Social Media News: The 5 Biggest Stories of the Week

We get it! You're busy scheduling content and engaging with your followers, so it can be difficult to make time to sit down and read about the latest Facebook algorithm update or how brands are leveraging TikTok. But, hey, it's also important to carve out time to learn about new ways to improve your social media strategy. So, put down your phone (we know: it's a big ask!) and indulge in reading about recent social media updates.

Top Social Media and PR News Stories This Week

If you work in social media marketing, these are the stories you need to read this week!

• TikTok Encourages Breaks in Screen-Time

• LinkedIn Unveils Business Center to Enhance B2B Efforts

• You Can Now Boost LinkedIn Events Through Ads

• New Meta Micro-Site Helps LGBT Businesses

TikTok Encourages Breaks in Screen-Time

Taking a page out of the Netflix book, TikTok has introduced a new way for users to be mindful about their screen-time. In TikTok settings, you can now set notifications to be reminded at 10, 15, or 20 minute intervals. These scheduled breaks are a great way to encourage less screen time and enforce healthier habits for improved mental wellbeing. The update also comes with a dashboard view that tells users how much time they are actually spending scrolling through videos.

LinkedIn Unveils Business Center to Enhance B2B Efforts

More tools are coming to LinkedIn for B2B companies using the networking platform for sales and marketing. The new Business Manager platform within LinkedIn offers a dashboard from which you can access support and manage your business pages, ad accounts, admins and more. The platform is essentially a lighter, free version of Sales Navigator, which offers more complex tools for businesses.

You Can Now Boost LinkedIn Events Through Ads

While it's surprising that this option didn't already exist, a new update from LinkedIn will allow you to boost your LinkedIn events to a wider audience. This is a small but significant change that could lead to greater event sign ups, increasing brand awareness and encouraging more people to follow you. The boost function for events is found on the event page and once you've set the boost parameters, LinkedIn will generate an ad for you.

New Meta Micro-Site Helps LGBT Businesses

In partnership with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Meta has launched a new micro-site for Pride (and beyond), dedicated to providing resources for LGBT+ businesses. The site offers a range of services and tools, including certification training and funding options. Video features providing tips and suggestions are also available from established LGBT+ influencers and business owners.

Update from June 7th

1. Sensitive Content Controls Expanded in Instagram

2. Feed Sorting Options Added to Twitter Communities

3. Shoppable Shorts Coming to YouTube

4. Pinned Posts Now Available on Instagram

Sensitive Content Controls Expanded in Instagram

https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/updates-to-the-sensitive-content-control

https://twitter.com/InstagramComms/status/1533843794847625216

Instagram users will now be able to further manage what they see in the app with a new update that heavily expands sensitive content controls. Now you can tell Instagram which types of content you'd like to see more or less of, from several areas: Search, Reels, followed accounts, Hashtag Pages and In-Feed Recommendations. From a parental control perspective, this update will help to greatly reduce the changes that children will encounter inappropriate content as well.

Feed Sorting Options Added to Twitter Communities

Twitter continues to improve Communities, likely in hopes that more users will start tapping into this Twitter feature more. Their newest update will allow users to control how they view the timeline - you can choose from a chronological view or "For You" which showcases the most relevant Tweets based on your past engagements.

Shoppable Shorts Coming to YouTube

YouTube's latest foray into making Shorts a key part of the platform also taps into a huge social trend this year: social commerce. Starting on June 16, their 2nd annual Beauty Festival will feature celebrities, brand partnerships, and exclusive product unveilings. The difference this year is that viewers will have the ability to shop the products in real time, directly within YouTube.

Pinned Posts Now Available on Instagram

Instagram was testing pinned posts back in April, and now this feature has been released globally. Users can now pin up to 3 specific posts to the top of their main profile, allowing for additional creative control over what visitors first see. Influencers and brands could use this space to showcase a top performing post, a longer bio, or answers to commonly asked questions.

Updated from May 31st

• Pinned Tweets Within Communities

• Shared Stories Introduced to Snapchat

• TikTok Adds WooCommerce Integration

• Instagram Adds an Amber Alert Feature

• Improved Mobile Connection for YouTube and TV

Pinned Tweets Within Communities

You can now add a pinned Tweet to the top of a Community timeline. It functions in the same way as a normal pinned Tweet and will be a useful addition to Twitter Communities. It could be used as a prompt to spark discussion or a way to display important news and announcements. While Twitter Communities has been slow to take off, they're still in the relatively early stages, and this update could go a long way in bringing them out of the shadows.

Shared Stories Introduced to Snapchat

Iterating on their Custom Stories feature, Snapchat's new Shared Stories allows users to create a Story, tagging friends and family who can then contribute to the Story. It's a great way to facilitate community and connectedness within Snapchat groups - note that Shared Stories do not have a chat enabled meaning they are private to whoever's invited in the group. Like all Snaps, Shared Stories will disappear after 24 hours.

TikTok Adds WooCommerce Integration

TikTok recently announced a partnership with WooCommerce, which will be a huge asset for retailers large and small. The integration allows for more seamless posting of products from a WooCommerce dashboard. The integration follows a strong trend in eCommerce, that is encouraging in-app shopping and purchasing.

Instagram Adds an Amber Alert Feature

Instagram has incorporated an Amber Alert feature with the hope of spreading awareness and increasing the chances of finding missing children. The alerts will show up based on if you are located within a designated search area. If you are, Instagram will display images and other important information in a post on your home feed. You can then share these details to your network.

Improved Mobile Connection for YouTube and TV

YouTube is making it easier to actively participate when watching YouTube videos on your TV. You can now sync your YouTube app on your phone and TV, meaning you'll be able to like the video, subscribe, leave comments, participate in live streams, and find related videos while watching.

Update from March 24th

• Monetization Micro-Site Launched by Twitter

• YouTube to Move Comments in Desktop View

• A Family Center is Coming to Snapchat

• eBay Listings Come to Snapchat

• Realistic Digital Avatars Coming to Meta

Monetization Micro-Site Launched by Twitter

As we predicted earlier this year, creator monetization is proving to be a huge trend in 2022. This week it's Twitter's turn. The app recently rebranded their "Twitter Media" page as "Twitter Create" with a renewed focus on helping creators earn using Twitter's monetization tools. The micro-site includes several resources, such as blog articles and case studies to help creators improve their presence and promote their work.

