Instagram Introduces Blend: Shared Reels Feed with Friends

Instagram launched Blend, a co-viewing experience that creates personalized Reels streams curated by both you and a friend. To try it, open a DM, tap the smiley icon, and invite someone to blend—then discover posts tailored to your shared interests.
This update encourages private, social content discovery, strengthening bonds through mutual engagement and making Reels feel more like a shared social experience than passive watching.

Source: https://thatrandomagency.com/2025/05/05/social-media-news-april-2025/

Instagram’s Edits App Hits 5 Million Users in Four Days

Meta’s dedicated Edits mobile app (akin to CapCut) reached over 5 million downloads just days after its April 21 launch. With features like green-screen effects, animations, speed control, and in-app analytics, it simplifies creating polished Reels on the go.
This signals Meta’s commitment to streamlining mobile-first content creation, removing barriers for creators to produce high-quality video without desktop tools.

Source: https://thatrandomagency.com/2025/05/05/social-media-news-april-2025/

TikTok U.S. Ownership Talks Extend Yet Again

TikTok was granted another 75-day extension beyond the April 15 deadline to complete divestiture of its U.S. operations. With potential buyers including major tech firms like Oracle and Amazon, negotiations remain in flux.
For brands and creators relying on TikTok, this means strategic diversification is critical—start shifting audiences to alternatives like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and Bluesky to hedge against uncertainty.

Source: https://thatrandomagency.com/2025/05/05/social-media-news-april-2025/

Meta Fully Rolls Out Community Notes on Posts

Meta expanded its crowd-sourced Community Notes (formerly fact-check notes) to all users across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Users can flag and annotate misleading or complex content—creating transparency and more nuanced discourse.
This democratized approach to context-setting enhances platform credibility and encourages brands to foster clearer, fact-rich narratives, as labels may now appear under their posts during discussions or campaigns.

Source: https://thatrandomagency.com/2025/05/05/social-media-news-april-2025/

Instagram Launches “Creative Studio” for Reels & Posts

Instagram debuted the Creative Studio, a unified desktop dashboard now supporting Reels and Feed posts alongside insights. Creators can plan, edit, and schedule content with richer analytics—streamlining workflow across formats and devices.
This marks a major step toward giving Instagram content creators robust publishing tools similar to those on Facebook and YouTube, reducing dependency on third-party software.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-april-2025/

TikTok Introduces Creator Collab Marketplace

TikTok unveiled its Creator Collab Marketplace, enabling brands and creators to connect seamlessly for sponsored content deals. The platform provides search and filtering by niche, audience size, and engagement metrics, plus integrated campaign tracking.
By simplifying brand partnerships, TikTok lowers the barrier for smaller creators to monetize and for companies to scale influencer campaigns efficiently.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-april-2025/

Facebook Tests Conversational AI Prompts in Search

Facebook began experimenting with AI-prompt suggestions in its search bar—offering structured questions or follow-up prompts when you start typing. The feature helps users refine queries, find relevant public posts, or discover groups and pages more readily.
For marketers, this presents an opportunity to shape content for emerging topic clusters and ensure their group pages gain visibility during initial conversational searches.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-april-2025/

LinkedIn Adds Translation for Stories & Expanded Reactions

LinkedIn enhanced its Stories feature with auto-translation for story captions, supporting 20+ languages to reach diverse global audiences. The platform also introduced five new reaction emojis beyond “like”—including applause and insight—aimed at improving nuanced engagement.
These updates advance LinkedIn’s multicultural reach and allow professionals to express richer emotional responses, cultivating more authentic interactions.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-april-2025/

YouTube Adds New Editing and Creative Options for Shorts
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-shorts-composer-updates-ai-stickers/744408/ 

