Social Media Buzz Weekly: Roundup of Social Media Updates
- ClickInsights
- 5 hours ago
- 7 min read
Welcome to Social Media Buzz Weekly, your weekly bulletin of the latest social media updates. With the social media landscape evolving with each passing day, it can be challenging to keep a tab on the rapid developments. Well, not anymore, as we have taken it upon ourselves to keep you abreast of every happening in the social media space.
So, without any further ado, let’s look at some of the most significant developments from the last week in the world of social media.
1. Meta Will Use Off-Site Activity to Customize Feed And AI Responses
Meta is taking another step to make its feed recommendations and artificial intelligence responses more personally relevant, by incorporating data gathered from ad partners into its algorithmic mix.
Meta gathers data from ad partners to help personalize ad content, including information delivered via its Meta Pixel website code, which shares website visitor activity info back to Meta. That enables Meta to deliver more relevant ads based on external actions. Now, that same info will also ensure improved algorithmic recommendations and AI responses. Meta is framing this as a benign update. The company used the example of a user who recently purchased a tent online, and who might now see more Reels about camping.
2. Instagram Expands Reels Post-View Ads to All Advertisers
Instagram has expanded access to its post-Reel advertising format to advertisers globally through Campaign Manager. Instagram’s post view ads in Reels insert an auto-play ad between Reels clips, in order to facilitate improved placement, and catch engaged Reels users.
The ads include a 5-second countdown on the organic Reel, alerting the viewing to the promoted content, which can also be skipped in-stream. Instagram has also added a manual skip button to the display. If a user chooses to skip an ad, they’ll be returned to the original Reel they had been viewing. Swiping will move them to the next clip in the feed. Instagram said the placement option will only be displayed after eligible organic Reels that are longer than 60 seconds in length.
3. Instagram Extends Your Algorithm to The Main Feed
Instagram has announced an expansion of its Your Algorithm topic preference feature to the main feed, which will give users more ways to control what they’re shown in the app.
The update will give IG users a means to tell the system what topics they actually like, and what they don’t. Users can choose from a list initially populated by Instagram’s system, based on their in-app activity. Any changes to this list will then help the system revise the algorithmic parameters assigned to each user. Instagram launched an initial test of Your Algorithm for Reels in October 2025, then expanded that to the Explore feed in April. Now, the app will enable users to have some say over what’s shown in their main feed as well, providing another customization and control option for users.
4. Snapchat Releases Data on Video Ad Performance
Snapchat has published the results of a new study, conducted in conjunction with Dentsu, which aims to provide more insight into how marketers can make best use of Snapchat video content for branding.
Based on eye-tracking data from Lumen Research, and Kantar’s brand equity framework, the study examined how Snapchat’s video ads actually drive response, and how that attention can lead to brand recall and sales activity. According to the study, a single exposure to a brand’s Commercial on Snapchat led consumers to spend 4.4% more over the following three months and 2.3% more over the following three years, compared with those who weren’t exposed. The data further indicates that Snapchat video ads outperformed other ad formats in terms of mental recall and long-term sales lift.
5. Snapchat Implements New Restrictions for Users Under 16
https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/10/snapchat-limits-users-under-16-to-sharing-spotlights-with-friends/
Snapchat is rolling out a new experience for users under the age of 16, which will ensure that younger teens will only be able to share Spotlight videos and Stories with mutually accepted friends.
With the new system, users under 16 will only be able to share Stories and Spotlight videos with trusted, approved friends. Parents will also be able to monitor their kids’ contacts through Snap’s Family Center. Within this, there will be no followers and no favorite counts on content. Young users will only be able to post to a limited audience, with fewer incentives to drive posting behavior. Young users will still be able to share messages with anyone they’re connected with in the app. Though parents can also maintain oversight on this element through Snap’s parental controls.
6. Snapchat Announces Activations for FIFA World Cup 2026
Snapchat has announced a range of activations for the FIFA World Cup 2026, including new fan gear for Bitmoji characters, themed Lenses and exclusive coverage from creators at the event.