YouTube to Move Comments in Desktop View

A small but noticeable change is coming to YouTube's desktop view. The platform plans to move video comments to the right side of the video, with only a top comment displayed underneath the video. Similar to the mobile view, when clicked, this comment will open all comments in the right sidebar. This will be helpful for those who enjoy scrolling the comments while watching videos, but such layout updates are rarely received favorably at first so it will be interesting to see the response from users.

eBay Listings Come to Snapchat

Snapchat has added a new e-commerce feature in partnership with eBay. Now users can share shoppable links to items they're selling, and show their friends what they're bidding on. From Snapchat: "More than 142M buyers shop on eBay globally to find everything from the latest sneaker drops to rare, vintage handbags, and now, Snapchatters have a seamless way to share what they've been eyeing…right where conversations with real friends are already happening."

Snapchat to Introduce a Family Center

Also happening over at Snapchat is a new Family Center. Screenshots shared by TechCrunch reveal more information about what parents can expect from the addition. Namely, they'll be able to see who their children follow and who they're engaging with. Given that Snapchat's main draw and functionality comes from the fact that messages are private and disappearing, it's likely this new feature won't be popular among younger users, but will help give parents peace of mind.

Realistic Digital Avatars Coming to Meta

It was only a matter of time before Meta worked to improve the appearance of their digital avatars. The current avatars are cartoony, and not as customizable as Meta wants - plus they're only designed down to the torso. A new video shared by Mark Zuckerberg reveals plans for more realistic avatars in the future. Here's hoping they don't venture too far into "uncanny valley" territory!

Update from May 17th

• YouTube Shorts Adds Green Screen Option

• TikTok Partners With Four Square

• Start a Space for a Specific Tweet

• Efforts to Stop Duplicate Tweets in the Works

• Real-Time Captions Added for LinkedIn Lives

YouTube Shorts Expands Their Green Screen Option

While YouTube already had an option to choose a green screen effect, this feature has been expanded so you can now select from other eligible YouTube videos to replace the green screen. Creators can choose to use just the audio from the video, the imagery, or both together. To access, users first need to save videos their watching as a green screen, which they can then select later when making a Short.

TikTok Partners With Foursquare

Advertisers will want to take note of this TikTok news! The app recently announced a new partnership with Foursquare, integrating with Foursquare Attribution - a product to help measure "the effectiveness of advertising campaigns at driving people into stores". Marketers will then be able to better strategize how to encourage foot traffic from their ads on TikTok.

Start a Space for a Specific Tweet

Twitter is working on ways to bring Spaces more to the forefront with an option to start a Space as a response to a Tweet. Tweet responses up to now have been limited to likes, quote Tweets and comments, so this could be a major leap forward when it comes to engagement on Twitter if it takes off.

Efforts to Stop Duplicate Tweets in the Works

Also happening over at Twitter is a new policy to stop duplicate and spam Tweets. This has been a primary issue on the platform for many years, and it's good to see Twitter now trying to address it. Their updated guidelines will crack down on what's known as "copypasta" by limiting their visibility. Users can also report Tweets that they suspect are copypasta spam.

Real-Time Captions Added for LinkedIn Lives

Several new updates are in the works over at LinkedIn, including the addition of real-time captioning on LinkedIn Live broadcasts. The new feature is a great step forward for accessibility and will make it easier to participate for hearing impaired individuals. LinkedIn is also adding custom URLs from your profile. Currently this option is only available for profiles using Creator-Mode, but will likely be expanded to all profiles in the near future.

Update from May 10th

• LinkedIn Algorithm Will Start De-valuing Polls

• Instagram Ventures into NFTs

• WhatsApp Continues to Improve Group Chats

• TikTok Introduces "Pulse" Program For Creator Monetization

LinkedIn Algorithm Will Start De-valuing Polls

If you've been relying on Polls for your LinkedIn to up those engagement numbers, you may want to start diversifying. Due to user feedback, LinkedIn has announced that its algorithm will begin de-valuing polls and other "engagement-hacking" posts that encourage users to respond with an emoji reaction.

Instagram Ventures into NFTs

The latest social platform to jump on the NFT bandwagon, Instagram is exploring various options for users to display NFTs on their profile. Users will be able to connect to their preferred wallet accounts (such as Rainbow or MetaMask) and images of verified NFTs in an Instagram grid will appear with a small tick mark.

WhatsApp Continues to Improve Group Chats

WhatsApp has been steadily improving their community features, particularly when it comes to group chat functionality. Their recent update now allows up to 512 people to join or be added to a group chat. Also increasing in size is the maximum file size users will be able to share, which is now 2GB.

TikTok Introduces "Pulse" Program For Creator Monetization

More and more platforms are adding features to entice and empower creators such as creator funds and additional monetization opportunities. This week TikTok joined the trend announcing their new "Pulse" program. Using Pulse, brands can choose from 12 TikTok categories (such as beauty or fashion) to facilitate more strategic ad placement. The program then has a rev-share component for creators, meaning that they don't need to have a specific relationship with the brand in order to gain monetary benefits from the ads that are shown next to their content.

Update from May 3rd

• YouTube Tests Ads in Shorts

• Add Different Media Types in a Single Tweet

• Audio Hub is Leaving Facebook

• 90 Second Instagram Reels in Testing

YouTube Tests Ads in Shorts

YouTube is testing ad placements for their Shorts feature. Shorts have seen a big jump in viewership, which is now up to 30 billion daily views, according to Google. Given this rise in popularity YouTube is testing running advertising between clips. It's also working on ways to help creators monetize through Shorts.

Add Different Media Types in a Single Tweet

You could soon be able to add multiple media types to a single Tweet. Currently Twitter only allows still images or GIFs or videos to be posted at one time, they cannot be attached to the same Tweet. Twitter is currently testing the option to mix and match which could open some interesting doors for content promotion!