• YouTube’s rolling out some new features for Shorts, including an updated video editing UI, automated beat-synching to music tracks, AI stickers, improved templates, and more.
• YouTube’s refreshed the Shorts editing UI within the YouTube app, which will make it easier to craft your short-form videos into exactly what you want.
• The updated UI will make it easier to make precise adjustments and edits, while you’ll also be able to rearrange and/or delete clips, add music, timed text, and more.
• You’ll also be able to preview your Short within the composer, giving you more capacity to customize each element, and ensure it suits your needs.
• YouTube’s also adding an option to automatically sync your video to the beat of your chosen soundtrack
• It’s also adding effects within templates, enabling more creative capacity from these pre-made tools.
• And finally, YouTube will also soon enable creators to generate AI stickers via text prompts as another addition for Shorts videos

Sociable: What consumers expect from brands on social in 2025
Consumers primarily follow brands on social media to be aware of their latest deals and promotions, according to Emplifi’s latest “Social Pulse” report.
https://www.marketingdive.com/news/emplifi-social-pulse-report-2025-social-media-marketing/744390/

• Top reason users follow brands on social media is to stay updated on deals and promotions, not necessarily product updates—sales should be a strategic content focus.
• UGC, exclusive offers, and engaging content drive purchase decisions and brand interaction.
• Consumers expect quick responses via DMs, with 32% wanting replies within an hour—setting and meeting realistic expectations is key.
• Posting frequency matters: most users prefer brands to post several times a week; too much or too little can lead to disengagement.
• The report offers data-driven insights to help brands shape a more effective and responsive social media strategy based on current consumer behaviors.
• full “Social Pulse” report here.

Influencer Marketing on the Rise: 
https://www.themotherhood.com/influencer-marketing-resources-march-2025/

• Influencer Marketing Growth: The industry is booming and is projected to reach $32.55 billion by the end of 2025, as brands increasingly use influencers to boost engagement, sales, and consumer connections.
• Micro-influencer Prominence: Micro-influencers are becoming more important due to their higher engagement rates, authenticity, and cost-effectiveness compared to celebrity endorsements.
• TikTok Shop’s Rise: TikTok Shop is emerging as a powerful e-commerce platform, enabling influencers to market products directly within the app.
• Unilever’s Investment: Unilever is significantly increasing its investment in influencer marketing, allocating 50% of its media budget to social channels and aiming to collaborate with twenty times more creators.
• Booming Creator Economy: The creator economy is expected to reach $500 billion by 2027, transforming content consumption and brand-audience relationships.

Meta Adds Custom AI Chatbot “Voices” & Restyle Tools

Meta debuted “Voices” for Instagram chatbots, enabling users and brands to create AI personas with distinct vocal styles—ideal for interactive support, storytelling, or automation. Alongside this, Meta rolled out AI-powered “Restyle” tools, allowing users to transform the look of photos and Stories with machine-generated design variants effortlessly. These innovations elevate personalization and creativity within messaging and visual content.

Source: https://socialbee.com/blog/social-media-news/

Instagram Debuts Trial Reels & Reels Pause Button

Instagram introduced two user-friendly features this March: Trial Reels, where creators test content performance with select audiences before full release, and a new Pause button for Reels that allows viewers to tap and freeze playback (instead of pressing and holding)—a long-awaited improvement for viewing control and engagement.

Source: https://socialbee.com/blog/social-media-news/

Instagram Testing AI-Generated Comments & Background Play

Instagram is experimenting with AI-generated comment suggestions, helping users and influencers craft quick, relevant replies, while also testing background play for voice messages, letting recipients listen even when they switch tasks or apps. These features enhance conversational flow and user convenience.

Source: https://socialbee.com/blog/social-media-news/

LinkedIn Adds In-App Puzzle Games & Expanded Video Posts

LinkedIn launched a casual puzzle-game feature (“Zip”) to boost community engagement, alongside support for native video uploads in articles and newsletters, enabling richer content storytelling directly within the platform. These updates encourage creative interaction and deepen content depth for professional networking.

