Social Media Platform News and Updates for OCTOBER 2024
Hello, dear marketers and content creators; it's our monthly social media industry update again. And this post highlights updates from Meta, LinkedIn, Instagram, and more. Meta has reorganized its developer resources to support VR, AR, and AI growth, introduced holiday ad features, and joined the "Thrive" initiative for mental health protection. LinkedIn is retiring its "Top Voice" badges and expanding language support. At the same time, Instagram has launched teen safety updates and new tools for Reels. TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and Reddit also rolled out key features, from AI-powered tools to holiday campaigns, shaping the future of social media interactions and platform developments.
Dive in to get all the juicy details!
Social media updates for Meta
Meta Developer Resources Update
Meta has reorganized its developer resources into three key categories: Meta Horizon (for VR/AR platforms), Social Technologies (covering Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads), and AI tools. The change aims to help developers more easily access and utilize Meta's tools for building future-focused systems. This reorganization is essential for Meta's vision of expanding its VR, AR, and AI infrastructure.
Meta has introduced new advertising features for the holiday season, including simplified discount codes and updated reminder ads. Advertisers can now highlight codes more prominently and drive in-store shopping with location-based targeting. The updates also include multi-site link options to improve customer navigation within ads.
Thrive Initiative for Mental Health
Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok have joined forces to launch "Thrive," a cross-platform initiative aimed at detecting and removing suicide and self-harm content. Overseen by the Mental Health Coalition, the initiative allows these platforms to share signals of harmful content to improve enforcement across apps. The collaboration is a significant step toward improving mental health protections for at-risk users.
Social media updates for LinkedIn
LinkedIn Retires 'Top Voice' Badges
LinkedIn is discontinuing its "Top Voice" badges for contributors to Collaborative Articles as of October 2024, following concerns about quality and accuracy. The badges, awarded automatically for sharing insights on AI-generated prompts, had drawn criticism for elevating unqualified users as experts. Despite LinkedIn promoting other benefits of contributing to these articles, this move may lead to a decline in participation.
LinkedIn Expands Language Support
LinkedIn has added support for 10 new languages, bringing its total language offerings to 36. This allows users in diverse regions to engage more naturally on the platform. The update includes languages like Bengali, Finnish, Hebrew, and several Indian dialects, further enhancing accessibility for LinkedIn’s global user base. This move also aligns with LinkedIn's post-translation tools, powered by Microsoft, to improve user interaction across different languages.
LinkedIn's New AI Data Usage Policy
LinkedIn has updated its Privacy Policy and User Agreement to clarify its use of user-generated content to train its AI models, including for generative AI applications. While users can now opt-out of this data usage, most will likely default to allowing LinkedIn to use their public data for AI training, raising concerns about privacy. This aligns LinkedIn with other major platforms like Meta, which also use user data for AI development.
Social media updates for Instagram
Instagram's New "Signature Sound" for Reels
Instagram has introduced a new "signature sound" that will be attached to every Reel downloaded from the app, as part of its "sonic identity" branding. The sound is described as an intentional, imperfect vibe meant to capture Instagram's creative essence. While it may not have the excitement of TikTok's signature sounds, it's aimed at making IG content more recognizable.
Instagram's New Teen Protection Initiative
Instagram has introduced a new set of restrictions for teen users to enhance safety, including private accounts by default, restricted messaging, and sleep mode from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. These updates come as Instagram addresses concerns over youth exposure and aims to provide more control for parents. The platform hopes this will offer greater protection for teens while continuing to adapt to growing social media regulation pressures.
Instagram Expands Broadcast Channels with Replies Feature
Instagram is now allowing replies in its Broadcast Channels, enabling subscribers to comment within specific threads of a channel's updates. These replies are not visible in the main feed but can be accessed by clicking on individual posts, facilitating more interaction between fans and creators. This update reflects Instagram's shift towards more direct engagement through DMs, as opposed to its traditional feed.
Social media updates for Pinterest
Pinterest's New Collage Features
Pinterest is expanding its collage tools by introducing "Collage Remixing" and "Collage Sharing" features. These updates allow users to remix existing collages and share them as videos on other platforms, enhancing engagement and creativity, especially among Gen Z users. This move follows Pinterest's growing focus on promoting products through creative interactive formats, with the new tools aimed at driving more user interaction.
Pinterest's Expanded Promotional Campaign
Pinterest has launched the next stage of its promotional campaign, focusing on themes like party planning, recipes, and shopping discovery. This campaign aims to attract more ad partners and boost revenue, especially in Western markets, as Pinterest grows in popularity among younger demographics. The slick animations and new ads could further strengthen Pinterest’s position as a go-to platform for shopping discovery, especially during the holiday season.
Social media updates for X (Twitter)
X Reduces Account Blocking Features
X is scaling back the account blocking function, allowing blocked users to still see public posts, though blocking will remain accessible from user profiles. This change, pushed by Elon Musk, challenges app store requirements on blocking and could complicate efforts to avoid harassment. Musk’s motivation appears linked to ensuring post visibility despite block lists. Still, this update could lead to broader concerns about user safety.
X is working on separating its Direct Message (DM) feature from public posting, allowing users to use the platform solely for messaging if they prefer. This step supports Elon Musk's vision of an "everything app" where different functions, like messaging, operate independently. However, there’s skepticism about whether users will embrace X’s new features when alternatives like Zoom or Google Meet offer more refined options.
