Social media news round-up (March 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.

The latest social media news headlines include: 

  •  The introduction and testing of some brand new Instagram features

  •  New TikTok search analytics

  •  The removal of re-post and reply buttons on X

  •  A potential new image-based TikTok app

Instagram could be upping the image capacity in carousel posts

After news last month of Instagram testing the integration of carousel posts into the Reels feed, Instagram is now looking to further enhance the carousel experience.

Instagram has confirmed it is experimenting with the capability “to add more than ten photos to a carousel feed post with a small group of people.”

Some users are now able to add up to 15 images in their IG carousel posts, exceeding the current limit of ten images. This feature is in the experimental phase and is being rolled out to a small group of users for testing purposes. IG has stated that it will provide further updates as it gathers feedback and insights from users.

Image: Instagram

Recent DM feature updates on Instagram 

In early March, Meta unveiled several new direct messaging (DM) features aimed at enhancing users' abilities to connect with friends on Instagram, express themselves and manage inboxes more effectively.

Here’s a summary of the updates:

  • Edit messages up to 15 mins after sending the DM

Image: Meta

  • Pin up to three chats to the top of the DM inbox

Image: Meta

  • Switch on read receipts for either all DM chats or specific threads

Image: Meta

  • New personalised chat themes

Image: Meta

  • Option to save your favourite stickers in the app

For a full breakdown of the DM updates, click here. 

Meta has said, “ we are always working to make messaging on Instagram a fun and private way for people to connect with each other.” For example, Instagram is experimenting with the option to add files to DMs, much like you can within WhatsApp and Messenger already.

Instagram is testing a brand new feature called “Spins” 

Reverse Engineer, Alessandro Paluzzi, tweeted recently that Instagram is working on a “Spins” option for Reels. The new feature would allow users to swap out text or audio in Instagram Reels, essentially like a meme template.

It's currently in the internal testing phase and not accessible to the public. If released, it could be a unique addition to Reels, offering creators the ability to remix trending content with personalised text or audio while crediting the original creator. However, there's uncertainty about when or if the feature will become available to users outside of testing.

Image: @alex193a on X

TikTok has added a new “Creator Search Insights” analytics element

TikTok has introduced a brand new analytics feature on the platform called “Creator Search Insights”. The new tool will give creators insight into topics people are searching for on TikTok so they can customise their content based on the findings. 

Creators can access the insights by searching "Creator Search Insights" in the search bar, or soon directly from Creator Tools in Settings. The feature provides information on frequently searched topics, categorised by themes like tourism, sports, and science. Additionally, creators can filter for "content gap" topics that are popular in searches but underrepresented in TikTok videos.

This could be a gamechanger for helping generate content ideas and informing TikTok strategies.

Image: ByteDance

TikTok is testing a new Photos App similar to Instagram

For years, Instagram has been gradually adopting features reminiscent of TikTok. It appears that TikTok could now be reciprocating. 

Recent reports in some back-end code in the current TikTok app indicate references to "TikTok Photos." The code suggests users may soon receive prompts to share their still images on this new platform. 

There is not much information about TikTok Photos currently, except that the TikTok app currently includes some text that is expected to be rolled out to users in the following weeks, providing guidance on setting up a new app named "TikTok Photos." Below is a snippet of text extracted directly from the current Android version of TikTok:

Image: TheSPAndroid 

X will soon remove like, re-post and reply buttons in-stream, according to Elon Musk

According to Elon Musk, X is set to eliminate like, re-post, and reply buttons within the stream soon. This change would leave only the total view count and time posted on X posts, aiming for a cleaner feed appearance. Musk assures that users will still be able to view all regular post metrics by tapping into an individual post. 

Old layout vs. New layout below:

Image: Social Media Today

He says it’s because he wants the feed to look “very clean” and they will also add new action controls: “Swipe right to reply”, “Swipe left to Like” and “Tap and hold for all other actions”.

More in the world of social media…