Audio Hub is Leaving Facebook

Less than a year after it was announced, Facebook is rolling back their audio hub. Introduced in June, 2021, the new audio features on Facebook, promised to help podcasters find new audiences and make it easier to tune in to podcasts from within the Facebook platform. Due to lackluster growth, and likely their new laser focus on the Metaverse, these audio features will be phased out by June, 2022.

90 Second Instagram Reels in Testing

We should have seen this one coming. After TikTok's announcement that 10 minute videos would soon be available, it was only a matter of time before Instagram ventured into longer Reels. The update is still in testing, and has not yet been rolled out to all users, though it likely will be soon.

Update from April 26th

• Elon Musk Buys Twitter

• Pinned Posts on Instagram

• Music Clips Now an Option For Facebook Replies

• Templates Tested for Instagram Reels

• Reddit Launches a Creator Fund

Elon Musk Buys Twitter

Undoubtedly the biggest news out of social media land this week is Elon Musk buying Twitter for $44 billion dollars. The news has been met with very mixed reactions, as people struggle to predict what the purchase means for the future of Twitter. If Musk's Tweets are any indication, the long elusive edit button, banning bots, and authenticating all users will be among the first promises to be fulfilled. More changes will certainly come, but what shape they'll take is still very much unknown.

Pinned Posts on Instagram

A big change on Instagram could be around the corner. The platform is currently testing pinned posts, which could be a huge asset for marketers and influencers alike. The update will allow users to pin posts to the top of their Instagram grid, giving more creative control and the ability to showcase various aspects of a brand such as a top performing post, about-us, or commonly asked questions.

Music Clips Now an Option For Facebook Replies

Responses and social media comments on a post are a key measure of that all-important metric: engagement. So social platforms have consistently tried to find ways to make them enticing. Meta is continuing the trend by introducing music responses. Now you can add context and color to your replies with an accompanying music track. It remains to be seen if this feature will get utilized with the same regulation as gifs or emojis, but for now it's an interesting addition worth watching…or listening to as the case may be.

Templates Tested for Instagram Reels

If you're someone who's struggled with creating Reels, you're not alone. The functionality has always been a bit clunky, even with several improvements made in recent months. So Instagram's new test providing templates for Reels would be a welcome feature for many social media managers out there. Templates allow you to recreate popular Reels trends and styles - each clip is automatically set at a specific length, helping with those crisp and punchy transitions, and perfectly timed audio cues.

Reddit Launches a Creator Fund

Major social platforms have introduced creator funds in the last year, and Reddit is the latest to follow suit. Their program has technically been live, in pilot mode, for six months, with 13 community-nominated projects already funded. Now it's been made official and Reddit is accepting submissions "for projects, events, contests, giving, almost anything you can think of to bring people together for inspiration and delight." Grants will be awarded for projects "based on their creativity, feasibility, and community impact."

Update from April 19th

• Recent Hashtags in Instagram May be Going Away

• Snapchat partners with LACMA for new AR Art Series

• Communities Feature Added to WhatsApp

• TikTok Introduces More Interactive Options for Ads

Recent Hashtags in Instagram May be Going Away

In a move that may puzzle a lot of users, Instagram is in the early stages of testing removing the "Recent" tab for hashtag searches. This means that only the "Top" posts or "Reels" will be available to view when you search for a particular hashtag. This approach is clearly another move on Instagram's part to increase engagement on Reels, but it would definitely create issues for new and small businesses and influencers trying to use branded hashtags, contest hashtags, or industry hashtags for brand awareness.

Snapchat partners with LACMA for new AR Art Series

Continuing to find new ways to incorporate AR, Snapchat recently partnered with LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) for a unique new art series, bringing cultural nuance and diversity to the forefront. Participants can use the Snapchat camera at various locations around Los Angeles to get a deeper experience of a particular art piece and its history . Snapchat is working with a number of renowned artists to bring these pieces to life through AR.

Communities Feature Added to WhatsApp

WhatsApp continues to improve their group texting experience with a new feature: "WhatsApp Communities". Now entities such as schools and local clubs can message several groups at once, making it easier to send updates and organize events. WhatsApp has also introduced several enhancements to group texting including emoji reactions, file sharing, and group calling for up to 32 participants.

TikTok Introduces More Interactive Options for Ads

Now brands will have the ability to capture even more engagement through their TikTok ads through "Interactive add-ons". From TikTok: "Interactive Add-Ons capture the undivided attention of your audience in a full-screen, sound-on environment to boost brand engagement". These additional elements are available as either "Standard" or "Premium". Standard add-ons are great for bottom funnel goals such as clicks and conversions while Premium add-ons are suggested for top of funnel goals like brand awareness.

Update from April 12th

• An Edit Button is Coming to Twitter

• Instagram Removes In-stream Video Ads

• Pinterest Works to Remove Climate Change Misinformation

• Snapchat Launches Dynamic Stories

An Edit Button is Coming to Twitter

Twitter posted an unassuming announcement on April Fools day, that they would be introducing an edit button, to a predictable onslaught of annoyed responses. Despite very persistent requests over the years, Twitter has been extremely reluctant to implement this functionality. But it appears the April Fools joke was not actually a joke at all, and Twitter is in fact finally working on an edit button. Details are still vague, but at least Twitter is acknowledging what its users have been asking for, practically from day 1.

Instagram Removes In-stream Video Ads

Soon in-stream video ads on Instagram will be a thing of the past. As it has hinted for months, Instagram is putting more and more focus on Reels and encouraging users and marketers to use them. Video ad placement options will still be available, for example during Instagram video posts (remember, videos can be up to 60 minutes), and in Stories. But marketers should definitely be thinking about adapting their ad strategy to favor Reels sooner rather than later.

Pinterest Works to Remove Climate Change Misinformation

In advance of Earth Day, Pinterest has enacted a new policy to crackdown on Pins that may contain misinformation around climate change. This policy applies to both ads and regular Pins and addresses the following: climate change denial, inaccurate or false information about climate change solutions, misrepresentation of scientific data, misleading content surrounding natural disasters. Enforcement of the policy will be interesting to watch as Pinterest is the first social platform to implement these kinds of strict guidelines regarding climate change information.

