Social media news round-up (January/February 2024)

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.

2024 has kicked off with a series of important updates. The latest social media news headlines include Instagram’s official answer to ‘Finstas’, some notable Instagram features in testing stage, a rights stand-off between Universal Music and TikTok, a lean towards YouTube-like content on TikTok and a new long-awaited Instagram stories feature.

Welcome to the Flipside: Instagram is testing an official ‘Finsta’ feature

Meta is currently experimenting with a new feature named Flipside. This innovation aims to address the challenge of 'Finstas' (fake Instagram accounts for people to post and interact in a more private way), without the need for a second account. Flipside offers users a discreet avenue for sharing videos and photos in a ‘secondary grid’ for selected close friend circles.

In essence, Flipside would enable users to carve out a secluded space within their profile, allowing them to share candid and personal photos exclusively with a select group of friends. Instagram is actively rolling out various new features to facilitate more intimate sharing experiences for its users.

Instagram, in particular, has witnessed a recent shift in user behaviour towards Close Friends. For digital marketers, understanding and adapting to this trend becomes crucial in navigating the ever-changing landscape of audience engagement.

Image: @Alex193a on Threads

What else is Instagram currently testing?

Staying on top of the features platforms are testing is paramount for digital marketers as it offers a strategic advantage in the ever-changing social media space and tailor their strategies accordingly. So, what’s the latest?

  • Carousel posts in the reels stream:

    Instagram is testing out the addition of carousel posts into the reels feed. A feature reminiscent of image galleries in TikTok feed, this addition allows users to share a series of multiple still images within a single post that will appear as users scroll through their reels stream.

Image: @oncescuradu on Threads

  • A limit to the number of hashtags users can add to posts:

    Some users are encountering a limit pop-up whilst adding hashtags in the Instagram composer, restricting them from adding more within the post caption. The maximum allowable number of tags in a single update for these users is capped at five.

    Meta has implemented a similar restriction on the number of tags in Threads posts to curb spamming activities targeting trending topics, so it’s likely a similar approach is being taken on Instagram.

    With search and SEO becoming more important for visibility on Instagram, limiting the number of hashtags shouldn’t cause too much of an impact to social media marketers.

Image: @jenns_trends on Threads

  • Option to preview posts before posting:

    Instagram is currently in the testing phase of a feature that allows users the option to preview their feed posts before finalising the publishing process. Users can now review and fine-tune their content to maintain a cohesive and visually appealing feed.

    This feature could prove to be a valuable tool, ensuring that each post aligns seamlessly with the overall aesthetic of your personal and business Instagram profiles.

Image: Nadja Bella Marrero on LinkedIn

Universal Music is removing its tracks from TikTok

You may have already noticed some of your favourite tracks have been removed from countless TikTok videos.

After failing to reach a new rights agreement, some of the biggest songs in the world will no longer be available in the TikTok app for users to add to their videos. Universal withdrew its music from the app on 1st February, 2024 and it may now have to remove even more songs   by Universal-signed artists, such as Harry Styles and Adele.

BBC said: “TikTok says up to 30% of what it calls “popular songs” could be lost.” However, it is now looking to be even worse, due to ‘split copyright’ with Universal artists. The next level of the dispute could see up to 80% of all music withdrawn from the platform.

Image: @TikTokComms on X

Is TikTok slowly turning into YouTube?

TikTok is starting to evolve into a platform with longer-form content, similar to YouTube, as it  responds to the demand from creators for extended video formats. This shift reflects TikTok's effort to cater to diverse content preferences and compete with the established longer-form video content on platforms like YouTube.

  • TikTok has been spotted testing 30-minute uploads:

    Some Android users are seeing this option in the beta version. This marks a notable departure from TikTok's traditional short-form video style, signalling a venture into YouTube's domain.

  • TikTok has been encouraging some creators to post videos in landscape:

    Additionally, TikTok is encouraging creators to embrace landscape format, even incentivising them with ’increased view’s for content created in this orientation, further reinforcing its strategic shift toward YouTube-like features.

Image: @MattNavarra on Threads

Cancel in-progress stories uploads on Instagram

And finally, a small but very useful update for social media marketers; you can now halt a story upload whilst it’s mid-upload in the new version of the app.

No longer do you need to worry about spotting a minor error and scrambling to delete the story before anyone sees it. Just tap the dots on your Instagram story while it's uploading, and a pop-up with options will appear, allowing you to select ’Cancel upload’.

Image: @theahmedghanem on Threads

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