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 Adds New Safety Resource Section for Journalists
Meta has added a new section that features dedicated advice for journalists looking to make the best use of Meta’s apps, in order to help them avoid risk and harm.
The section includes a 48-page Safety Guide for journalists, covering all aspects of Meta app use, while there are also links to Meta’s range of account security tools, including Facebook Protect, which provides additional safety measures for those more likely to be targeted by hackers.
2. Meta Launches New Meta Verified Program in the US
Meta has announced that it’s making its new Meta Verified program available to users in the US, which means that American users will now be able to purchase a blue checkmark on Facebook or Instagram for $US11.99 per month on the web, or $US14.99 in-app, accounting for respective App Store charges.
Meta Verified requires users to provide a photo ID to prove their identity. Once that element is approved, you can sign-up to the program, which will give you a verification tick on Facebook or IG, proactive account protection from impersonation, dedicated account support from Meta’s team, exclusive stickers for Facebook and Instagram Stories, and Facebook Reels, and a 100 stars a month to allocate to other creators on Facebook.
3. Meta Tests New Process to Authenticate Accounts via Missed Calls
Meta has begun experimenting with a new way for users to authenticate their accounts, which could help it save money on SMS charges, while still enabling phone-based verification.
The new process enables users to verify their details via a missed call, by tracking your phone activity. The process will also enable Meta’s apps to detect when the missed call comes in, and the details of that call, which will then alleviate the need for you to answer, providing another way to authenticate your account without you having to enter a password.
4. TikTok Signs New Sponsorship Agreement with MLS
TikTok has signed a new, multi-year partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS), which will see MLS share exclusive content and in-app programming, while also incorporating in-stadium activations and TikTok sponsorship of various MLS events and tournaments.
The partnership will provide another way for TikTok to further integrate itself with major sporting leagues, which could help to bring more fans to the app. The new agreement will also provide TikTok users with access to MLS content and clips, which will provide more ways for TikTok users to create their own MLS highlight videos and integrations, helping to further promote the league.
5. TikTok Will Now Enable You to Start Over in the App by Refreshing Your Algorithmic Recommendations
TikTok is rolling out a new option that enables you to start your TikTok feed afresh if you no longer like the videos being recommended to you, while it’s also developing new systems to avoid repetition, and limit exposure to harmful elements.
It’s a good option, which gives users more freedom to dictate their in-app experience – which is something that other social apps likely can’t provide, or at least haven’t been able to in the past.
6. UK Bans TikTok on Government Devices, as US Pushes for the App to Separate from Chinese Ownership
After initially resisting calls to ban TikTok from government devices, the UK Government has now changed course, and announced an immediate ban of the Chinese-owned app on all Government employee phones. The announcement brings TikTok into line with the EU, which enacted a ban of TikTok on Government devices last month, while the majority of US states have now also banned the app from Government-owned phones.
7. TikTok Launches “TikTok Sparks Good” Series to Highlight its Value to the US Economy
With the threat of a US ban looming, TikTok is looking to underline its value to the US economy, via a new initiative through which the platform will highlight how SMBs are using the app to connect with their customers, and the community, to build their business.
The new ‘TikTok Sparks Good’ docu-series will share a range of short stories ‘that celebrate the diverse and inspirational creator success that transcend beyond TikTok to create real life change’.
8. TikTok Adds Science-Based STEM Feed to Promote Educational Content
TikTok’s looking to enhance the educational value of the platform, with the addition of a new STEM feed, a new topic stream in the app that will focus on content related to science, technology, engineering, and math.
The project, created in partnership with Common Sense Networks and Poynter, will provide a range of educational insights based on scientific exploration, with these third-party organizations helping to confirm content accuracy, and keep the feed stocked with informative, helpful content.
9. Snap Provides New Insight Into its Content Moderation Rules, Additional Controls for Parents
Snapchat’s new sensitive content toggle within the Family Center control panel will give parents additional peace of mind that their kids are not being exposed to offensive material in the app. This will enable parents to restrict the content that their kids see in the app
Family Center, which was first launched in August last year, gives parents a way to monitor who their kids are interacting with in the app, without giving them access to the actual messages, and infringing on the child’s privacy. That provides an additional layer of assurance and insight, while the new sensitive content controls will give parents even more peace of mind in regards to their child’s usage of the app.
10. Pinterest Announces New Video Content Partnership with Dotdash Meredith
Pinterest has announced another exclusive video partnership, this time with publisher Dotdash Meredith, which will bring content from a range of well-known lifestyle brands to the app.
Pinterest says that the new partnership will bring nearly 200 original videos to the platform, which will be aligned with annual moments that its audience is engaged with – ’ranging from wedding season to the holidays’.
11. Elon Musk Says Priority Ranking for Tweet Replies from Twitter Blue Subscribers will Come Into Effect Soon
Elon Musk has said that Twitter Blue subscribers will get priority ranking for their replies soon.
Improved tweet visibility was one of several elements included in Musk’s updated Twitter Blue subscription plan, but thus far, Twitter hasn’t changed up its ranking – or at least, it hasn’t successfully been able to implement such, without causing other issues.
12. Twitter’s Developing a New Option That Would Enable Users to Opt Out of Ads in Certain Categories
Twitter is working on a new option that would enable users to opt out of ads in certain sensitive categories, in order to better customize the promotions that you see in the app.
To that end, Twitter’s looking to add a new section to its ‘Ads Preferences’ which would enable users to opt out of ads in certain categories. ‘Gambling’ is the only option available at this stage, but it’ll likely eventually be expanded to include alcohol, guns, etc.
13. Twitter Considers New Option to Set a Reminder on Individual Tweets
Twitter designer Andrea Conway has shared a new mock-up of a possible functionality that would enable users to set a notification to be reminded of a specific tweet, anywhere from an hour to a year in advance.
However, this doesn’t mean that you won’t see any of these ads at all in the app. As per Andrea’s tweet, you can ‘choose to see fewer ads about these categories by opting out’.
14. LinkedIn Launches New ‘Podcast Academy’ to Expand its Podcast Network
LinkedIn’s looking to help foster the next generation of podcasting talent, with the launch of a new LinkedIn Podcast Academy, which will provide participants with the knowledge they need to launch a successful podcast.
Building on the LinkedIn Podcast Network, a collection of LinkedIn-branded podcasts which the company launched last February, the new podcast academy will provide support to emerging podcast hosts, aligned with its expanding podcast network push.
Wrapping Up
And that was a wrap of this week’s Social Media Buzz. We’ll be back next Monday 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.