Snapchat Launches Dynamic Stories

Snapchat recently launched "Dynamic Stories", which enables content partners to connect an RSS feed, facilitating more accurate and up-to-date reporting from news outlets and publications. From Snapchat: "...these Stories update in real-time, meaning Snapchatters can keep up with the latest news as it breaks." A few early partners already making use of the new feature include: Buzzfeed, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and Vice.

Update from April 5th

• Instagram Adds New Messaging Features

• Twitter is Testing Interactive Ads

• YouTube Plans a Move into Podcasts

• More Tools Available to Creators on LinkedIn

• Snapchat Introduces YouTube Linking

Instagram Adds New Messaging Features

DM'ing on Instagram has become an important part of the fabric of how users interact on the platform. And Instagram has taken notice, recently announcing some exciting new features to make messaging easier and allow for different media types. Now users will be able to reply to incoming DMs while scrolling, rather than having to navigate to their messages screen first. Additionally, messages now supports sharing music, as well as themes and polls for group chats.

Twitter is Testing Interactive Ads

There are three new ad formats coming to Twitter: Interactive Text Ads, Product Explorer Ads, and Collection Ads. Interactive Text Ads will allow marketers to link to different landing pages through highlighted words (up to 3) within the ad. Product Explorer Ads showcase products in a 3D, interactive format. Lastly, Collection Ads feature a carousel of up to 5 products that users can browse, plus a hero image. These new options offer marketers lots of variety, though they also mean that regular users' Twitter feeds could soon look and feel very crowded with advertising.

YouTube Plans a Move into Podcasts

In a continuing bid to diversify and lean into the creator economy, YouTube appears to be making a move into the Podcast arena according to a leaked slide deck sent to PodcastNews.net. In addition to incorporating RSS feeds on the platform directly, creators will be able to monetize Podcasts, and access analytics to help them maximize listeners and engagement.

More Tools Available to Creators on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is continuing to make it easier for creators to get the most out of the professional networking platform. Creators now have access to more in depth analytics tools and improved options for adding video to a creator profile on LinkedIn - including video prompts to help visitors to their profile get to know more about them and the work they do.

Snapchat Introduces YouTube Linking

A small but significant update from Snapchat this week! You can now send people directly to a YouTube video from your Snaps with a link sticker, instead of needing the extra copy-paste step. From Snapchat: "This is the first time that YouTube links can be shared visually to Snapchat Stories and one-on-one Snaps, while still accessing the Camera and full suite of Snapchat Creative Tools for self expression."

Update from March 19th

• Instagram Brings Back the Chronological Feed

• LinkedIn Pages Adds Newsletters For Businesses

• Meta Combats 'Watchbait'

• Twitter Makes Professional Accounts Available to All

• TikTok Adds GIF Library

Instagram Brings Back the Chronological Feed

After a six-year pause, Instagram has brought back chronological feeds! Along with letting users see newer posts first on the new Following tab, the platform also rolled out a viewing option called Favorites that lets them choose which accounts to see new posts from. These new options were highly-anticipated, but they're easy to miss on the platform. The main feed is still curated by Instagram's algorithm.

LinkedIn Pages Adds Newsletters For Businesses

LinkedIn Pages, the website's option for businesses and organizations, now lets users publish their own articles and recurring newsletters directly on the platform. Previously this option had only been available to those using "Creator Mode" on LinkedIn. Now companies can also take advantage of this feature to grow their communities through the newsletter subscription model.

Meta Combats 'Watchbait'

Meta recently announced that it is cracking down on misleading videos popularly known as 'watchbait.' These videos may entice viewers to watch by withholding information or describing the content in a sensationalized or misleading manner. Meta will tag videos like this as potential 'watchbait', so video marketers should take care to avoid clickbaity titles, thumbnails, and video descriptions.

Twitter Makes Professional Accounts Available to All

Big news from Twitter this week! Professional Twitter accounts are now available to anyone who wants to create one. Previously Twitter's approval was required to switch to a Professional or Business account. With this change, a much wider group will be able to make the change, though certain qualifications still need to be met, including having a complete profile set up and no history of violating Twitter community guidelines.

TikTok Adds GIF Library

In the ever-expanding world of new features on our favorite platforms, TikTok has now added a GIF library users can access to enhance their TikTok videos. This library is in partnership with Giphy, one of the biggest GIF- search tools around, giving TikTok users a plethora of choice. From TikTok: the library will make it "easy for people to start or participate in their own trends, using clips from their favorite shows, GIFs, memes and more by seamlessly integrating them into their TikTok videos."

Update from March 21st

• Pinterest Users Can Now Share Idea Pins Across Platforms

• Meta Files Lawsuit Against Fake Reviews Provider

• YouTube Launching New Livestreaming Features

• TikTok Partners with the Cannes Film Festival

• Snapchat Adds Custom Landmarkers AR Feature

Pinterest Users Can Now Share Idea Pins Across Platforms

Pinterest is helping pinners get wider exposure and reach with its latest sharing feature. The platform now lets content creators share Idea Pins - the platform's answer to TikToks and Instagram Reels - on their other social media pages. The Idea Pin Sharing option lets users add Idea Pins directly to Facebook or Instagram Stories. And with Idea Pin Downloading, they can download and upload their videos to TikTok, Snapchat, and other platforms.

Meta Files Lawsuit Against Fake Reviews Provider

Customer review platforms have always had trouble spotting and getting rid of fake customer feedback. A new court battle may change how they keep tabs on their websites and deal with users who break their rules. Recently, Meta filed a lawsuit against the operator of a business that allegedly "provided fake reviews and feedback to businesses in order to artificially increase their Customer Feedback Score" on Facebook. This marks a new level of the company's enforcement of its terms and policies.

YouTube Launching New Livestreaming Features

YouTube is making its livestream experience more dynamic with some new features set to roll out across 2022. Along with a split-screen mobile viewing option currently rolling out, in the next few months, the company will introduce a livestream Q&A feature. YouTube is also currently testing Go Live Together, which lets livestreamers co-host shows with a shareable link.

TikTok Partners with the Cannes Film Festival

TikTok recently announced its official partnership with Festival de Cannes. Though the film festival made waves when it banned selfies in 2018, it's now courting the younger, digital-first audiences that flock to TikTok. Select creators from the app will be on the red carpet scoring exclusive interviews, as well as capturing behind-the-scenes content backstage. Plus, the winners of the partnership's #TikTokShortFilm competition will receive their awards at the festival.