Snapchat has added a range of World Cup fan gear to the Bitmoji store, which will enable users to deck their Bitmoji depictions out in their preferred national colors. Snapchat has also partnered with U.S. Soccer, Adidas and Nike on an expanded range of Bitmoji outfits for the event. In terms of AR tools, Snapchat has added official team and organic country Lenses across more than 20 national teams. The app also added World Cup-related promotions and effects to showcase the event. Snapchat is also hosting in-person World Cup events in Los Angeles and New York City. These events will provide “spaces for communities to celebrate the tournament together,” per Snapchat.
7. Pinterest Adds Amazon Storefront Linking
Pinterest is making it easier to facilitate affiliate in-app marketing opportunities with a new Amazon Storefront linking option that will enable Amazon Storefront creators to easily add affiliate links to their Pins.
Amazon Storefront enables creators to set up their own shop of recommended products within Amazon’s system, so they can showcase these products to shoppers and earn commissions from related sales. And now, Storefront users will easily be able to expand their promotions to Pins, boosting discovery potential across both platforms. Pinterest said that the update will make it easier for creators to tag Amazon products on their Pins, with Pinterest automatically applying their Amazon affiliate information, “eliminating the need to manually add affiliate links or IDs.”
8. LinkedIn Launches Its Own Creator Marketplace
LinkedIn is taking the next steps in empowering creators to make money from their in-app presence, with a new Creator Marketplace that will enable brands to connect with creators who can help them reach their target audience.
LinkedIn’s Creator Marketplace includes all the usual creator discovery features, including audience size info, insights into each creator’s audience make-up and reach notes. LinkedIn’s Creator Marketplace, which will initially be launched to users in the U.S. and Canada, will be available via LinkedIn’s Campaign Manager via a new section under “Content and Assets.” That will become the key home for LinkedIn’s content partnership programs, including the option to sponsor creator posts. Eligible creators will be able to sign up via a new Monetization tab, which will link through to the sign-up flow for marketplace listing.
9. LinkedIn Launches Its Eighth Puzzle Game
LinkedIn has added yet another puzzle game, with a new word find-based game called Wend now available within its growing slate of in-app gaming options.
Wend combines the traditional word find approach with Wordle-style gameplay. Users are shown a letter grid and a list of the words they need to find, but the actual words themselves are hidden. Players only know how many letters each word contains, which adds to the challenge of the game. It also incorporates Sudoku-style gameplay to a degree, in that every letter in the grid is used once in the solution. Wend is LinkedIn’s eighth puzzle game, after the platform added Patches in March.
10. Canada Moves to Ban Under-16s From Social Media, Regulate AI
Canada’s culture minister has introduced legislation that would ban children under 16 from having social media accounts and require AI chatbot services to limit production of harmful content.
The proposed Digital Safety Act makes Canada the latest in a wave of countries cracking down on social media platforms over concerns of harm to children. The legislation would ban social media accounts for children under 16 years old, the statement said, adding that there be an exemption “pathway” for companies if they can demonstrate “sufficient safeguards” for children. Social media services, including adult content platforms, would also face new requirements under the law to “mitigate risks associated with exposure” to various categories of harmful content and apply labels to synthetically generated content.
11. UK Bans Under 16s From Social Media Apps Including TikTok, YouTube
Britain will ban children under 16 from using a range of social media apps including Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube to protect young people from harmful content and excessive screen time, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said.
Starmer told a news conference that he will fight back if technology companies resist the move, and acknowledged some teens would try to find their way around a ban. But he said he is “not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children”. The move, expected to take effect early next year, makes the UK part of a growing global movement to tighten online safety for children. Australia, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia have introduced legislation or announced age-based restrictions or requirements for children’s access to social media. France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are among others studying or developing similar approaches.
Wrapping Up
And that was a wrap of this week’s Social Media Buzz. We’ll be back next week with more news and updates for you from the social media world. Till then, stay tuned!
If you want to read more on the latest developments taking place in the social media space, take a look at ClickInsights’ Social Media Buzz, wherein we bring to you monthly reports on everything going on in social media, ranging from platform updates to policy changes that influence the way we market.
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