As social media platforms continue to roll out regular updates, changes and new features all in the name of keeping us endlessly scrolling, we’re here to give you the latest. Instagram has taken the lead with a host of updates in the last month, seemingly with a focus on improved user experience and handy integrations, but that’s not to say that other platforms haven’t also blessed us with some convenient new features too. So without further ado, here’s what’s new in the world of social media over recent weeks.
Updates as of August 2024
RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES
- Instagram has confirmed that it will now use views as the primary metric for measuring the performance of posts across all formats. This allows users to monitor the performance of their content using the same metric which has been done to encourage users to explore multi-format content.
- LinkedIn has improved its semantic search capability making it possible for users to get answers to more complex search queries as well as improved on-topic rate and long-dwells by more than 10%.
- TikTok has partnered with Amazon to facilitate in-app purchases without the need to visit the Amazon app or website. This latest move is to encourage more users to purchase directly through the app.
- Instagram has started testing a vertical profile grid as opposed to the classic square grid we all know and love. The purpose of the update is so that posts are not awkwardly cropped in the feed and what you see on the grid is what you get on the post.
- Facebook is testing two chronological feeds; one is dedicated to ‘Video’ and the other is the normal ‘Feed’.
- Threads have confirmed that it is now ‘getting ready to bring ads to the app’. Alessandro Paluzzi, the platform’s software developer, shared a prototype of what the ads may look like.
- YouTube has begun testing picture-in-picture live mid-rolls as a new ad format. Instead of the usual full-screen ads, ads will play in a small window whilst the live stream continues in the background, thus causing less disruption during live streams.
- You can now upload up to 20 images or videos in a single carousel post on Instagram. This provides more scope to share content about dedicated themes and topics or, more importantly, a bigger photo dump.
- LinkedIn is (finally) testing the ability to edit scheduled posts. While the scheduled posts feature has been a godsend for many, a lot of users have found frustrations with the inability to edit their already scheduled posts. This change could prove a game-changer for users.
- YouTube has now started showing long-form content recommendations within the Shorts feed. Why, might you ask? The test has been rolled out to a select number of users to boost the discovery of long-form content on the platform where users would only find short videos.
- Fed up with your TikTok cover images catching you in a frame that’s not the most flattering? We’re pleased to share that you can now upload a cover image to your TikTok videos, keeping your grid looking aesthetic and allowing for clear navigation around your profile.
- X has started testing the removal of the like, comment and repost buttons from replies as well as the view count. The removal of these buttons would only affect how replies look while viewing the original post for a more clutter-free feed. If users click on the reply, these metrics will then be revealed.
- LinkedIn is testing the ability for users to save posts for later within the main post menu.
- YouTube is currently testing an integrated feature with Google Gemini that will provide prompts, concepts and thumbnail suggestions to help creators with their content. The prompts are powered by Google search activity rather than just YouTube-specific data.
- The Federal Trade Commission has issued a new rule that states that brands and creators cannot buy fake followers or views generated by a bot on accounts they use to make money.
More Instagram Updates
- Instagram is considering relocating the Highlights feature to a dedicated tab in the main grid
- You can now link your Spotify account and save songs from Instagram to a dedicated playlist
- The platform is reportedly developing a ‘Throwback Feed’ which lets users revisit old posts
- Users may soon be able to link their WhatsApp profile to their external links on the platform
- The platform is working on blocking users from taking screenshots in chats where the media can only be viewed or played once
And there you have it, another round of social media updates that nobody asked for. Whether these changes make your online life better or just more confusing is up for debate, but one thing’s for sure- the social media landscape never stays still for too long and we’ll undoubtedly be back soon for more updates. So, keep your apps updated, your notifications in check and your fingers crossed that the next update is one you’ll like!