Snapchat Adds Custom Landmarkers AR Feature

Snapchat is steadily expanding its popular augmented reality experiences, also known as Lenses. Its newest feature is Custom Landmarkers, which lets creators make their own AR experiences tied to locations and landmarks in their communities. As a whole, Lenses continues to hold a lot of promise for creators and marketers alike. Earlier this year, Snapchat reported that 74% of AR Snapchatters used the feature for shopping.

Update from March 17th

• 1. Moderator Option Added for Instagram Lives

• 2. Instagram Unveils a Creator Lab

• 3. New "Latest Tweets" Pin Option Now Available

• 4. More Parental Controls Available for Instagram & VR

1. New Moderator Option Added for Instagram Lives

Instagram Lives are an excellent way to encourage engagement, but when there's a high volume of questions and comments to keep up with, it can be difficult to also manage negative or potentially harmful comments that show up. For this reason, Instagram has now introduced an option to add a moderator to Instagram Lives. Moderators will have the power to remove users from the Live, turn off commenting, and report comments.

2. Instagram Unveils a Creator Lab

In the latest move by a social platform to put the power in the hands of the creators, Instagram has launched a creator lab to help content creators maximize their Instagram success. The Creator Lab is separated into several different sections, providing tips and advice from well established Instagram influencers. Topics cover everything from understanding Instagram's algorithm to creating a content calendar.

3. New "Latest Tweets" Pin Option Now Available

A time-based feed without algorithm influence? Yes please, say many social media users these days. Twitter has answered the call with a new option to choose a feed based on "Latest Tweets." You can access this chronological feed through the stars icon in the top right corner on both mobile and desktop.

4. More Parental Controls Available for Instagram & VR

Meta, the parent company to Instagram and Oculus Quest, has introduced more parental controls for Instagram and VR users. Parents will now have a more detailed dashboard from which to manage what their children see, who they can interact with, as well as set up screen time limits. They will also be able to access additional resources to help them use these tools more effectively. In VR, linked accounts and app blocking abilities are now an option for concerned parents.

Update from March 10th

• Facebook's Desktop View May Be Getting a Facelift

• Instagram Improves Creator Tagging

• Twitter's "Birdwatch" Program Moves to the Next Phase

• LinkedIn Allows More Users to Access "Career Break" Listing

• Twitter Tests New E-Commerce View for Shopping

1. Facebook's Desktop View May Be Getting a Facelift

Remember when Facebook's old profile format got replaced with Timeline? It appears a similarly big change may be on the horizon for Facebook users in the near future. The new layout moves Facebook menu options to the left side of the screen and siphons the rest of the screen in the 3 sections. As others have noted, the layout seems a bit messy. Currently the change is only being seen by a small group, so we'll have to wait and see how this testing phase works out before we know more.

2. Instagram Improves Creator Tagging

A great update from Instagram this week regarding tagging! Now creators will be able to tag other creators and influencers in their photos or videos - with extra information about their contribution to the image. This will make it easier for users to find, connect with, and follow talented artists and creators, as well as facilitate better crediting when it comes to collaborative works.

3. Twitter's "Birdwatch" Program Moves to the Next Phase

If you weren't aware of Twitter's new "Birdwatch" program, you soon may. The crowd-sourced fact checking system allows Twitter users to "add context to Tweets that are seemingly misleading". Twitter has been going through several rounds of testing and user feedback for the program and are now releasing it to a small, randomized, sub-group. In order for Tweet notes to be visible, enough "Birdwatchers" need to rate the notes as helpful, but you will likely start seeing them more and more in the coming months.

4. LinkedIn Allows All Users to Access "Career Break" Listing

LinkedIn's "Career Break" feature, released earlier in 2021, has now been launched to all users. This useful option allows LinkedIn users to indicate a gap in their work history, with details explaining why and for how long they had a career break. Especially useful for Covid-times, LinkedIn says this has been one of their most requested features.

5. Twitter Tests New eCommerce View for Shopping

We have two big updates from Twitter this week. In addition to expanding their Birdwatch program, Twitter has also started testing their version of social shopping: "Twitter Shops". With this feature "merchants can handpick a collection of up to 50 products to showcase to shoppers on Twitter." Users will be able to browse products and prices, and if they wish to purchase they can do so through a link to the merchants website.

Update from March 1st

• 10 Minute Videos Are Coming to TikTok

• Automated Captions Available for Instagram Videos

• Instagram Will Shut Down IGTV App & In-Stream Video Ads

• Pinterests Expands to Hebrew Speakers

• LinkedIn Acquires Oribi

1. 10 Minute Videos Are Coming to TikTok

Taking Vine's downfall as a cautionary tale, TikTok has announced that 10 minute videos will soon be available. This move will give creators more space for ads and monetization and provide more flexibility when it comes to content creation. It's still an interesting move, given the strong push towards short form video from social platforms, including YouTube. We'll definitely be watching this one closely!

2. Automated Captions Available for Instagram Videos

We have two exciting Instagram video updates this week, the first being that Instagram is adding auto captions to feed videos and Reels. This is huge news for the deaf and hard of hearing community and makes video uploading more seamless for creators. Additionally, because videos typically play on mute by default, this is a welcome update among the creator community.

3. Instagram Will Shut Down IGTV App & In-Stream Video Ads

Another big video announcement out of Instagram this week is the official shutting down of the IGTV app. Last year Instagram announced that IGTV would be going away, replaced simply by "Instagram Video", encapsulating feed videos, Lives, and Reels. This change means that in-stream video ads (also known as IGTV Ads) will also be going away, reducing monetization options for some creators. But Instagram is clearly putting Reels front and center, so we will probably be seeing more monetization abilities for Reels this year.

4. Pinterests Expands to Hebrew Language Speakers

Pinterest has added Hebrew language support to the platform, citing that there are "more than *55 million Pins in Hebrew already on Pinterest," and they "want to make it even easier for Pinners to discover fresh ideas and get inspired for their life's projects in their preferred language." Users can access this additional language option for Pinterest through the settings on their iPhone or Android device.

