right audience based on their interests and maximize their LinkedIn ad spend.

“With 90K+ Product Pages, 6.1MM Service Pages, and interactions on Linkedin Pages increasing 48% year over year, we know brands and members are turning to LinkedIn to showcase their products and services, igniting interest and engaging with buying committees.” ~ LinkedIn 

LinkedIn also published a study in partnership with Nielsen that empowers B2C brands on how to improve their ad approaches and advises them to focus on aspiration, innovation and loyalty. Read more about LinkedIn’s study here.

5. Instagram introduces Broadcast Channels feature

Instagram is about to launch a new feature, ‘Instagram Broadcast Channels.’ It’s a so-called one-to-many messaging tool for creators that lets you directly engage with your followers at scale.

"Creators can use broadcast channels as a casual, quick way to keep followers up-to-date. They can use text, photo, video and voice notes to share their latest updates and behind-the-scenes moments and even create polls to crowdsource fan feedback. Only creators can send messages, while followers can react to content and vote in polls." ~ Instagram

Last update: February 14th.

1. Social data behind the Super Bowl revealed

It’s that time of year when marketers grab the popcorn to watch what their fellow marketers have been working on for the Super Bowl ads, not to mention how they are received in social media conversations online. 

“The brands that ran ads during Super Bowl LVII were collectively mentioned nearly 312,000 times during the game. That equates to 1,300 mentions of all the Super Bowl advertising brands per minute on Twitter during the game.” ~ Sandra Busch, Director of Editorial & Content, Brandwatch.

Are you ready for an in-depth recap of how brands and celebrities performed on social media during the Super Bowl this year? Check out our Super Bowl LVII in Numbers.

2. LinkedIn shares tips on B2B marketing KPIs

LinkedIn published an insightful guide on The 10 Most Common B2B Marketing KPIs and How to Use Them. It helps marketers identify the right KPIs and ways to measure and analyze them, thus improving their digital marketing strategy.

“The beauty of B2B marketing KPIs, when you're using the right ones, is that they provide a simple, focused way to gauge and course-correct campaign performance. But tracking the wrong KPIs can keep you from fixing problems and building upon successes in your campaign.” ~ Alexandra Rynne, Content Strategy Lead, LinkedIn 

You can find the LinkedIn B2B marketing KPIs guide here.

3. Pinterest launches refreshed Pinterest Academy

After showing steady increases in Q4 in both users and revenue, the social network revealed its revamped e-learning academy, where marketers can discover ideas and improve their knowledge on how to build a winning Pinterest strategy in an entertaining way. The Pinterest Academy covers everything you need to know on how to run successful and engaging campaigns on the social network.

“Whether you’re new to Pinterest ads or looking to boost your expertise, Pinterest Academy has it covered. From basics like ‘Why Pinterest?’ to modules like “Measurement solutions,” you’ll find instructions and tips for every step of the campaign process. Your target audience comes to Pinterest with intent to get something done. With Pinterest Academy, you’ll learn how to reach people at the right time with the right ad.” ~ Pinterest

4. Google introduces the AI wizard, Bard

In response to Chat GPT, Google launched the conversational AI service Bard that answers questions from across the web. After Microsoft shared that they are looking into integrating ChatGPT into Bing, it’s interesting to see how Google will respond to the AI challenge.

“Bard seeks to combine the breadth of the world’s knowledge with the power, intelligence and creativity of our large language models. It draws on information from the web to provide fresh, high-quality responses. Bard can be an outlet for creativity, and a launchpad for curiosity, helping you to explain new discoveries from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to a 9-year-old, or learn more about the best strikers in football right now, and then get drills to build your skills.” ~ Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet

5. Instagram advises on ad planning

Instagram is on a quest to inspire marketers in their advertising strategy with simple yet foundational tips. From planning to analyzing, the Instagram team is trying to guide you with insights on advertising.

For more inspiration check these tips on the best time to post on Instagram.

Last update: January 31st.

1. Twitter and TikTok both share their 2023 marketing calendars

The two social networks published 2023 Marketing Calendars to help marketers around the world mark the important holidays and events of the year and create great content around those.

You can find Twitter’s 2023 Marketing Calendar here.

