Staying in the loop with social media can sometimes feel like a full-time job, especially with the constantly changing features, algorithms and trends. But don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. We keep an eye on these updates and share them with you, helping you improve how you post, engage with and grow your audience.
10 RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES
- LONGER TIKTOKS GETTING MORE VIEWS
Research indicates that TikTok is experiencing a shift towards ‘longer-short’ content. Videos lasting one to two minutes are seemingly getting more engagement compared to shorter clips, suggesting that audiences are seeking more in-depth and entertaining content on the platform.
For brands and creators, this may mean adapting strategy to incorporate some longer-length videos that will resonate with their audience, hopefully leading to increased reach and interaction.
- EARLY ENGAGEMENT CAN BOOST REACH ON INSTAGRAM
Social media platforms like Instagram prioritise content that sparks immediate engagement as it signals to the algorithm that the post is both valuable and worth showing to other users.
Hootsuite conducted an experiment to see if early engagement impacted the reach of posts and concluded that posts with high engagement in the first hour saw a 34% increase in reach in comparison to those with low engagement.
- META IS LOOKING TO INTRODUCE A REVAMPED FRIENDS TAB ON FACEBOOK
Facebook is introducing a new ‘Friends’ tab, allowing users to view content exclusively from their friends without any algorithmic recommendations. This feature aims to revive ‘OG Facebook’ where the focus was on personal connections.
This update follows concerns from users that public content has overshadowed interactions among friends. By focusing on friend-centric features that help improve user experience, Facebook can recapture the essence of its early days and strengthen user engagement, mainly among demographics that have shifted towards other platforms.
- TIKTOK ISN’T THE MOST POPULAR PLATFORM FOR PRODUCT DISCOVERY, DESPITE POPULAR BELIEFS
TikTok is a popular platform across all demographics for product discovery, especially among younger generations. However, what is surprising is that despite 1 in 10 Gen Zers choosing to use TikTok as a search engine over the likes of Google, it is still ranked only the 4th most popular platform for product discovery.
Facebook is the most used social media platform for product discovery, closely followed by YouTube and then Instagram before TikTok. This means that brands wanting to share their products across all demographics should consider a mixture of these channels.
- LINKEDIN HAS BEEN TESTING A FEED THAT SHOWS UPDATES FROM YOUR CONNECTIONS ONLY
LinkedIn is testing a new ‘Connections Only’ feed that allows users to view updates exclusively from their direct connections. This feature aims to provide a more personalised experience by filtering out posts from pages and people outside your network.
While some users appreciate the more focused content, others are worried about missing valuable insights from a broader audience. LinkedIn is gathering feedback during this trial to determine whether the feature will be rolled out or not.
- YOUTUBE IS CHANGING HOW IT MEASURES SHORTS VIEWS
YouTube has announced that it is changing how it measures views for Shorts. Before, a view counted when a viewer watched a video for at least 30 seconds. Now, any appearance of a Short in a user’s feed, regardless of whether it’s watched, will count as a view. This update aims to provide a more accurate idea of a Short’s reach.
It is part of YouTube’s ongoing efforts to enhance the platform’s analytics, especially for those who are focusing on Shorts content.
- INSTAGRAM IS ADDING ‘RE-POSTS’ TO AMPLIFY CONTENT
Instagram is introducing a ‘re-post’ feature that allows users to share others’ content directly with their own followers. This move aims to enhance content amplification within the app, providing users with a new way to engage with existing posts.
Instagram had previously tested a similar feature back in 2022 which shows that there has been a continued interest in expanding content-sharing features on the platform. This addition aligns with Instagram’s broader strategy to keep users engaged by offering diverse content-sharing options.
- FACEBOOK NOW LETS CREATORS MAKE MONEY FROM STORIES
Facebook has expanded its creator monetisation program to include Facebook Stories. This means that creators can earn money from Stories without relying on any ad placements. It is instead focused on performance-based payouts that reward views and engagement.
Those who are already earning from Facebook’s monetisation program can start earning money from Stories immediately. Those not yet earning can apply through Facebook’s Content Monetisation program.
- YOUTUBE IS SET TO START MANUALLY REVIEWING MORE VIDEOS FOR AD SUSTAINABILITY
YouTube is enhancing its ad review process by increasing manual assessments of videos to ensure accurate ad suitability ratings. This change aims to address discrepancies in automated evaluations, potentially increasing ad inventory and revenue opportunities for creators.
Additionally, YouTube is planning to introduce more mid-roll ads by identifying natural break points in videos to further expand ad placements.
- INSTAGRAM HAS REMOVED NOTES FROM POSTS AND REELS
Instagram has decided to remove the option to add text notes to posts and Reels after the feature failed to gain any significant user traction. It was initially introduced to enhance engagement by allowing users to add brief messages to their shared content, however, it did not catch on as intended.
This was part of Instagram’s broader strategy to streamline the app’s functionalities and prevent feature overload. By discontinuing underperforming elements like Notes, Instagram aims to maintain a user-friendly interface that emphasises features which align with user preferences and engagement patterns.
So, there you have it- 10 recent social media updates. Staying in the loop with these changes can help you make the most of your online presence, so make sure you keep an eye on our pages for regular updates.