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Meta is making an important change to Instagram and Threads’ policy – limiting recommendation of content related to politics and social issues from accounts that a user does not follow, across the platforms. Meta plans to bring this update to Facebook some time later, too.

 

The changes will be implemented only in places where recommendations are displayed to users, like Explore, Reels, in-feed recommendations, and suggested users. No changes will be made to the way content is displayed from accounts that a user follows. This means that accounts that aren’t eligible to be recommended could still post political content that their followers will be able to view in feed and Stories.

 

While users will be seeing less of political content by default, they would still be allowed to opt into seeing more of such content if they wish to. The option will be available in account settings, specifying content that is “likely to mention governments, elections, or social topics that affect a group of people and/or society at large.”

Meta Announces Changes to Content Recommendation on Instagram and Threads, Related to Politics and Social Issues



TikTok seems to be moving away from one of its core elements: vertical format for videos. Some creators have reported that they are being prompted by TikTok to post videos in a horizontal format. The pop-up message says that posting videos longer than 1 minute and in landscape mode would boost views within the first 72 hours after they are posted.

 

In fact, TikTok is asserting that these videos will be the only “eligible” ones to get increased views. Considering that vertical, full-screen videos are an essential visual element of the app, it doesn’t leave much room to see why TikTok is promoting landscape format.

TikTok is Encouraging Creators to Post Landscape-Shot Clips for Increased Views



Meta is bringing new features and tools for creators related to insights into content performance, enhancing reach, and getting incentives.

 

One of these is a Reels feature called the A/B testing, which is created to help creators experiment with and decide approaches that suit their content the best. Through this option, creators can test four different versions of their Reels videos, with alternative captions and/or thumbnail images. The A/B system will measure the performance of each version by introducing it to a subset of the creator’s initial audience. Finally, the version that receives the most engagement after 30 minutes will be recommended to the creator as the best approach.


The A/B testing can not only provide creators with specific insights into their Reels performance, but also help them obtain an overall understanding about which content creation dynamics are not as helpful and which work more effectively.

 


Next, there is a new a method of creating Reels, by enabling creators to use their existing video clips as the sources. Creators can trim and edit their existing Reels clips into the Reels format from a new option of ‘your content.’

Meta Introduces New Features for Creators, Including a New Method for Measuring Performance



Instagram had been testing a new ‘collaborative posts’ functionality for the past few months, and has now launched it in a live test. The option is created to allow users to collaborate with each other and contribute to carousel feed posts specifically.

 


To allow others to contribute to carousel posts, the user who is uploading the post will need to turn the option on before uploading the content. As a result, their followers will be allowed to add photos and/or videos to it. The owner of the post can then choose to approve the photos or videos in order for them to be added to the carousel.

Instagram Launches a New Engagement Option that Allows Collaboration on Carousel Posts



YouTube has some new tools for creators on its platform, including generative AI features, a video editing app, an automatic dubbing option, and more - all to make content creation easier and more dynamic.

 

YouTube’s first generative AI feature ‘Dream Screen’ has been designed to generate image or video backgrounds that creators can add into their YouTube Shorts using basic text prompts. Another AI integration is an ideas generator that, as the name suggests, will provide creators with ideas based on simple prompts, by highlighting videos relevant to what they are looking for. Additionally, it will provide prompts on thematic content, as well as full-fledged content outlines.


 


However, one thing to note is that the ideas generator will provide recommendations based on existing or trending content, which is why the generated ideas may not seem unique as such. Regardless, the functionality could help creators design content that aligns with ongoing trends.  

 

YouTube Announces New Elements to Make Content Creation Easy, Including Generative AI Tools and a Video Editing App



Back in February, Instagram launched a new revenue generating feature of ‘virtual gifts’ in Reels for creators in the US. The feature is now being expanded to more regions around the world including Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Indonesia, and more.

 


The feature is accessible from a ‘Send Gift’ option displayed as an overlay on Reels clips. Viewers will be able to send their favourite creators virtual gifts by purchasing stars, that can be cashed out in various amounts, up to $5.99. Creators that have agreed to Instagram’s Gifts Terms of Service will be able to earn money from the gifts sent to them by viewers who appreciate and support their content.

 

Instagram is Expanding its ‘Virtual Gifts’ Feature in Reels to Creators in More Regions



Twitch is testing a new Discovery Feed that was first announced last month, with select users where they can explore content from creators on the platform. According to Twitch, the feed will initially display videos in a horizontal format and will later be evolved to show them in a vertical format. Smells like TikTok, doesn’t it?

 

Twitch will begin testing ‘popular and featured’ content in the Discovery Feed and moving forward, will include ‘exclusively featured’ clips in the feed. For now, the integration is only a ‘limited experience’ as described by the platform itself, meaning that it will help it gather important feedback as well as train its algorithm to ensure improved user experience.

