Social media news round-up (November 2023)

We’re sharing the latest news and tips for social media marketing success

Welcome to the latest social media news round-up by The Content Emporium, your go-to source for current news, updates and trends in the world of social media.

Whether you’re a seasoned social media marketer or just starting out, we aim to elevate your strategy to new heights by providing you with actionable insights into the latest social media news.

This week's social media news includes some exciting new feature testing on Instagram, longer video potential on TikTok and premium X subscription news as it moves into its pink ‘Paris Hilton era’…

‘Polls’ have been added to Instagram comment streams

Instagram is currently in the process of testing 'polls' in comment sections, with a select group of users. 

The new feature was announced last week by Adam Mosseri on his broadcast channel. Mosseri wrote: "We’re always looking for new ways to interact with friends and creators."

With this update, Instagram users will have the ability to create interactive polls directly within the comments section of their feed posts and Reels clips – a feature that was previously exclusive to Stories and DMs.

Image: Instagram

Instagram is testing a new ‘Meta Verified’ feed

Instagram is also testing out the introduction of a content feed exclusively for ‘Meta Verified’ accounts. In this experiment, some Instagram users will have the option to filter their main feed and Reels feed to display posts solely from ‘Meta Verified’ profiles.

This option has the potential to make Meta Verified a more enticing proposition for businesses and creators, as it would enhance their discoverability on the app. 

It's worth noting that even individuals with legacy verified badges, (those who haven't paid for verification) will also appear in the verified feed, as confirmed by spokesperson Matt Tye.

Image: Instagram

TikTok is experimenting with 15-minute uploads

TikTok has announced that it is currently testing an extended upload duration of 15 minutes with select users. Previously, the platform began with a 15-second limit, which was then extended to 60 seconds, followed by 3 minutes, 5 minutes, and finally, 10 minutes in 2022. 

However, the pivotal question remains: will TikTok users want to engage with 15-minute videos on the platform?

This extended video duration could provide creators with greater freedom and flexibility to share a wide range of content, such as cooking recipes, beauty tutorials, educational materials, and comedy sketches. Could this also mean the end of two-part storytimes?

Image: @MattNavarra on X

ByteDance to launch ‘CapCut for Business’

ByteDance is introducing 'CapCut for Business,' a new business-focused iteration of its all-in-one video creation and editing platform.

This version of CapCut will provide a wide range of creative features. These include licensed templates and AI script generation, designed to enhance content creation for ads, promotional materials and organic video uploads.

Image: @capcutapp on X

X Premium Subscriptions launching soon

Elon Musk announced recently that two new tiers of X Premium will be launching soon. One version will be at a lower cost with all features, but no reduction in ads. The other version will be more expensive but have no ads.

The company stated on its website that new users who opt out of subscribing will be restricted to ‘read only’ actions, such as reading posts, watching videos and following accounts. It is not clear yet if there will be any free options.

Image: @elonmusk on X

X is in its ‘Paris Hilton Era’ 

In a significant move toward celebrity collaborations, X has joined forces with Paris Hilton and unveiled a new pink app icon.

This marks the initial major step in alignment with the growth strategy of the company's new CEO, Linda Yaccarino, who places a significant emphasis on celebrity partnerships.

Image: @ParisHilton on X

More in the world of social media…