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 look at some of the most significant developments from the last week in the world of social media.

1. Meta Is Testing Automated Creative Variations for Reels

https://megadigital.ai/en/blog/news-meta-new-auto-a-b-testing-for-reels/

Facebook is currently testing a new, automated process that will help you optimize the performance of Reels posted by a business page, by experimenting with different variations of the content.

Some Facebook Page managers are being prompted to try out “Auto A/B” testing within the Reels posting flow, which will create variations of your Reel and sample them with audience segments. It’s the latest update to Meta’s evolving automated creation options, with the platform also experimenting with auto-generated templates for Reels promotions, which help to optimize your creative into the best-performing Reels formats. Meta also added caption A/B testing for Reels creators last November, which is a similar, but more manual variation of the same.

2. TikTok Files Official Motion To Oppose US Sell-Off Push

https://www.voanews.com/a/tiktok-legal-filing-details-case-against-potential-us-ban/7665733.html

TikTok has officially filed its opening brief with the Federal Court as part of its legal challenge against the U.S. government’s “Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act”, which will force TikTok to be sold into U.S. ownership, or be banned from America and use by American citizens.

TikTok has been gearing up for its battle against the U.S. government, appointing a high-profile legal team to mount its counter approach. And now, it’s documented its official reasoning for opposing the bill, which it hopes will see it remain in operation in the U.S. The main emphasis of TikTok’s case is that the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act uses speculative justification to enact restrictions on TikTok specifically, despite providing no evidence of an immediate threat or concern.

Indeed, the complaint alleges that the primary focus is on the “speculative possibility” that TikTok could be misused in the future, not that it is, nor has been used as an influence vehicle in the past.

3. TikTok Accuses Federal Agency of ‘Political Demagoguery’ in Legal Challenge Against Potential US Ban

https://www.pinalcentral.com/business_and_technology/tiktok-accuses-federal-agency-of-political-demagoguery-in-legal-challenge-against-potential-us-ban/article_92b0d11e-e493-53c8-b5c5-99e07e07ccd4.html

TikTok has disclosed a letter that accuses the Biden administration of engaging in “political demagoguery” during high-stakes negotiations between the government and the company as it sought to relieve concerns about its presence in the US.

The letter – sent to David Newman, a top official in the Justice Department’s national security division, before US President Joe Biden signed the potential TikTok ban into law – was submitted in federal court along with a legal brief supporting the company’s lawsuit against measure. TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company ByteDance is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit, which is expected to be one of the biggest legal battles in tech and internet history.

The internal documents provide details about negotiations between TikTok and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a secretive inter-agency panel that investigates corporate deals over national security concerns, between January 2021 and August 2022.

4. Instagram Adds Live Streams for Close Friends Only

https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/20/24180239/instagram-live-close-friends-only-broadcasts

Instagram is looking to double down on more intimate group chats in the app, with the addition of Close Friends on Instagram Live, which will enable users to live stream with up to three other people in a private video session.

Now, you’ll be able to broadcast to your Close Friends only and invite others on your Close Friends list to co-host or join the stream. This will also expand your audience to their Close Friends as well, but essentially, it’s a live video option for smaller groups, which could help to facilitate connection in the app. Live video has become a key connector for younger users, as reflected in the popularity of D.M. video chats, TikTok Live, and even Omegle (before it shut down late last year). Close Friends on live aims to tap into the same, providing another way for Instagram users to connect in the app, and maintain community, within more close-knit groups.

5. Instagram Experiments With Chat Widgets to Prompt More Engagement

https://news.ayozat.com/story/instagram-tests-chat-widgets-fun-new-tools-to-liven-up-your-dms

Instagram’s seemingly developing new “Chat Widgets,” with a range of add-ons for your discussion, which could help to add more context, drive more engagement, etc.

The current list of chat widgets includes Countdown Widget, Timezone Widget, and Pinned Content Widget. If the feature is made available to brands, you could, for example, prompt customers with an offer, with a timer attached to accept. Having local time displayed would also be of benefit, to ensure that you’re responding at a reasonable hour.