“We’re moving more quickly than ever, and we’re still the place people turn to see and talk about what’s happening. A great example is the recent FIFA Men’s World Cup. We saw a whopping 147B impressions of event-related content on the platform, up nearly +30% from 2018. We also generated 7.1B views on World Cup video1, with everything from memes to nail-biter outcomes to history being made.” ~ Twitter

And you can discover TikTok’s 2023 Marketing Calendar here, filled with key celebrations and events happening within each quarter. The planner also offers some tips on how to use the holidays to strengthen your content strategy on TikTok.

2. Instagram is focusing on still photos (again)

Instagram is bringing back balance to our feeds. After video and Reels kind of took over in 2022, Instagram’s CEO Adam Mosseri noted in one of his Stories that this year photos will be getting more love and attention. The goal is to strike the right balance for Instagram users.

“I think we were overfocused on video in 2022 and pushed ranking too far, and basically showed too many videos and not enough photos. We’ve since balanced, so things like how often someone likes photos versus videos, and how often someone comments on photos versus videos, are roughly equal, which is a good sign that things are balanced.” ~ Adam Mosseri, Instagram

3. Pinterest tips brands on each stage of the purchase funnel

The social network shared insights and tips and tricks on how a brand to become a super star at pin marketing on each step of the customer journey. From awareness through consideration and conversion - each step reveals a marketing opportunity for brands on Pinterest.

“A full-funnel media strategy is most effective for maximizing results on Pinterest. The proof? When a customer sees ads across the funnel—awareness, consideration and conversion—conversion rates are 3x higher than when ads are seen for just one objective.” ~ Pinterest

4. LinkedIn wants you to know how profitable it is to market on – you guessed it – LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s parent company Microsoft shared that the social network showed great performance on quarter-on-quarter level. And the team behind it is trying to equip marketeers with insights on how to boost their engagement and ad performance.

“At LinkedIn, we’re excited to keep playing a role in your growth. LinkedIn Marketing Solutions surpassed $5 billion in revenue for the first time in July of 2022, and eMarketer projects that by 2024, LinkedIn will capture nearly 50% of all display ad spending and 25% of all digital ad spending.” ~ Alexandra Rynne, Content Strategy Lead at LinkedIn

You can find more insights and LinkedIn’s infographic here.

5. Meta launches new certification for businesses

Meta now offers a new Meta Certified Company program for businesses. It will help mainly digital marketing agencies showcase their marketing expertise on Facebook and Instagram.

“A Meta Certified Company is a company or organization that is recognized for their advanced expertise on the Meta Platform. For the first time, we’re offering Certification at the Organizational level, awarded to companies who achieve a threshold of individual Meta Blueprint certifications in specific focus areas.” ~ Meta

You can find out more about the LinkedIn certification program here.

Last update: January 17th.

1. Twitter introduces new timeline

Twitter rolled out its new swipeable timeline option, which enables users to switch between the main algorithm-based feed and a chronological one. 

The social network also shared plans on updated bookmarks UI, which you can find here.

2. Meta shuts down its Creator Studio

Meta is about to shut down its Creator Studio and move it to the Business Suite platform instead. The latter contains various management tools and features like analytics, messaging, and advertising.

3. YouTube updates its analytics

YouTube introduced new analytics and display options with a focus on Shorts. Among the novelties will be data on subscriber growth, new subscriber recognition options, Shorts thumbnails, insights on content type, etc.

Shorts is a short video format (up to 60 seconds) introduced by YouTube, where you can share trends, ideas, casual daily life stories, and more.

4. Instagram gets a UI update

Instagram will introduce a couple of changes in February in their app layout and navigation. The main tweak is that the Shop tab will be removed from the main navigation menu, and the shortcut for creating content will again be placed in the center.

“You’ll still be able to set up and run your shop on Instagram as we continue to invest in shopping experiences that provide the most value for people and businesses across feed, stories, reels, ads and more.” ~ Instagram

5. Twitter launches Verification for Organizations

Twitter invited businesses to sign up for ‘Verification for Organizations,’ which will soon replace the current verification process for business users. You can apply now and get on the waitlist by adding your business’s Twitter handle and contact details.