Source: https://socialbee.com/blog/social-media-news/

YouTube Tests Push Notification Improvements & “Take a Break” Ads

YouTube is rolling out a new push notifications system for video alerts and a unique “Take a Break” ad format for livestreams—encouraging mindful viewing while offering non-obtrusive monetization opportunities for creators.

Source: https://socialbee.com/blog/social-media-news/

YouTube Brings Generative AI to Shorts

YouTube integrated new generative AI tools directly into Shorts creation, using Google’s Veo AI to offer dynamic, adaptive backgrounds and text overlays. This empowers creators to enhance production quality without external editing software, making short-form content more engaging and visually diverse.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-february-2025/

Instagram Rolls Out Reels ‘Pause’ Button & Timed Polls

Instagram is testing a handy Pause button for Reels, allowing viewers to freeze content and easily rewatch segments—great for tutorials or text-heavy clips. Additionally, timed polls within Reels let creators gather real-time feedback, boosting interactivity and user engagement.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-february-2025/

Meta Models Privacy with Block‑Dislike Button on Instagram

Instagram is experimenting with a “dislike” reaction on comments, designed to signal negative or low-quality feedback without exposing the count publicly. This feature helps audiences report inauthentic or spammy comments more discreetly.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-february-2025/

YouTube Enables Audio Replies to Comments

YouTube creators can now reply with voice messages (up to 30 seconds) directly in comment threads. This feature adds a personal touch, encourages deeper interaction, and fosters stronger community relationships between creators and viewers.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-february-2025/

Instagram Tests Dedicated ‘Search’ Tab in App

Instagram is rolling out a new dedicated Search tab, allowing users to dive directly into content discovery rather than relying solely on algorithm-driven feeds. This provides more control over exploration, trends, and niche interests—great for creators aiming for higher discoverability.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-february-2025/

Instagram Integrates Movie Gen AI for In-App Editing

Instagram began testing Meta’s AI-powered Movie Gen tool inside the app, allowing creators to auto-edit videos, swap backgrounds, change outfits, and enhance visuals using simple prompts.
By embedding generative tools natively, Instagram empowers users to produce professional-quality video content faster—without needing third-party apps. It’s part of Meta’s broader push to become a creative hub, not just a social network.

Source: https://www.tripepismith.com/smntk-january-2025/

Bluesky & X Launch Dedicated Vertical Video Feeds

Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) each rolled out dedicated vertical video feeds, catering to TikTok-style swiping experiences. These feeds surface popular short-form videos by category, such as sports, tech, or humor.
As TikTok faces growing scrutiny, competitors are racing to fill the short-form void. These updates aim to capture the attention of creators and viewers seeking alternative platforms with immersive video discovery.

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/20/24347692/bluesky-x-new-video-features-feeds-tiktok-uncertainties

Instagram Expands Reels to 3 Minutes + “With Friends” Feed

Instagram extended Reels’ maximum duration from 90 seconds to 3 minutes, giving creators more space for tutorials, storytelling, and cinematic content. A new “With Friends” feed also lets users explore Reels that friends have liked or commented on.
This community-driven discovery feature deepens user engagement and encourages content sharing beyond the algorithmic feed—bringing a more social layer back to social media.

Source: https://www.socialbee.com/blog/social-media-news/

WhatsApp Tests Sharing Status Updates to Instagram

WhatsApp began testing a feature that allows users to share their WhatsApp Status directly to Instagram Stories via Meta’s Accounts Center.
This cross-posting function makes it easier for users and creators to maintain presence across platforms without duplicating content—ideal for unified brand messaging and influencer campaigns.

Source: https://www.socialbee.com/blog/social-media-news/

X Partners with Visa to Launch “X Money Account”

X has partnered with Visa to test a new feature called “X Money Account”, which aims to bring peer-to-peer payments, digital wallets, and financial services into the X ecosystem.
This move aligns with Elon Musk’s ambition to turn X into a full-service “everything app,” combining content, communication, and commerce into one seamless user journey.