Elon Musk's xAI project, which uses public X posts to fuel AI models, has been forced to exclude EU user data following concerns over data privacy laws. Under GDPR, X must obtain explicit consent from EU users for this data use, affecting the reach of the AI chatbot Grok, particularly in European news responses. This could be a setback for xAI, as EU data comprises a significant portion of X’s global user base.
Social media updates for TikTok
TikTok and WHO Expand Partnership
TikTok is enhancing its efforts to curb health misinformation by partnering with the World Health Organization's "Fides" group, a network of healthcare professionals promoting evidence-based content. This partnership will increase the reach of health fact-checking content on TikTok. The platform has also donated $3 million to support WHO's mental health initiatives.
TikTok Shutting Down TikTok Music
TikTok will close its music streaming service, TikTok Music, in November due to operational challenges and limited interest. Originally launched as "Resso" in India, TikTok Music struggled to gain traction in other regions like Brazil and Indonesia. The company will now focus on its primary app and support music discovery through its main platform.
TikTok Removes Russian State Media Accounts
Following Meta's lead, TikTok has removed Russian state media outlets from its platform due to their involvement in covert influence operations aimed at the U.S. elections. The affected accounts were previously restricted in the EU, and U.K. TikTok's move is part of its broader efforts to enhance election integrity measures.
Social media updates for Reddit
Reddit Expands AI-Powered Post Translation
Reddit is expanding its AI-driven post-translation feature to 35 more countries, enabling users to translate posts into their preferred language. The feature, initially launched in France, will now support languages like Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Filipino, and can be used across mobile, desktop, and the Reddit app. Reddit is also enhancing AI features, including automatic summarization of subreddit discussions and improvements in ad tools.
Reddit Launches Ads Inspiration Library and AI Copywriter
Reddit introduced a new Ads Inspiration Library to help advertisers learn what works best on the platform, showcasing top-performing campaigns in various sectors. Advertisers can filter results by vertical, budget, and other factors, while Reddit's AI provides best practices based on successful campaigns. Additionally, Reddit launched an AI Copywriter tool to help businesses generate ad copy aligned with platform best practices.
Social media updates for Snapchat
Snapchat has joined the EU's AI Pact, aligning with the forthcoming AI Act to ensure ethical and transparent AI development. The pact encourages companies to adopt responsible AI governance, identify high-risk AI systems, and promote AI literacy among staff. Snap's commitment contrasts with major tech players like Meta and Apple, which have yet to sign on, ahead of the Act's full implementation in 2026.
Snapchat's Shift from OpenAI to Google's Gemini for AI
Snapchat is integrating Google's Gemini AI into its platform, moving away from its reliance on OpenAI's GPT models. This shift is driven by Gemini's superior ability to handle multimodal inputs like text, audio, and images, providing a richer AI experience. This change suggests a potential industry trend towards adopting more versatile AI systems like Google's for social platforms.
Snapchat Unveils Updates at 2024 Partner Summit
At its 2024 Partner Summit, Snapchat announced new features, including updated AR glasses, a simplified UI, and expanded AI-powered tools. The platform is rolling out more AI recommendations, enhancing Snap Map and Spotlight, and introducing creator collaboration tools. Additionally, Snapchat aims to democratize AR creation with new text-based Lens creation tools, making advanced tech more accessible to users.
Social media updates for WhatsApp
Meta AI Comes to WhatsApp: Voice and Photo Updates
Meta has introduced updates to WhatsApp, allowing users to speak to Meta AI in real-time or send photos for analysis and editing. Users can ask Meta AI questions, choose from different celebrity voices, or edit photos by adding, removing, or altering elements. These features are set to expand, with businesses also benefiting from faster responses via WhatsApp Business AI in the coming year.
WhatsApp Introduces Video Call Filters and Backgrounds
WhatsApp now offers filters and background options to enhance video calls, providing more personalized and expressive options. Users can choose from 10 filters, such as "Warm" and "Vintage TV," and 10 backgrounds, like "Cafe" or "Forest," to change the atmosphere of their video calls. Additionally, features like "Touch up" and "Low Light" ensure video calls look more polished and enjoyable.
Social media updates for YouTube
YouTube Introduces AI Video Generation and Other Creator Tools
At its "Made on YouTube" event, YouTube announced AI-powered tools like Google's Veo, enabling Shorts creators to generate video clips and backgrounds. YouTube is also expanding its "Inspiration" tab in YouTube Studio for AI-assisted video concepts, and introducing features like auto-dubbing, AI comment reply suggestions, and "Hype," which promotes emerging creators. The updates aim to enhance creator content and community engagement.
YouTube Tests Content Editing to Address Violations
YouTube is testing a new feature allowing creators to edit out elements of their videos that violate Community Guidelines, enabling them to maintain monetization or lift restrictions. The feature provides creators with options to revise their content using YouTube's built-in editor, which is then reviewed by YouTube's policy team. This update follows recent improvements to help creators manage copystrikes and age-restriction issues more easily.
YouTube Expands Conversational AI Tool for Premium Users
YouTube is expanding access to its conversational AI tool, initially launched for select U.S. Premium subscribers, to all Premium members using Android devices. The tool offers an "Ask" button for video engagement, allowing users to ask questions related to the content they're watching and receive relevant AI-generated responses. This gradual rollout aligns with broader AI chatbot adoption trends, with potential for more future engagement.
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