Facebook’s changing its look, TikTok’s going to court again, and who says adults can’t play too?

Instagram’s helping you get ahead with personalised “Best Practices”?

Instagram has introduced a new “Best Practices” section within its Professional Dashboard, offering creators a chance to bolster their content efforts. The section is a dedicated space for Instagram to share tips and tricks, based on a user’s own shared content. The best practices tailored to your own content provides realistic improvements for future content, and helps you track performance against goals. Though the tips might seem obvious to the pros, the section is incredibly helpful for creators and influencers starting to make their way in the social landscape.?

Facebook’s look and feel makes its way into the 21st Century

Following Meta’s recent report showing it now has a younger demographic returning to the app, the company is unveiling a brand new look and feel to Facebook. Introducing a new ‘local’ and ‘explore’ feed that incorporates content from Reels, Marketplace, Groups and Events, this new look and feel is intended to make Facebook a place where young people find places to go, groups to join and opportunities to shop, all in one place. As we already know, the younger generation is turning to TikTok for search purposes over Google, so this move from Facebook clearly aligns with the desire to use social apps for information and discovery instead of simply content consumption.

US v TikTok Round 2: Teen safety enters the ring

Recently, Instagram announced a string of safety measures that it has brought into place to keep users 16 and under safe whilst using the app. Which is interesting timing following this week’s update that the US has launched a legal case against TikTok following concerns for teen safety in the app. Due to the algorithmic makeup of TikTok, users are exposed to more areas of the internet than ever before, but the main concern for this case is the mental health and well-being of teen users, as they can access content that they would otherwise be protected from. We will have to wait and see what outcome this has for the app, especially with the potential shut down of the app being brought to court in January 2025.

Need to Know

Just because we grow up, doesn’t mean we stop having fun!

From the Bratz dolls and Mean Girls collaboration, to LEGO’s 'Play is your superpower' billboards in Times Square capturing our attention through a 3D experience and a world of LEGO for adults, childlike play is becoming increasingly woven into adult pop culture. This is also seen through viral brands like JellyCat who are capitalising on this trend by transforming their viral popularity into physical stores that offer real-life experiences encapsulating this, such as their ‘fish and chip’ store, where they even pretend to put salt on your chips at the till. This growing connection not only allows brands to showcase their playful side, but their ability to connect with the wants and needs of a generation that desires relief from the stresses of everyday life, and yearns for a time before social.

Is this the end of subcultures?

Or, have we entered an age where brands can speak to the masses by adapting brand identity to the trend of the moment? We seemingly have evolved from the age of Flower Power, and Mods and Rockers, to an age of social media where keeping up with the microtrends and fitting the mould is the only way to fit in, essentially losing any sense of individuality. However, this isn’t the case. This generation has created space for the birth of remixing, blending a trending moment with a subculture, allowing brands and creators to speak specifically to more cultures than before, all at once. Rather than losing the subculture, are we actually entering an age of community and incorporation, where pigeon holes are gone and togetherness is in.

Thanks for reading! Make sure you subscribe to have the hottest news delivered directly under your thumb.?

If you want to know how Digital Natives can help put your brand at the centre of attention, then get in touch!

Let’s get the world talking—together.