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/x-rolls-out-dedicated-video-tab-for-us-users-2025-1

Instagram Enables Replies & Prompts in Broadcast Channels

Instagram enhanced Broadcast Channels by allowing creators to enable threaded replies and post prompts (open-response polls with text or photo replies). Followers can engage for 24 hours, react to peers, and creators see metrics like poll votes and story shares.
This move transforms channels into interactive community hubs—ideal for closer brand engagement, audience feedback, and allying with creator-led content strategies.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-december-2024/

TikTok Shop Launches in Spain

TikTok officially launched TikTok Shop in Spain, enabling in-app purchases directly from videos. Users can browse live shopping events, complete checkout, and track orders all within TikTok.
For creators and brands, this marks a major shift—video content becomes a direct storefront. Expect more impulse buys, streamlined UGC-driven commerce, and deeper shopping integration.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-december-2024/

Meta Tests “No‑Edit” Tag & Hides Engagement Counts

Meta is experimenting with a “No‑Edit” tag for untouched Story images, promoting authenticity and transparency. They are also testing options to hide view counts on Reels and reply histories on Threads.
These updates reflect a wider trend toward privacy-forward features, encouraging genuine content while reducing pressure from vanity metrics and social comparisons.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-december-2024/

Bluesky Rolls Out “Trending Topics” Feature

Bluesky introduced Trending Topics in beta alongside enhancements to “Explore” feeds—highlighting popular phrases and suggested accounts.
This addition boosts discoverability on the platform, guiding users toward lively conversations and facilitating network growth among communities.

Source: https://www.adobe.com/express/learn/blog/social-media-news-december-2024/

TikTok Restricts Appearance-Enhancing Filters for Under-18s

TikTok introduced a policy to block under-18 users from applying appearance-enhancing filters, shifting the platform toward more natural and genuine content. This change aligns with Gen Z’s values around authenticity and body positivity, encouraging creators to showcase real-life self-expression. For brands and creators, it’s a signal to prioritize candid, relatable visuals in marketing campaigns.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-november-2024/

TikTok Studio Desktop Launches for Professional Editing

TikTok rolled out TikTok Studio on desktop, providing creators with advanced tools for editing longer-form, polished content. Now with timeline-based editing, multi-track audio, and enhanced effects, desktop editing empowers creators and brands to plan and publish higher-quality videos. This opens new content possibilities and reinforces TikTok’s push into diverse video formats beyond short mobile clips.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-november-2024/

TikTok Adds Live Stream Countdown Stickers

Creators on TikTok can now add countdown stickers to promote upcoming live streams, fostering anticipation and boosting viewership. This feature supports better scheduling and community engagement, allowing fans to tune in at the right moment. Brands can tap into this by building hype around product launches, shows, or live events—making broadcasts more interactive and compelling.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-november-2024/

Instagram Tests Personal Link Pages for Meta Verified

Instagram is piloting personal link pages for Meta‑Verified users, offering a Linktree-style link hub directly within their profiles. This allows creators and brands to consolidate landing pages, shop links, or campaign URLs under a trusted Instagram domain. It simplifies external navigation and empowers verified users to optimize their profile traffic strategy.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-november-2024/

Instagram Enables Video Notes in Direct Messages

Instagram introduced 60‑second video notes in DMs, giving users and creators a more expressive and personal way to interact. Brands can leverage this feature to send quick thank‑you messages, campaign teases, or VIP content, fostering deeper relationships. This update enriches conversational marketing and enables warm, humanized engagement at scale.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-november-2024/

Instagram Allows Adding Media to Live Carousel Posts

Instagram began testing a feature allowing users to add media to carousel posts even after publishing—perfect for evolving campaigns or updating product portfolios. Brands can now dynamically update content with new visuals, announcements, or influencer collaborations without reposting. This enhances storytelling flexibility and extends post lifespan with fresh relevance.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-november-2024/

