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Throughout the rapidly changing state of the industry and the relentless chase with contenders, one thing is certain: There’s no rest for the weary on social media.
Digesting all the newsworthy online updates from September reveals that vertical video is the ‘new black’, social commerce's arrival turned out to be a bit of a dud across the Meta borders, and social media conglomerates are racing to add more paid features — but they’re going local too.
We’ve sifted through the social media headlines of September and picked out all the juicy bits for you in this article. Happy reading!
Meta
- Plans to expand more paid features to Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
- Rolls out ‘Collaborative Ads’ to help local brands reach a broader customer base.
- Launches ‘Make-A-Video’, a new AI generator that turns text and images into videos.
- Introduces digital collectibles and NFT display options to Instagram and Facebook.
- Moves to the next stage of its end-to-end encryption for Instagram DMs, group chats, and calls.
- Adds ‘Not Interested’ control for suggested posts as it continues to subtly push forward in its TikTok mimicry war.
- Allows creators to post 60-second Stories in one seamless slide, instead of chopping up videos into condensed 15-second chunks.
- Tests a 'Topics' option that creatives and brands can use to match their Reels content with user interests while maximizing visibility and familiarity.
- Works on adding a ‘Repost’ feature on Instagram, allowing users to re-share other people’s content on their own feed.
- Tests a new nudity exposure protection feature for Direct Messages.
- Considers abandoning its 'Shop' tab and replacing it with 'Tab Lite' instead.
- Adds a ‘Public’ DM tab where users can share their latest posts with their followers.
- Gradually rolls out its ‘Edit Tweet’ button.
- Allows users to pin specific replies so they can maximize exposure.
- Launches ‘Circles’ to all users allowing them to tweet to a select set of people.
- Adds a WhatsApp share icon for users in India.
- Tests a TikTok-like video feed where users can scroll through different videos and discover engaging ones.
- Introduces its own in-stream version of post-scheduling.
- Partners up with Meta, Oracle, IBM, and others to provide devoted certifications and learning programs.
- Introduces ‘Document Ads’ allowing users to peruse documents and read reports from the comfort of their newsfeed.
TikTok
- Adds ‘TikTok Now’, a daily treat for users who want to connect more with their friends and social circle.
- Introduces a ‘Downvotes’ option allowing users to dislike comments.
- Increases the video description character limit from 300 to 2,200.
- Increases the number of Livestream guests to five.
- Adds a #BookTok feature that will allow users to integrate book-linking tags in their videos.
Snapchat
- Adds a range of new Fall features, such as chat shortcuts, ‘Question Stickers’, and lock screen widgets for iOS users.
- Expands its web version’s access to all users.
YouTube
- Tests having five unskippable ads.
- Implements more personalization options to enhance the Channel layout and experience, separating the tabs for Videos, Shorts, and Live clips.
- Announces sharing 45% off Shorts’ revenue with content creators.
- Allows users to reply to comments with a Short clip.
- Experiments is an option that automatically reformats landscape video ads into square or vertical formats.
- Introduces ‘Player for Education’ that shows some education apps’ content without distractions.
- Experiments adding a new ‘Promotions’ tab within YouTube Studio that will make buying ads easier for creators.
- Adds ‘Exploration’ option that will display search results in a continuous scroll of audiovisual card-style blocks mostly sourced from TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts.
- Introduces ‘Neighborhood Vibe’ to Google Maps, allowing users to preview the most popular landmarks based on local reviews.
- Announces nine new features designed to provide an immense shopping experience with more visual and experiential modes to shop.