5. LinkedIn Acquires Oribi

LinkedIn has acquired Israel based data analytics platform Oribi in order to facilitate better marketing on the platform. From LinkedIn: "Through the integration of Oribi's technology into our marketing solutions platform, our customers will benefit from enhanced campaign attribution to optimize the ROI of their advertising strategies." This announcement also included the news that LinkedIn will be opening an office in Tel Aviv.

Update from February 22nd

• LinkedIn Adds Services Linking Between Personal & Company Pages

• You Can Now Change Your Snapchat Username

• You Can Now Pin DMs on Twitter

• Reddit Adds Visual Customization to Posts

• Meta Expands Facebook Reels Functionality

1. LinkedIn Adds Services Linking Between Personal & Company Pages

LinkedIn is creating more ways for single-person businesses (such as freelancers, consultants, and contractors) to promote their work and services. Now these accounts can link their single-admin company page to their personal LinkedIn profile, under "services". This is a small but significant update that will make it easier to facilitate more seamless networking opportunities.

2. You Can Now Change Your Snapchat Username

For the geriatric millennials out there who remember signing up for their first AOL messenger account or Hotmail email, this story will resonate. Snapchat will now allow users to change their username, and people who signed up in the app's infancy are understandably excited. Finally those regrettable middle-school aged usernames can glow-up right along with you.

3. You Can Now Pin DMs on Twitter

In a small but useful update, you can now pin DM messages within Twitter. Users can pin up to 6 conversations for easier access. This will be especially nice for businesses who need to track important customer service questions, influencer outreach, and other time-sensitive messages.

4. Reddit Adds Visual Customization to Posts

Reddit is leaning into more visual-heavy posts, an interesting move for the platform which has been largely text-heavy. But now, Reddit is adding more visual editing tools in-app to encourage more image sharing. The editing options are similar to what you can find in Instagram Stories. Currently this update is only available on iOS devices, with Android to be rolled out soon.

5. Meta Expands Facebook Reels Functionality

The latest platform to push its short form video feature is Meta, which will roll out Facebook Reels to all users. This feature had previously only been available to some users, but has now expanded to 150 more countries. They've also added the option to save drafts, and new "clipping" functionality to enable a workaround for longer videos.

Update from February 15th

• LinkedIn Tests "Mute" on Political Posts

• Instagram Adds Private Stories Likes

• Twitter Adds Bot Identifier Label

• New Shorts Section Added to YouTube Channel View

• Snapchat Adds "SnapMap" Feature to Highlight Nearby Events

1. LinkedIn Tests "Mute" on Political Post

Thought LinkedIn's primary purpose as a professional networking social platform has remained unchanged, an uptick in more personal status updates and politically leaning posts was probably inevitable. In response to those wishing to maintain a more professional environment, LinkedIn is offering the option to "mute" posts containing political content. If only this were available in real life office situations…

2. Instagram Adds Private Stories Likes

Big news for Instagram content creators! Instagram has added a private "like" button for Stories, which will help creators gain more engagement data to determine how their Stories are perceived. Likes are hidden from viewers and while a cumulative number is not available, Story creators can see who's liked by a red heart next to the username, when they expand the Stories view sheet.

3. Twitter Adds Bot Identifier Label

Twitter is making it easier for users to identify bot tweets through a public tag. This will be extremely helpful to users to be able to quickly see if they're interacting with a bot, as well as differentiate between "good" bots and "bad" bots. Important to note, however, that adding this label is voluntary and not required on the part of developers behind automated Tweets.

4. New Shorts Section Added to YouTube Channel View

YouTube continues their foray into highlighting and encouraging short-form video content with a new dedicated upload section on users channels. If a creator has made YouTube Shorts, they will now appear here, for easier access and, YouTube likely hopes, higher engagement. It's also a way to encourage more creators to make Shorts as a supplementary video type on their channel.

5. Snapchat Adds "Snap Map" Feature to Highlight Nearby Events

https://twitter.com/Snapchat/status/1494030899410882561

In partnership with Ticketmaster, Snapchat has added a Map overlay feature (called Snap Map) that shows upcoming events and entertainment happening nearby to your location. Users can swipe through to find what interests them, share with friends, and purchase tickets all from within the app. Users will be able to cater their experience through setting alerts for certain types of events.

Update from February 8th

• Instagram Tests Option to Convert Stories to Reels

• Reddit Expands Audio-Only Chat Functionality

• Twitter Teases Long-Form Posting Option

• New Features Added to Messenger

• YouTube Announces New Features Planned for 2022

1. Locked-Out Users on Instagram Can Lean on Friends for Help

On Safer Internet Day this week, Instagram announced it would be testing an option to help users who've been locked out of their accounts. The feature will allow users to reach out to friends for identity verification, so that Instagram can safely re-open the account for that user. Instagram says it will be sharing more information soon, as the feature is very new.

2. Reddit Expands Live Audio-Only Chat Functionality

Social platforms are continuing to experiment with audio features and Reddit is no exception. The site launched "Reddit Talk" in April 2021 and recently announced that they were expanding upon this offering and opening it up to more users. New features include recording capability, text and emoji responses, and a "live bar" to showcase live discussions happening when you log in.

3. Twitter Teases Long-Form Posting Option

Some of the biggest news to come out this week is Twitter testing the waters with long form posting options called "Articles". This feature is in the very beginning stages and has not been rolled out to a wide audience yet. It's currently unclear just how "Articles" will work or how they'll be posted to your Twitter page. In a world so used to threads and short copy, is there space for long-form content on Twitter? We are definitely anxious to find out!

4. New Features Added to Messenger

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Messenger has added some new features to their app. These include improvements to voice messages like a preview feature and a longer duration available, a Venmo-esque addition allowing you to split bills, and virtual Valentines stickers and filters for Messenger Kids.

5. YouTube Announces New Features Planned for 2022

In the wake of announcing that YouTube's original programming will officially be a thing of the past, the video sharing platform has announced a number of new features people should look out for in 2022. As the world continues to go the direction of short-form video, YouTube Shorts are getting a lot of special treatment: better ways to create branded content, chat features, and shopping are all on the docket. YouTube will also continue finding ways to help creators monetize and partner with brands, as well as improving their community features. New shopping capabilities through YouTube are also on the horizon.