Meta Combines In‑Stream, Reels Ads and Performance Bonuses

Meta introduced a unified Content Monetization beta for Facebook and Instagram, merging in‑stream ads, Reels ads, and performance bonuses into a streamlined package. Creators now have a single dashboard to track earnings, compare content types, and optimize revenue without toggling across tools.
This integration simplifies monetization and encourages cross-format experimentation—empowering both influencers and brands to maximize income from different content strategies.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/october-2024-social-platform-updates-james-creech-gnk2c

Meta Debuts “Movie Gen” & Video AI Ad Tools

Meta launched Movie Gen—its flagship AI video creation tool—alongside video-ad enhancer features for animating static images and auto-expanding video formats.
These tools reduce production complexity, enabling brands to generate compelling visuals quickly from simple prompts or existing assets. The result: scalable, dynamic ad campaigns with minimal editing resources.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/october-2024-social-platform-updates-james-creech-gnk2c

Meta Expands AI Chatbot Assistant to 21 New Countries

Meta’s AI assistant for Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger is now available in 21 additional regions, including the U.K. and Brazil.
This expansion delivers localized conversational support and content recommendations to a broader audience—empowering creators and businesses to connect with users via AI-enhanced interactions.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/october-2024-social-platform-updates-james-creech-gnk2c

Snapchat+ Surpasses 12 Million Subscribers

Snapchat+ officially crossed the 12 million subscriber mark, signaling strong demand for premium features like exclusive icons, friend solar powers, and early access tools.
This milestone underscores the growth of subscription models in social apps and emphasizes how exclusive perks can drive user loyalty and recurring revenue.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/october-2024-social-platform-updates-james-creech-gnk2c

YouTube Shorts Length Cap Increases to 3 Minutes

YouTube expanded Shorts by raising the maximum length from 60 seconds to 3 minutes, enabling creators to produce more nuanced, story-driven short-form content.
This adjustment positions Shorts as a compelling alternative to TikTok for deeper engagement, educational snippets, and brand storytelling—all within the shorter video format.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/october-2024-social-platform-updates-james-creech-gnk2c

Instagram Adds Link Support in Reels

Instagram now allows creators to embed clickable links directly in Reels, eliminating the #linkinbio bottleneck. This feature streamlines conversion paths by taking viewers straight from video to product pages, landing sites, or campaigns.
Marketers and small brands should optimize this by creating clear, engaging calls to action within Reels—making every video a high-potential touchpoint for sales or sign-ups.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-september-2024/

Instagram Boosts Music with Profile & Story Integration

Instagram enhanced audio-driven experiences by enabling music tracks on user profiles and allowing comments on Stories. Profiles now reflect personal tastes, while Story interaction becomes more dynamic and creative.
This update deepens emotional connection—brands, creators, and artists can leverage music to reinforce personal or campaign storytelling in both profile and conversational content.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-september-2024/

TikTok Rolls Out Search Ads Campaigns

TikTok officially launched Search Ads, allowing brands to run keyword-targeted ad campaigns in search results. This mirrors traditional search marketing but in video-first environments—perfect for capturing high-intent traffic.
By integrating search-targeted promotion, creators and marketers can connect with users actively looking for products or information, thereby increasing conversion potential beyond discovery content.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-september-2024/

Instagram Launches 32 New Story & Reel Stickers

Instagram introduced 32 new interactive stickers for Stories and Reels, offering creative ways to engage audiences—from polls and tag prompts to interactive fun elements.
These graphics-in-motion tools enable richer narrative, stronger branding, and fresh campaign formatting—all within native Instagram content flows.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-september-2024/

TikTok Group Chats Reach 32 Participants

TikTok expanded its Group Chats feature to support up to 32 participants, promoting community collaboration, fandom discussion, and creator-to-fan interaction.
This update helps creators foster tight-knit communities, coordinate content with collaborators, and host micro events or brainstorms directly within the app.

Source: https://vamp.com/blog/social-media-updates-september-2024/