Social Media Buzz Weekly: Roundup of Social Media Updates

Welcome to Social Media Buzz Weekly, your weekly bulletin of the latest social media updates. With the social media landscape evolving with each passing day, it can be challenging to keep a tab on the rapid developments. Well, not anymore, as we have taken it upon ourselves to keep you abreast of every happening in the social media space.

So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most significant developments from the last week in the world of social media.

1. Musk Outlines New $8 Per Month Twitter Blue Package, Including Verification Ticks For All

https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/01/elon-musk-says-twitter-blue-will-cost-8-month-with-regional-pricing/

Elon Musk has said that Twitter’s new paid plan will cost $8 per month — something that he mentioned in a reply to Stephen King’s tweet. Plus, the price will be adjusted according to purchasing power parity of the country, hinting toward a global launch of Twitter Blue.

Musk’s tweet also says that the social network’s current verification system is akin to a “lords & peasants” system. His tweet about the new paid plan indicated offering verification to subscribers.

2. Meta to Reportedly Announce Thousands of Job Cuts in the Coming Days

https://www.wsj.com/articles/meta-is-preparing-to-notify-employees-of-large-scale-layoffs-this-week-11667767794

According to The Wall Street Journal, Meta is planning to begin large-scale layoffs this week. The layoffs are expected to affect many thousands of employees and an announcement is planned to come as soon as Wednesday, according to the people.

Meta employs over 87,000 people in total, so while cutting thousands of roles will still be a significant reduction, in percentage terms, the impact will likely be marginal on its much larger business.

3. YouTube Announces Expanded Roll-Out of its Live-Stream Guests Feature

https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/04/youtube-go-live-together-co-streaming-feature/

YouTube has announced that it’s opening up its ‘Go Live Together’ option to more users from next week, which will provide more creative considerations for your live-streams in the app. YouTube began testing Go Live Together with selected creators back in March, and it’s now looking to take it to the next stage.

Go Live Together enables you to invite another YouTube user to your stream, with the video then displayed in vertical split-screen, providing new engagement and interaction options during a YouTube live broadcast.

4. Twitter Culls Around 50% of its Staff as Part of Elon Musk’s Reformation Plan

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/03/elon-musk-twitter-layoffs/

Twitter is reportedly going to lay off around 50% of its entire workforce, as it works to rationalize the business.

The Twitter transition team informed staff that they would receive an email that would let them know whether they still have a job or not. And while there are no official numbers as yet, internal managers have pegged the cull at around 50% of staff, with many long-serving experienced Tweeps bidding farewell via tweet.

5. WhatsApp Launches Communities to Maximize Topic-Based Discovery and Engagement

https://blog.whatsapp.com/communities-now-available

WhatsApp has launched its new ‘Communities’ update, which provides additional functionality for your group chats in the app. The new Communities process enables users to connect related group chats under a single banner, making it easier to stay in touch with broader context around a topic.

6. TikTok Announces New Programming and In-App Features for Native American Heritage Month

https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/native-american-heritage-month-2022

TikTok has announced a range of activations to shine a light on some of the best creators within the Native American community in the app, while it’s also providing new tools to enable users to participate in the festivities.

While it has launched a new space in the app where it will host its event content, TikTok has also announced a line-up of themed live broadcasts throughout this month, featuring creators who will showcase Native American culture and community.

7. Snapchat Launches New Integration with Strava, Enabling Users to Showcase their Fitness Activity

https://www.redmention.com/news/snapchat-launches-new-integration-with-strava-enabling-customers-to-showcase-their-health-exercise/

Snapchat has launched a new AR Lens integration, in partnership with fitness app Strava, which enables users to provide interactive, visual updates of their Strava activity.

The new Stava integration provides new overlay options, with data from Strava then integrated into your Snap camera display, facilitating new forms of engagement with your fitness progress.

8. YouTube Makes ‘Search Insights’ Available in More Languages, Adds Super Thanks Push Notifications

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/YouTube-Expands-Search-Insights-Adds-Super-Thanks-Push-Notifications/635650/

YouTube has announced that it’s making its Search Insights feature available in more languages, providing additional research capacity for your approach, while it’s also adding new Super Thanks push notifications to help maximize supporter engagement opportunities.

In April, YouTube rolled out Search Insights to all users, which provides info on key topics of interest among your viewers, based on their search activity. Search Insights provides info on overall search activity, across YouTube, among your viewers, along with data on search volume, and the amount of traffic that your channel has gleaned based on each query. You can access this in the ‘Analytics’>’Research’ element of YouTube Studio on desktop.

9. Snapchat Announces New Virtual Try-On AR Partnership with Amazon

https://newsroom.snap.com/amazon-ar-shopping-experience

Snapchat’s adding another string to its in-stream commerce bow, via a new partnership with Amazon which will see thousands of Amazon’s top-selling eyewear models added as Snap Lenses for virtual try-on in the app.

The ‘Amazon Fashion’ profile in the app will now feature a wide range of virtual try-on choices for eyewear, essentially acting as a complementary channel for online purchases of the same via Amazon.

10. YouTube Provides Users with Direct Access to Streaming Services via ‘Primetime Channels’

https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/more-of-your-favorite-content-on-youtube-with-primetime-channels/

YouTube has introduced the Primetime Channels feature, which will enable users to sign up to different streaming subscription packages and watch shows and movies from a range of providers, including Showtime, Starz, Paramount+, and more, all directly in the app.

Once you sign up to your chosen Primetime Channels, the new content will be integrated into your YouTube experience, with dedicated displays showcasing your expanded viewing options.

11. Snapchat Integrates with BigCommerce to Facilitate More In-App Shopping Options

https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/bigcommerce-and-snap-inc.-create-opportunities-for-merchants-to-reach-new-audiences

Snapchat has announced the next step in its push to integrate in-stream shopping elements, via a new integration with BigCommerce which will enable BigCommerce merchants to display their products in Snaps.

BigCommerce merchants will now be able to integrate their product displays into Snap, providing direct connection and exposure potential to Snap’s audience of 363 million primarily younger users.

Wrapping Up

And that was a wrap of this week’s Social Media Buzz. We’ll be back next Monday with more news and updates for you from the social media world. Till then, stay tuned!

If you want to read more on the latest developments taking place in the social media space, take a look at ClickInsights’ Social Media Buzz, wherein we bring to you monthly reports on everything going on in social media, ranging from platform updates to policy changes that influence the way we market.