Update from 2/1/22

• Instagram Stories Adds New Options to Polls

• The Metaverse Celebrate Black History Month

• New Snapchat Report Highlights the Importance of Privacy Tools Over Policies

• Pinterest Highlights Black Creators

• New "Twitter Toolbox" Hub Helps Marketers Get the Most Out of Twitter

1. Instagram Stories Adds New Options to Polls

Up to four options rather than two are now available in Instagram Stories polls! If you've ever not answered a poll because neither answer fit, or you wanted a "both" option, those days are over. Which is also good news for social media managers trying to capture those taps for engagement metrics. Posters can also now update the color of the poll question text, allowing for more brand alignment.

2. The Metaverse Celebrates Black History Month

It's Black History Month! Companies and brands around the world are celebrating in various ways. The Metaverse launched the "Metaverse Culture Series" which will use VR and AR to help amplify black voices through collaborations with black creators, and provide educational resources on black culture and history. Importantly, the series will run for a full year, rather than just the month of February.

3. New Snapchat Report Highlights the Importance of Privacy Tools Over Policies

Privacy concerns have been at the forefront of social media users minds for several years, and a new study from Snapchat reveals that actually having tools to control their privacy is more important for Gen Z and millennial users than a "privacy policy". The report found that "only 65% of respondents are actually satisfied with their online privacy" and so having better options for controlling what they share is a priority.

4. Pinterest Highlights Black Creators

Another social platform dedicated to elevating black creators this month is Pinterest. Continuing their new livestream shopping endeavor "Pinterest TV", which launched just before the holidays, Pinterest will be "amplifying Black creator content through a Pinterest TV series focused around Nourishing Your Soul, working with inspiring creators across food, fashion, beauty and wellness."

5. New "Twitter Toolbox" Hub Helps Marketers Get the Most Out of Twitter

A new toolbox hub from Twitter aims to help marketers quickly access all the features, apps, and resources they need to improve their Twitter marketing prowess. The Hub includes links to a number of 3rd party apps and sites, broken up into three sections: Expression tools, Safety tools, and Measurement tools. It remains to be seen how long the hub will be active or if it will change as Twitter promotes more of its internal tools, but for now it's a great way for marketers to keep up!

Update from January 25th

• TikTok to Test Audio Only Streaming, New Avatars, and Subscriptions

• Twitter Experiments With "Flocks"

• Instagram Makes Moves to Minimize Hate Speech

• Meta to Integrate WhatsApp into its Business Platform, Workplace

• New LinkedIn Ad Aims to Keep Up With the Times

1. TikTok to Test Audio Only Streaming, New Avatars, and Subscriptions

TikTok is planning a few new features, currently in experiment mode and not yet being tested live. These include a customizable avatar similar to Apples "Memoji" in look and feel, audio-only live streaming which gives creators more options to build their audience, and a creator subscription model, akin to what Instagram is currently testing.

2. Twitter Experiments With "Flocks"

Twitter's newest upcoming feature is called "Flocks" and it will enable users to share Tweets with a select group, rather than publicly. It is similar to "close friends" in Instagram Stories which allows you to only show your Story to people on your close friends list. Twitter already offers control over who can see and post replies, so Flocks can add an extra level of protection as well as the ability to create conversation between a close knit group.

3. Instagram Makes Moves to Minimize Hate Speech

In a continuing effort to prevent the spread of hate speech and misinformation, Instagram has announced that it will now demote posts that are detected by the algorithm to contain hate speech or bullying, or that may incite violence. Instagram already shows posts lower on feeds that are reported by independent fact checkers, so this is essentially a step toward automating the process and catching posts that aren't reported.

4. Meta to Integrate WhatsApp into its Business Platform, Workplace

Meta business platform, Workplace, announced last year that it would be implementing a WhatsApp integration to help facilitate communication between remote teams. In particular the update aims to make it easier for frontline workers to stay connected, ensuring "that information and updates reach frontline workers where they are in real-time."

5. New LinkedIn Ad Aims to Keep Up With the Times

There's no question that the working world is rapidly changing and a new ad for LinkedIn illustrates how the professional networking site is adapting to accommodate these changes. The promotional video focuses on the changing nature of what it means to be a "professional" and what work-from-home means for work-life balance.

Update from January 18th

• Twitter Showcases Tweets That Have Manifested Success

• TikTok Tests Integrated Stories

• Pinterest Shares How the Male Demographic Uses Pins

• Snapchat Adds More Protections for Minors

• YouTube Adds a "Media Kit"

1. Twitter Showcases Tweets That Have Manifested Success

The power of manifestation is the subject of the latest ad campaign for Twitter. Billboards have started showing up in various cities, showcasing famous athletes and entertainers early Tweets with career aspirations and dreams. Today these dreams have been realized, and it's a nice reminder of the power of intention setting. Sometimes publicly sending your aspirations out into the universe (or on Twitter) can have powerful results!

2. TikTok Tests Integrated Stories

TikTok is in the early stages of testing a more integrated experience for its Stories feature. While currently Stories on TikTok live in their own separate space, this change would include them in the "For You" and "Following" sections of the app. Navigation to Stories creation would also now be available from your main feed as well. Users scrolling through will see how many cards each Story contains and can tap through to view from right within their main feed, which is the biggest difference from Instagram's Stories.

3. Pinterest Shares How the Male Demographic Uses Pins

While Pinterests primary demographic is women, a new report indicates that more men are using the platform today, and takes a look at what they're interested in. The study reveals that men are making big goals and spending decisions for 2022. According to Pinterest: "75% of men in our study are planning to spend more this year to bring their goals to fruition... the study showed a mix of big-picture intention setting (eat better, find work-life balance) and smaller shifts to have more fun (socialize more, spend more time with friends)."

4. Snapchat Adds More Protections for Minors

In a move similar to one made by Instagram in 2021, Snapchat announced plans to make its platform a safer place for minors. The platform will be adding more safeguards to its "Quick Add" suggestions feature to prevent users under 18 from being connected to and contacted by adults they don't know. Approximately 20% of Snapchats user base is under 18.