6. Instagram Adds Music for Carousel Posts With Video

https://lightscamerasocial.com/blog/now-you-can-add-music-for-video-carousel-posts-on-instagram/

Instagram is keen to provide more ways for users to engage with music in the app, this time via the addition of music in carousel posts that include video clips. Now,  you can add music tracks to accompany your carousel updates, even if they include a video frame.

Instagram has been looking to add more music elements, likely with an eye to a future in the U.S. without TikTok. TikTok has quickly become a key element for music promotion, to the point that TikTok is now considered essential for many music publishers, with some artists even changing the names of their songs to align with music trends.

7. Snapchat Launches Brand Safety Verification With IAS

https://forbusiness.snapchat.com/blog/snap-ias-solution-ga

Snapchat has announced a new, third-party brand safety and suitability measurement solution, in partnership with Integral Ad Science (IAS), which will give Snap advertisers more peace of mind as to where their ads are being displayed within the app.

Snapchat initially announced its coming partnership with IAS back in March, which will enable brands to ensure safe ad placement, in alignment with the G.A.R.M. Safety Floor parameters. The G.A.R.M. Safety Floor Framework includes a range of agreed elements that are not acceptable to display advertising against. Snap advertisers will now be able to ensure that their promotions are not being shown next to this content, adding more assurance and peace of mind.

8. Snap Unveils Generative AI Assistance for AR Creation

https://adtechtoday.com/snapchat-unveils-new-generative-ai-powered-ar-features/

Snapchat’s adding some new generative A.I. elements to its Lens creation tools, which could be a big step towards democratizing AR creation, and facilitating all new types of experiences in digital environments.

Snapchat has a new generative AI lens tool that can digitally transport you into any scene you describe. Snap is also adding generative A.I. prompts to Lens Studio, which will enable AR creators to build custom models based on conversational queries. This has always been one of the key impediments in AR creation, in that it requires a level of technical knowledge to be able to put together truly unique AR experiences. But now, Snap’s taking another step towards democratizing AR creation, which will give more people the opportunity to create interactive, engaging AR experiences in the app.

9. X To Provide Insight Into When Your Audience Is Active

https://ustaff360.com/x-introduces-audience-activity-insights-a-game-changer-for-content-creators/

X is currently developing yet another improvement for its account analytics tools which will provide insight into when your audience is active in the app, which will help in planning out your optimal approach for posting, engaging, etc.

The new feature allows users to see the active times of their followers, helping them strategically schedule their posts for optimal reach. By understanding when their audience is most active, users can post content at times when it is most likely to be seen, liked, and shared. This insight is especially valuable for brands and influencers aiming to boost their visibility and engagement on the platform. 

10. X Will Soon Make Live Streaming a Premium Only Feature

https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/elon-musk-x-to-make-live-streaming-exclusive-to-premium-subscribers-19432191.htm

X is moving yet another feature behind its paywall, with live-streaming set to become a Premium-only element in the coming weeks.

X is having a problem with copyright and piracy violations in the app, with many users streaming illegal content via its live option. X says that by moving live streaming to a Premium-only feature, that’ll help to address this, while also improving the overall quality of content in the app.

11. X Adds Khloe Kardashian to Its Original Video Creator Slate

https://mediapract.com/news/x-adds-a-kardashian-to-win-back-users/

X has added another big name to its evolving video content slate, with a khloe Kardashian signing an agreement with X to create a new, 26-part “video podcast” on the platform.

X is touting the new show as part of its new “Originals on X” slate of programming, which will “center on premium, talent-driven concepts” that will initially be available only in the app. It’s interesting to note this approach in contrast to past Twitter video initiatives, which included signing exclusive contracts with the MLB, NFL, and NBA to air games directly in the app.

Wrapping Up

And that was a wrap of this week’s Social Media Buzz. We’ll be back next week 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.