 

In another X post, Twitch added that creators can become part of the Discovery Feed experiments by selecting clips that they want to add in the ‘featured’ pool. This option is now available to all streamers and editors on Twitch.

Twitch Rolls Out a New Discovery Feed in a Limited Test



After launching generative AI ad creation tools for Facebook and Instagram, Meta is taking AI integration on Instagram forward with more features that it is currently working on. These, according to app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, include a generative AI sticker creation tool, visual editing tools, an AI-powered message summary tool, as well as an AI chatbot.

 

The generative AI sticker tool will be found within Instagram Stories and posts and will enable users to create their own stickers using text prompts. This sounds like a fun way to get creative by turning your thoughts into stickers to add to your posts and Stories, instead of using pre-existing stickers.

 


Next, generative AI tools for visual editing; ‘AI brush’ and ‘Restyle,’ will provide users with creative control over their content. More specifically, during the creation process, you will be able to remove or replace elements of your uploads using these tools. With the AI brush, you will be able to fill in parts in your images, while the Restyle tool will let you change parts of your images with the help of text prompts. For instance, you could replace the background of your uploaded image with the kind of background you would like, by describing details of it.

 

Meta is Bringing a Bunch of Generative AI Features to Instagram - Editing Tools, a Chatbot, and More



Meta has been directly reaching out to influencer managers to guide them with regard to maximizing content reach on Threads. As the company works on developing more features for the app, it wants users to make the most out of what they have access to, in the meantime.

 

Some of the tips that Meta has shared with managers and managing teams include the following:

-        Making a striking first appearance on the app using engaging visuals and other elements like question-answers.

-        Getting creative with conversations. Since there isn’t a polling option on Threads as of yet, Meta suggests creating one’s own poll by posting two images side by side and using emojis as a way to vote.

-        Creating challenges and contests to maximize interaction and reach, or creating awareness around certain meaningful topics.

Meta Shares Some Helpful Tips to Maximize Content Reach Via Threads



As AI technologies continue to be adopted by mainstream digital and social media platforms, AI-generated content is being seen all over the internet. LinkedIn is one of the platforms that hasn't stayed behind in the AI domain. Amongst its existing AI tools including AI-generated profile summaries, AI-assisted job descriptions, generative AI messages for job candidates, and an AI InMail assistant, the latest development is a post-generating feature. Discovered by app researchers some time ago, the tool is now being officially launched to users.

 

LinkedIn’s post generating tool will help users draft posts by prompting them to share their ideas within the composer, based on which it will generate suggestions. LinkedIn explains that it has created the functionality to simplify the process of writing full-fledged posts, which can get time consuming.


 

LinkedIn Launches New AI-Powered Post Generating Feature



YouTube has created a ‘Test & Compare’ feature; one of the platform’s most-requested tools, that is meant to help creators in their decision to pick thumbnails for their videos. The feature is currently in its initial phase of testing, hence available to a small number of creators.

 

The way Test & Compare works is that a creator uploads up to three thumbnails for a single video and the tool works with the thumbnail options using an A/B testing functionality. Following the completion of the test, the tool shows the user which thumbnail has more potential in terms of performance, based on its watch time.

 

YouTube Launches One of its Most Requested Features: Test & Compare



TikTok has released a new business promotion feature ‘InteractiveAdd-Ons’ for businesses on its platform. These include stickers, pop-ups, and other visual elements displayed in users’ For You feed ads that prompt potential customers to engage with the ads.

 


According to TikTok, “Viewers who have shared, liked, or commented on a TikTok brand video are 150% more likely to buy a product or service.” Interactive Add-Ons could therefore contribute to a business’ sales by enticing more customers to engage with a brand’s in-feed promotions. The reason behind the efficacy of Interactive Add-Ons is that these features create an immersive environment that is likely to catch users’ undivided attention.

 

The Add-Ons are available in two types: Standard and Premium, each consisting of tools that serve a brand differently depending on its requirements. More specifically, Standard Add-Ons would cater to lower-funnel marketing goals such as driving clicks and conversions. Premium Add-Ons, on the other hand, are meant to help reach upper-funnel goals like brand awareness and community building. 

TikTok Introduces ‘Interactive Add-Ons’ for Brands to Drive Engagement with their Ads



As Reels continue to increasingly grow across Meta’s platforms, the company is expanding ad options within the short form videos. First launched last year, Meta’s ad options for Reels are now available to more creators and brands. Additionally, new ad formats have been added to Reels as well.

 

The more people watch and engage with Reels, the more opportunity it offers advertisers to drive their promotions. Advertisers can now promote apps via Reels, apply free music to single image ads, and use Inventory Filters to manage ad placement.


The new music optimization feature is meant to help with promotion of single image ads in Reels. Using this option, advertisers can use free music from Meta’s Sound Collection library to add to their single image Reels ads.

