Welcome back to another ICYMI, here are the updates you may have missed in the social media world in November…
Meta
- Threads launches initial test of Topic Tags, allowing users to link updates to a broader selection of posts on the same subject, and is apparently working on Hashtag support
- Meta is threatened with legal action in the UK over the use of “Threads” as a business name
- Threads is allowing users to opt-out of their updates being shown on Instagram and Facebook
- Meta are working on a feature that will allow users to create videos from text prompts
- Meta continue to add features for creators including an A/B testing tool for Reels, a new achievements hub in professional dashboard, rewards (like increased Feed visibility or a Rising Creator label on profiles) for reaching different milestones and access to more Reels insights
- Instagram will remove Guides on December 15th, but you can download your guides from the Accounts Centre until March 14th
- Instagram now allows you to download Publicly Posted Reels Clips, creators can switch off the option if they prefer
- Instagram improve Reels and Stories creation tools, including new filters, updated audio elements, improved drafts and more
- Despite already starting to roll this out, Instagram have now officially announced that all users will be able to share feed posts and Reels with “Close Friends”
- Instagram is testing a new “Wonder Wall” feature that would showcase Notes on user profiles
- Instagram will now let you highlight post replies in Stories
- Instagram now allows you to disable read receipts in DMs
- Instagram is allegedly working on the ability to request a mention in Stories
- Instagram have a new setting to bulk remove spam followers
- Messenger is launching Inbox Notes (the text-based prompts that have become popular among teens on Instagram)
- Facebook is removing its Hobbies section from user profiles
- LinkedIn launches new AI Summary tools, available to Premium subscribers only, that will analyse and summarise your feed’s posts
- LinkedIn announced that it’s now reached a new milestone of 1 billion total members (note, not active members)
- LinkedIn removed features including link stickers, profile videos and carousel image posts
YouTube
- YouTube continues to fight against ad blockers, with the platform now confirming that it’s slowing load times for ad blocker users
- YouTube continues working on AI features, including “Dream Track” which will enable users to create music in the style of various famous artists
- YouTube gives premium subscribers access to its Generative AI elements while experimenting with its own in-stream AI chatbot
- YouTube creators must comply with new rules by labelling AI-generated content
- YouTube pages are getting a TikTok-like For You feed
X (Twitter)
- X is bringing post titles back to link previews in-stream
- Elon Musk says X is changing its algorithm to highlight smaller accounts
- X has started selling old and unused Twitter handles for $50K
TikTok
- TikTok adds a new Customise Feed option within the For You Page settings that lets you decide what the algorithm should show you, with prompts if you can’t decide your preferences
- TikTok is allowing users to create their own AR effects directly within the TikTok app
- TikTok launches “Add to Music App” option, allowing users to add music you hear in TikTok clips to your music library on your preferred streaming service
- TikTok’s $1 billion creator fund is shutting down for creators in the US, UK, Germany and France from December 16th
Other updates
- Pew Research has published its latest report on how Americans use social platforms for sourcing news, showing that Facebook is still the most influential social media news source and overall reliance on social media apps for news is declining with one notable exception (TikTok)
- Google has added a new way to stay up-to-date on related topics, with the ability to follow a search topic to receive regular updates
- Google expands its AI-powered generative search system to 120 more regions
- Google launches “Notes” allowing users to add comments in Search Results
And that’s it for this month!