5. YouTube Adds a "Media Kit"

YouTube has introduced an exciting new addition called "Media Kit" to help creators share their audience and engagement metrics more efficiently and effectively with brands and advertisers. This will make it easier for creators to earn ad revenue and partner with more brands who are interested in getting in front of relevant influencer audiences.

Update from January 11th

• TikTok Underlines the Importance of Audio in Social Content

• New Profile Search Now Available on Pinterest

• Instagram Tests Rearrange Option for Your Grid Posts

• Meta Launches New Privacy Center

• Twitter Tests Live Reactions

1. TikTok Underlines the Importance of Audio in Social Content

While "sound off" is the default setting for most platforms when showing videos, TikTok is taking the opposite route. With 9 out of 10 TikTok users viewing sounds as essential, the platform seeks to expand their audio offerings and explore the continuing evolution of how sound is used to create content on TikTok. Audio is a key component to TikTok content, and with its popularity it will be interesting to see if other platforms will eventually switch from sound-off to sound-on by default.

2. New Profile Search Now Available on Pinterest

Pinterest has made it easier to find specific profiles and creators with a new filter that shows up in search results. The feature showcases Pinners related to certain search terms, so users can identify new people to follow who match their interests.

3. Instagram Tests Rearrange Option for Your Grid Posts

In what promises to be an eventful year of changes and new features, Instagram is coming in hot out the gate, testing an option that will allow users to rearrange their grid post photos and videos. This would be a welcome addition for content creators on the platform, giving more control over the first posts people see when they visit your profile. Instagram has also teased the possibility of a "pinned post" to come later this year.

4. Meta Launches New Privacy Center

A new privacy center is now available on Facebook, describing in fuller detail how Meta gathers and uses data, with more control for users to decide what they want to share. There are five different sections where people can find more information about privacy: Security, Sharing, Collection, Use, and Ads. Currently the new center is only available to US users on desktop, with plans to roll it out to a wider base soon.

5. Twitter Tests Live Reactions

Given the popularity of video and reaction-posts on platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok, it was only a matter of time before Twitter tried to get in on the action. They are currently testing a new "live reactions" feature as an additional sharing option. The feature allows users to quote-Tweet with a full screen video response with the quoted Tweet visible.

Update from December 14th

• Reels as Replies Now Available on Instagram

• Preview Your Voice Message Before Sending on WhatsApp

• YouTube Tests Location Links

• Auto-captions Now Available for Twitter Videos

1. Reels as Replies Now Available on Instagram

Instagram is continuing its race to keep up with TikTok, adding a new feature that allows users to reply to photo or video comments with an Instagram Reel. This functionality is already available on TikTok, so it's clear that Instagram wants to make sure its users have access to the same types of features as its biggest rival. The further integration of short-form video as replies will boost engagement and encourage content creators to make more Reels (we'll likely start to see a subculture of "response Reels" before long!).

2. Preview Your Voice Message Before Sending on WhatsApp

Audio features are set to be a continuing social media trend and WhatsApp is getting in on the action with a new feature enabling users to preview voice messages before sending. In an age where leaving a voicemail causes anxiety for an entire generation, this update is a welcome and useful option. You can play your message back and make sure it sounds the way you intended before sending. No more off-the-cuff rambling or robotic script reading!

3. YouTube Tests Location Links

In an intriguing update for YouTube creators, the video platform recently launched "Places Mentioned". This is a new feature where any places mentioned in your video will show up visually in the video description box, so viewers can easily get more information about locations highlighted in your content. The feature essentially lessens the manual work on creators to add links, making it a more seamless and easy process. It's unclear at this juncture if the feature is only available on mobile devices.

4. Auto-captions Now Available for Twitter Videos

It's considered best practice these days to always include captions on videos. Not only are they helpful for deaf & hard of hearing viewers, they also helps clarify what's said if the audio is muffled, and additionally most videos play without sound by default so they are an easy ways for viewers to decide whether or not they'd like to engage further with the video by turning the sound on. Auto-captions will now be available for Twitter videos, automatically turned on for all videos uploaded on iOS and Android, while desktop users can switch them on and off manually. Currently Twitter video captions are available in 37 languages.

Update from December 7th

• Pinterest Acquires Vochi - Video Editing App

• YouTube Shares Trends & Top Creators From 2021

• LinkedIn Adds New Features to Creator Mode

• Messenger Tests Payment and Adds Expression Tools

1. Pinterest Acquires Vochi - Video Editing App

In a bid to join other top social platforms like Instagram and TikTok in a "video first" mentality, Pinterest recently announced that it would be acquiring video editing app, Vochi. According to Vochi CEO & Founder: "The Vochi app gives creators the ability to apply high quality effects based on computer vision on objects in a video instantly...These technologies are unique in the industry, and we're excited to bring them to an even larger audience as a part of the Pinterest team."

2. YouTube Shares Trends & Top Creators From 2021

Although the old roundup style from YouTube is still on ice due to negative feedback in recent years, YouTube has still provided those who are curious with some top trends and YouTube creators from the past year. The selections are divided into 5 sections: Trending Videos, Music Videos, Top Creators, Breakout Creators, Shorts Creators, plus an additional section highlighting featured creators from a Livestream event Escape2021. From the results, it's clear that gaming, music, and vlogging remain popular, but the TikTok format is also becoming more popular in the YouTube Shorts community.

3. LinkedIn Adds New Features to Creator Mode

New features are now available to users on LinkedIn using Creator Mode, including Live Videos and Newsletters. Creator mode is an option for LinkedIn users who use the platform beyond core networking. Per LinkedIn: "LinkedIn creators are members who regularly share content with their professional community to demonstrate their expertise, ignite conversations about ideas and experiences, and build communities around common interests." These power users and thought leaders now have access to create LinkedIn Lives and authoring Newsletters that get seen by your followers through automated emails. These features are already available to business pages with 150+ followers.

4. Messenger Tests Payment and Adds Expression Tools

Messenger has been making some significant updates and changes throughout the year to elevate it's experience for users. Their most recent addition includes AR features, new sound-mojis, including one from Taylor Swift and one celebrating popular Netflix series Stranger Things. Most notably however, is a Venmo-esque payment option that Messenger is testing called "Split Payments."

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