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 Announces Screen Smart Series for Parents in the US
Meta is running a new series of workshops across the U.S. which are designed to better equip parents in managing their child’s screen time, while also highlighting the potential risks of online exposure, and how to minimize such, where possible.
Meta’s Screen Smart series will see in-person events hosted in five U.S. cities, with Meta experts on hand to provide workshops, presentations, and more. The events are the latest in Meta’s evolving efforts to protect teens, which also include an evolving range of in-app measures and tools, active by default for teen users, that seek to limit potential harm and exposure in its apps.
2. Meta Brings Advanced AI Chatbot to All of its Apps
With major investment in AI and significant resources, Meta is now making a bigger move to challenge OpenAI, and others, within the generative AI space. Now, users of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger can access Meta’s next-level generative AI assistant directly in each app's search bar.
Now, when you go to search in any of Meta’s main apps (i.e. not Threads as yet), you’ll have access to Meta’s generative AI chat engine, where you’ll be able to pose conversational queries, directly in the app. Although previously limited to the US, Meta AI is now expanding its reach to include English-speaking users in Australia, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Additional countries and languages are set to follow.
3. Meta Looks To Help Instagram Influencers Create AI Bot Versions of Themselves
Meta is reportedly testing an artificial intelligence tool, known as Creator AI, that would let influencers communicate with their followers using automated messages that sound like they're coming from the influencers themselves.
The goal of this new initiative is to better enable creators with large followings to interact with fans, “while decreasing the amount of work required to personally respond to large numbers of messages and comments.” With this process, anyone would be able to create their own custom A.I. chatbot, which would be able to talk about things that they’re interested in. Meta’s been talking about this for some time, with the company experimenting with A.I. creation elements in-stream since late last year.
4. Snapchat Adds AI Watermarks and Transparency Measures
Snapchat is looking to ensure greater transparency on content created by its generative A.I. tools, with new tags and indicators that will now be appended to generated images.
Snapchat is adding a new, custom ghost icon to images generated in the app, which will be included on any content that you download via Snap’s gen A.I. features. The new indicators will provide external markers as well, which will help to better inform viewers that these are not real images. In addition to the new tags, Snap has also published an overview of its A.I. features and rules, which includes guidance as to how and where A.I. creations can be shared.
5. X Adds Streamlined Ad Set-Up, Using AI-Based Targeting
X has launched a new, simplified process for launching X ads, which makes it easier to get a campaign up and running, by using X’s AI targeting tools as opposed to honing in on a more specific audience manually.
X’s streamlined set-up process for sales campaigns includes a basic targeting set-up process, which will then utilize X’s AI systems to maximize results. The system will then extrapolate and expand upon your reach by using its advanced detection and targeting measures, based on a range of factors.
6. X Banned in Pakistan Amid Ongoing Political Unrest
Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has confirmed that X has been banned in the region, due to the platform’s “failure to adhere to the lawful directives of the government of Pakistan, and address concerns regarding the misuse of its platform.”
Pakistan has been dealing with ongoing unrest following the February poll, which jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan claims was rigged against his supporters. Activists say that the X ban is designed to “quash dissent” and suppress claims of interference in the result.
7. Elon Musk Hints at Bringing Back Vine
Elon Musk has dropped a hint that Vine might be making a comeback. He threw up a poll for his 180 million followers on X, asking if they’d like to see Vine back in action and a whopping 70% gave a nod, signaling a desire for its comeback.
Musk has floated the idea of bringing back Vine several times since taking over Twitter back in November 2022. Vine was originally shut down in 2017, with all Vine clips eventually being deactivated to reduce server costs. But at the least, the X crew are exploring the app’s code base, and how it could be reignited for a new audience.
8. X Will Comply With Brazilian Censorship Demands After Opposing Court Order
After taking a stand against Brazilian authorities over requests to censor X users, Elon Musk and X Corp. have now agreed to comply with the demands, in the face of growing fines, and a potential ban of the app in the region.
Earlier this month, X announced that the Brazilian authorities had issued a court order to the platform “to block certain popular accounts in Brazil”. X claimed that it was not given adequate reason for the action, but that it would be required to comply, to align with local laws. Shortly after the official announcement, however, X owner Elon Musk was challenged by his followers in the app to defy the ruling in the name of free speech. This then led to Musk ordering that all blocks be removed, putting him on a collision course with Brazilian officials that could risk the platform’s access to the region.
9. X Plans To Expand Annual Fee for All New Accounts to Combat Bot Sign-Ups
Elon Musk has confirmed that X (formerly Twitter) is going to expand its one-off fee initiative for new X accounts, as a means to combat the “relentless onslaught of bots” in the app.
Musk confirmed the expansion after a user noted an update to the back-end code of the app, which indicates that X is looking to charge all users “a small annual fee before you’re able to post, like, bookmark and reply.” Users will be able to create an account and browse the app for free, but if you want to interact, you’ll seemingly need to pay. Musk further noted that, after three months, new accounts will be able to interact for free.
10. LinkedIn Is Testing a Premium Company Pages Business Subscription Option
LinkedIn is trying out a new subscription option, in line with its LinkedIn Premium offering, though this time it’s targeting businesses, with LinkedIn Premium Company Pages.
With LinkedIn Premium Company Pages, LinkedIn is experimenting with a new way for brands to stand out in the app, with a range of dedicated features that will only be available for paying brands. LinkedIn has confirmed that it’s testing this new option with selected SMB users, at a starting price point of $99 per month.
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.