This month has seen some major shakeups in the social media world. From LinkedIn taking inspiration from TikTok to Instagram giving us serious 2007 throwback vibes, here are the top five social media updates you won’t want to miss.
Noticed something off about your Instagram grid lately? You’re not imagining things –Instagram is testing a new profile grid layout, swapping out the classic square thumbnails for a rectangular shape.
According to Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri, this update is all about keeping up with the times, especially with the rise of Reels. The goal is to make your grid look cleaner and more consistent. As Mosseri puts it, “The vast majority of what is uploaded to Instagram today is vertical… cropping it down to a square is pretty brutal.”
So, will this change shake up your posting strategy? And is it useful or just another update to navigate?
They say, ‘always be yourself,’ but LinkedIn seems to be taking a different approach with their latest update.
In recent weeks, the platform has gone HARD on video content, introducing a side scrolling ‘videos for you’ carousel in users’ feeds. Once clicked, users are taken to a full-screen display that feels more like TikTok or Instagram than the usual LinkedIn feed. Videos are recommended based on activity and profile details.
From a strategic perspective, it does make sense – video is consistently proven to be the best form of content for driving engagement, particularly among a younger audience, but is this TikTok-style format a good fit for LinkedIn’s professional crowd? According to LinkedIn themselves, video uploads have jumped 34% compared to last year, but whether that’s translating to more engagement remains to be seen. It’ll be interesting to watch how professional video content, like event live streams, evolves across social media in the months ahead.
Now You See Threads, Now You Don’t
Next up, we’ve got news from the often-overlooked social media sibling: Threads.
After testing the waters earlier this year, Threads is now rolling out a live trial of disappearing posts for a select group of users, as it continues its battle with X.
Considering how past tweets often have a way of resurfacing at the worst times, Threads aims to offer a little more peace of mind with users being able to have their posts vanish after 24 hours.
This could be a game-changer, setting Threads apart from X and possibly luring more users to switch. Could it spell the end of cancel culture, or just open the floodgates for more reckless posting?
Instagram Takes Us Back To 2007
Raise your hand if you miss the MySpace days. Well, no need to get too nostalgic –Instagram is throwing it back with a new feature that’s giving serious mid-2000s vibes. Users can now add a song of their choice to their profile, just like the good ol’ days.
While it won’t auto-play when someone lands on your page (sorry, no dramatic theme songs), it’s a fun way to show off your personality. Or, if you’re a musician, sneakily promote your latest track.
And if you’re thinking, ‘Wait, didn’t they try this before?’ You’re not wrong. It didn’t quite take off back in 2022, but with TikTok now fueling the social media and music connection, the timing in 2024 feels spot on. Plus, with TikTok’s future a bit shaky in the US, Instagram is smart to jump on the music train.
All we can say is, thank you for the music, Instagram.
As we mentioned, TikTok’s future in the States is looking a little uncertain, and reports have shown that the app’s growth has started to plateau. It seems like this is causing some concern for the video-sharing giant, as, in a recent attempt to attract new users in the US, they’ve been offering incentives to current users when they invite creators with large followings on YouTube and Instagram. Incentives include a $300 coupon to promote their videos or a $100 Amazon gift card.
TikTok recently introduced a similar incentive in Europe, but it was quickly taken down over fears of EU fines.
While these incentives are great for users looking to make some extra cash, it does pose the question of why such a huge platform needs to ‘bribe’ creators to sign up. Will the incentives return to Europe and what does TikTok’s future look like? We’ll be watching closely…
