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 take a look at some of the most significant developments from the last week in the world of social media.
1. LinkedIn Looks to Improve Messaging Interactions with ‘Focused Inbox’
LinkedIn’s looking to help members better manage their LinkedIn inbox, by filtering out more of the junk, with a new ‘Focused Inbox’ UI, which will essentially re-route less valuable messages into an ‘Other’ tab in your LinkedIn message stream.
LinkedIn’s Focused Inbox update will now provide you with two separate InMail tabs – ’Focused’ and ‘Other’. Though ‘Other’ could just as easily be labeled ‘Spam’ – and it’ll also be interesting to see where LinkedIn’s Sponsored InMails end up in this separation.
2. Meta Scales Back NPE Team as it Looks to Strengthen its Short-Form Video Approach
Meta has confirmed that it will be scaling back its NPE – or ‘New Product Experimentation’ team – which had been focused on tapping into the next big social media trends before they became hits.
The NPE team has launched a range of different apps – fourteen in total – over the past two years, as part of Meta’s effort to uncover the next big thing, before anyone else could build another potential rival platform. The NPE team experimented with everything from music collaboration, to social audio, to meme creation, celebrity video clips, sports viewing experiences, and more.
3. YouTube Adds New Option to Reply to Video Comments with Shorts
YouTube’s added a new way for creators to engage with their community via Shorts, with a new option to create a Shorts clip based on a comment posted on your videos. The new option will provide a quick link to create a Short from a posted comment, which will then transfer that comment to a sticker within the Shorts camera.
4. Snapchat Adds New Engagement Features, Announced Expanded Launch of Snapchat for Web
Snapchat has announced some new features to enhance in-app engagement, while it’s also now making its web-based platform available to all users, which had previously been a Snapchat+ exclusive. Snap’s adding new Chat Shortcuts to make it easier to manage unread messages, and reply to Stories.
The new chat shortcuts, in light blue at the top of your Chat screen, will provide another way to filter your messages, and find key prompts.
5. Instagram’s Developing a New Media Kit Option to Help Creators Showcase Their Value to Brands
Instagram’s currently developing a new ‘media kit’ option, which would guide creators through the process of building their pitch to brands. Creators will be able to write a bio, showcase their top posts and point to past collaborations as examples.
The process would also add key analytics and audience stats, essentially simplifying the process of packaging your IG presence as a potential promotional channel.
6. TikTok Announces New Events for Latin Heritage Month
TikTok has announced its latest cohort of Latinx TikTok Trailblazers – ‘the next generation of trendsetters and digital entertainment leaders nominated by the community for their creativity and authenticity. It’s the third iteration of TikTok’s Latinx Trailblazers program, with the platform looking to highlight these rising voices across the app.
TikTok has also announced the recipients of its Latinx Creatives Grant program, created in partnership with MACRO and UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, which will provide educational programming and networking opportunities to participants, along with up to $50,000 in direct funding to help them achieve their goals.
7. Meta Moves to the Next Stage of its Full Messaging Integration Plan
The final stage of Meta’s messaging integration program has moved a step closer, with more Instagram users now able to activate end-to-end encryption in their IG Direct chats. Some users are now seeing a new pop-up alert that they can switch on encryption in their Instagram chats.
The expansion is significant in that it will mean that encryption will then be available for all of its messaging platforms, which paves the way for full integration, where you’ll be able to view and engage with your WhatsApp, IG, and Messenger chats across each individual app.
8. Twitter Publishes New Strategy Guide for Businesses and Professionals
Twitter has launched a new guide for businesses and professionals, which includes a heap of key pointers, stats, and tips to help get your Twitter strategy on the right track.
The guide includes a range of notes on why brands should use Twitter and what types of engagement the app sees. There are also checklists for the key basics in setting up your Twitter presence for optimal impact.
9. Twitter Whistleblower Appears Before US Senate, Reiterates Security Concerns at the App
Twitter’s former security chief Peiter Zatko appeared before a Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss his recent accusations that Twitter is not fulfilling its security requirements, and has repeatedly misled the market, and its own board, about the state of its performance, on various fronts.
Zatko alleged that Twitter was far more concerned about public and market perception than it was about seriously addressing key problems, which had led to significant lapses in its processes and systems.
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.