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. Instagram Shares Updated Parents’ Guide in Line with the Return to School
Instagram has shared an updated version of its Parents’ Guide, which provides a full overview of the app’s various privacy and control features, along with notes to help parents provide support and guidance for their kids in the app.
The guide provides a full overview of Instagram’s various privacy and account safety options and how they work. Various reports have highlighted the dangers of Instagram, in particular, for teen users, and with new school pressures adding to this, it may be worth downloading and looking through the guide, which is available in 40 regional variations, including different languages.
2. Instagram Confirms that Videos Under 60 Seconds in Stories will No Longer Be Split into Segments
Instagram has announced that videos in Stories that are under 60 seconds in length will no longer be split into 15-second segments in the app. It means that when you update your IG app, you’ll get a notification letting you know that your videos in Stories will no longer be cut up, making it a more seamless viewing experience.
Instagram’s been testing the update with selected users over the past year, as part of its broader process to integrate its video options, in line with the short-form video shift and general engagement trends.
3. TikTok Expands Multi-Participant Live-Streams to More Users
This week, TikTok users were given the capacity to add up to five guests to their live-stream, providing more interactive options for your broadcasts. TikTok initially launched live-stream guests last July, with only one guest slot available in split-screen mode. But now, you’ll have much more capacity to host live discussions in the app, which could open up new opportunities for panel chats, live TV viewing sessions, etc.
4. TikTok Rolls Out Comment Downvotes to All Users
TikTok has announced that it’s rolling out comment downvotes for all users, as a means to flag inappropriate responses to video clips. TikTok’s ‘Thumbs Down’ comment downvote option will be displayed at the far right of each comment, providing a quick and easy way for users to tag such, in order to help TikTok identify negative behaviors in the app.
5. Musk’s Legal Team Will Be Allowed to Use Zatko Payout as Part of Case Against Twitter Deal
In the latest move in the lead-up to the forthcoming Twitter vs Elon Musk court battle, Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick has today ruled that Musk’s team will be allowed to amend their counterclaim, in their bid to exit Musk’s $44 billion takeover bid, to include Twitter’s payout to former security chief Peiter Zatko as an element, which Musk’s team claims is in violation of the original deal.
6. TikTok Implements New Rules to Further Restrict Political Ads and Donations
TikTok will now require that all accounts representing governments, politicians, and political parties be verified to avoid potential confusion and misinformation. TikTok’s also implementing new ad restrictions on political-related accounts.
The expanded restrictions will see advertising features switched off for accounts belonging to politicians and political parties, further limiting their capacity to flout TikTok’s political ad rules. TikTok will continue to allow government organizations to advertise in limited circumstances (like communicating official health information), but they’ll be required to work with a TikTok representative on such.
7. Meta Adds New Tools to Help Promote Emerging Creators on Facebook
Meta has announced a range of new creator-focused elements, including new endorsement notifications to support fellow creators, new templates to help recognize top fans, restricted posts for subscribers and more.
With Meta’s new Creator Endorsement feature, people who manage a Creator Page can now recommend that their fans also follow another creator, via direct notification. Along the same lines, Meta’s also testing new Rising Creator alerts to help people discover new voices that they may be interested in.
8. YouTube Announces New ‘Creator Music’ Platform to Facilitate Music Licensing Deals
YouTube’s looking to make it easier for creators to use music in their video clips, with a new ‘Creator Music’ element within YouTube Studio, which will provide a catalog of tracks that creators can legally use in their long-form videos, with licensing on some available for a small fee.
Creator Music gives creators access to a range of tracks, which will either be listed as ‘free’ or with a licensing cost attached.
9. YouTube Outlines New Monetization Program for Shorts Creators
YouTube’s launching its biggest assault on TikTok yet, as part of its broader push to dominate the short-form video trend, with the announcement that it will provide more direct monetization options for Shorts creators, which could make YouTube the platform of choice for more creative talent.
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.