 

Meta Adds New Ad Options in Reels, Expands Reels Ads to More Creators and Brands



Elon Musk has introduced yet another monetization opportunity for creators on Twitter. Creators that are either subscribers of Twitter Blue or have purchased the blue verification check, will be paid for “ads served in their replies.”

 

 

On the other hand, Twitter has reduced ad exposure in the For You and Following timelines by 50%. This is not to be mixed with the recent monetization update, since the number of ads shown in replies remains unchanged, regardless.

Twitter to Start Paying Select Creators Based on Ads Served in Replies



A new element is making way to the ‘creator analytics and tools’ section on LinkedIn, created to provide topic and post prompts to help creators build their presence on the platform.

 

Creator analytics and tools are largely dedicated to content management and are available to users who have enabled the Creator Mode on LinkedIn. The dashboard was first launched last February and is still being rolled out to more users. It appears on the left side panel of the app for selected users.

 


Via Creator Mode, users can learn about how well their content is performing and reaching desired audiences. Additionally, users can view topics associated with their profiles to add to, and a listing of all the creator elements available to use in the app, such as LinkedIn Live, Newsletters, CTA links, etc.

 

LinkedIn is now adding a ‘conversations happening now’ feature to the Creator Mode, which provides post ideas that users may find relevant to their profiles and audiences. These samples are curated based on the content that one has posted previously as well as topics that one’s audience may be interested in. Users can choose to review these posts to gather necessary information and repost them with their own commentary as an input to the ongoing conversation.

 


On a whole, this addition is meant to give rise to more content on the platform by encouraging people to post more frequently. It also seems to be linked to LinkedIn’s new AI-generated posts feature, currently in testing.

 


AI-generated post drafts will make it pretty convenient for anyone to create content, although in essence, the functionality seems to contradict the idea of creators presenting their originality and authenticity on the platform. Combined with the new topic and post prompts, it could result in a large number of meaningless or sketchy posts. Nevertheless, it will give LinkedIn what it is intending to achieve: more conversations across the platform.

LinkedIn is Adding a ‘Topic and Post Prompts’ Feature to Creator Mode

 

TikTok is extending its Pulse ads offering to Pulse Premium, which will facilitate brands to have more control over ad placement alongside the most popular content on the platform.

 

Pulse ads, launched in May last year, were introduced by TikTok as a “contextual advertising solution.” They have enabled advertisers to place their ads alongside videos with the most engagement and views on any given day, across a range of categories.

 

Via Pulse Premium, advertisers will be able to choose where their ads are placed, adjacent to content from TikTok’s premium publishing partners in the following categories: lifestyle & education, sports, and entertainment.

 

Moreover, these ad placement opportunities will not be limited to everyday content but will be available for specific tentpole events as well. This will also help more publishers monetize their content on TikTok directly, while boosting existing partnerships too.

TikTok Expands its Pulse Ads Offering with Pulse Premium



Meta has introduced new feedback options for Facebook Reels displayed in users’ feed, that allow them to control what they want to see more or less of in their feed.

 

At the top of the three dots menu on a Reels clip, you will now see “show more” and “show less” options. Additionally, these options will also appear at the bottom of the screen as a prompt.

 


Facebook Users Can Now Control What Reels They Want to See in Main Feed


Blu-ray & DVD Formats Are Quickly Turning Out of Fashion

It is becoming clearer these days that even after peaceful coexistence for a couple of years, video streaming services will upend DVDs and Blu-rays in the long run, or nonetheless force them into a niche existence. Although the physical formats were considered to be immensely superior in terms of sound and image quality in the initial days of streaming 4K streaming with Dolby Atmos sound is no longer a problem, all thanks to high-bandwidth broadband and mobile connections.

Blu-ray & DVD Formats Are Quickly Turning Out of Fashion #Infographic


In a revived attempt towards the promotion of User Generated Content on its platform, Instagram has made some changes to its Paid Partnership feature and renamed the Branded Content Ad feature to Partnership Ads. The updates are also visible in a new pop up that you might be seeing in your feed.

 


According to Instagram’s new policy for Partnership Ads, brands will be able to promote all types of content that creators tag them in, and not just posts with the ‘paid partnership’ label. Such posts could include Instagram Collab posts, @mentions, people tags, product tags, and other content without the paid partnership label. As a result, creators will have more partnership opportunities.

Instagram Brings Important Changes to its Paid Partnership Functionality

 


In his broadcast channel, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Instagram is launching a new music option in photos that will let users add songs to their photo carousels. He further added that the option is already available in some countries.

 

The ability to add music in single photo posts on Instagram exists, however, the ability to add it in carousels is new and sounds more interesting. Carousels on Instagram are more popular than single photos anyway, which means that users would likely prefer to have music tracks divided within a photo thread, instead of adding them in single photos. Likewise, followers would most likely also enjoy listening to music as they swipe from photo to photo.

Instagram is Letting Users Add Music to Photo Carousels

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