Social Media Trends and New Features Monthly Report | October 2024
Empowered Digital Marketing
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?Welcome To The October Social Media Trends Report
Want to stay on top of the latest trends? Welcome to the Monthly Empowered Social Media Trends Report! We’ll help you choose the trends that matter most to your business. We analyze social media data all month and deliver a report at the end of the month so you can get ahead.
But first...
?Sales Funnel Course (+ FREE Access To Learning Library)
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Now on to the monthly trends…
New Profile Cards for User Connection
Instagram is rolling out new profile cards, a feature designed to make it easier to link to your Instagram presence. These digitally flippable cards provide a QR code for instant connection on one side, and a profile overview on the other, which includes your image, bio, category, and business links. You can also customize the card with a background image and a song that plays upon opening. While Instagram has experimented with QR codes and profile cards in the past with limited success, these revamped profile cards provide a simple, shareable summary of your Instagram presence, potentially boosting user connections. Source: Social Media Today
Instagram Enhances Reels with Draft Updates
Instagram has rolled out new features to improve the user experience with Reels. You can now name your Reels drafts, making them easier to identify and manage. Plus, scheduling functionality has been introduced, allowing you to set your edited Reels to go live at a later date directly from the drafts folder. These updates provide greater flexibility and control over your Reels content and scheduling, streamlining your content management process on the platform. Source: @lindseygamble_ via Threads
'Create Thread' Feature for Comments
Instagram continues to innovate with the introduction of a "Create Thread" feature for comments. By holding down on a comment you've made on a post and selecting this option, you can transform your comment into a Threads post that includes the corresponding Instagram post. This new feature provides an additional layer of interaction and context to your Threads content. Source: @lindseygamble_ via Threads
Instagram Adjusts Video Quality Based on Engagement Levels
Instagram has introduced an engagement-based quality adjustment for videos on Stories and Reels. According to Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, the platform aims to show the highest quality video possible, but if a video isn't frequently watched, its quality may be downgraded. However, if viewer engagement increases again, the video will be re-rendered in higher quality. This strategy is intended to optimize resources and improve user experience, but it could potentially disadvantage less popular content by reducing its playback quality. Source: Social Media Today
Use of Brand Logos on Reels
In a recent update, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri confirmed that using your own brand's logo on Instagram Reels will not affect their reach. This comes as a relief to businesses and content creators who were concerned about the visibility of their Reels. However, Instagram still penalizes the reach of Reels that carry logos from other apps, such as TikTok or YouTube Shorts, limiting their visibility in the Explore section and recommendations. So, while recycling content from other platforms isn't advised if you're aiming for a broader audience, incorporating your own branding into your Reels is perfectly fine. Source: Social Media Today
Boost Reach with Carousels with Music
In a significant update, Instagram announced that photos and carousels featuring music can now appear in the Reels tab, extending their reach to users who don't follow you. This recent change opens up new storytelling possibilities, allowing creators to combine compelling visuals, engaging text, and music for an enhanced audience experience. Tips for maximizing reach include using text in the first slide of a carousel to set viewer expectations and featuring visually striking images to encourage engagement. Carousels are particularly effective as they offer multiple engagement points and can reappear in followers' feeds, ensuring your content gets the attention it deserves. Source: Instagram
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? Threads
Mobile Analytics for Enhanced Performance Tracking
Threads has rolled out mobile analytics, providing users with a convenient way to monitor their performance within the app. The new feature, accessible via a dedicated chart button, offers insights on post views, likes, replies, re-posts, and audience demographics. Users can select a date range from 7 to 90 days for analysis, making performance tracking more versatile. With Threads steadily gaining momentum and user base, these new analytics could be increasingly valuable for social media marketers. Source: Social Media Today
Threads Boosts Real-Time Engagement with Active Status
Users online will now display a green dot on their profile picture, potentially encouraging others to interact, knowing a response is likely to be instantaneous. The feature, which can be switched off by users who prefer not to disclose their active status, is part of Threads' ongoing efforts to facilitate real-time discussion on the platform. Despite some restrictions on content topics, Threads is making strides to stimulate immediate discussions and engagement, becoming a more viable alternative for real-time social interaction. Source: Social Media Today
Extended Editing Window Now Available
Threads has responded to user feedback by extending the time window for post edits to 15 minutes. This change not only allows users more flexibility to adjust their posts but also affects those who have enabled sharing to the fediverse - Threads posts will now be shared to the fediverse 15 minutes after posting, once the editing window has closed. Source: @mosseri via Threads
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New Features for Enhanced User Experience
Facebook has announced a suite of exciting developments to enhance user experience and engagement. Key updates include the testing of new Local and Explore tabs to curate content from across Facebook, introduction of an updated full-screen Video tab that prominently features Reels, and the launch of Messenger Communities for small to medium groups to connect over shared interests. Additionally, Facebook is integrating AI technology to provide helpful comment summaries and answer user queries within groups. Source: Facebook
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LinkedIn Games
LinkedIn continues to diversify its platform by adding a new game to its lineup – "Tango," an image-matching logic game. Since LinkedIn launched its initial batch of puzzle games in May, user engagement has been promising, with a high percentage of players returning to play daily and weekly. The platform also plans to introduce new achievements and comparative scores, providing users with a fun way to track their progress and compete with others. These gaming features, aimed at boosting user engagement, underscore LinkedIn's efforts to increase regular visits from its members. Source: Social Media Today
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? TikTok
Flip Story for Enhanced Creative Expression
TikTok is expanding its creative toolkit with the introduction of "Flip Story," a feature that allows creators to add a second, hidden side to their stories, viewable with a flip. This new tool opens up exciting possibilities for engagement, with creators utilizing before-and-after visuals, exclusive announcements, or sneak peeks to enhance their storytelling. To create a Flip Story, creators must upload two sides to their Story, which can be done directly from the Create page or by uploading images from their device. This innovative feature brings an added layer of fun and surprise to the platform, offering yet another avenue for creators to connect with their audiences. Source: TikTok
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? X
X Raises API Access Fees, Impacting Third-Party Platforms
X has once again raised the price of its API access, causing potential challenges for third-party platforms that rely on X data. API access facilitates various functions, including post sharing, scheduling, and analytics, but the cost increase could force some third-party apps to shut down due to the high costs. The price of the formerly free "Basic" tier has doubled to $200 per month, and "Premium" access now costs $42k per month, with an additional $1 per month for each account connecting to X's API. This move might impact workflows for many users and limit X's ecosystem, potentially reducing the number of apps that incorporate X. Source: Social Media Today
"Radar", A Real-Time Trend Analysis Tool
X is broadening the deployment of "Radar," previously known as Insights, a real-time trend analysis tool aimed at helping users spot emerging trends as they occur. Access to this tool is currently being rolled out to select Premium+ users. The launch version of Radar promises exciting updates in the near future, enhancing its capability to provide real-time trend insights. Source: @premium via X
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? YouTube
Poll Stickers for Shorts and Ad Category Blocking
Creators can now add poll stickers to Shorts, inviting viewers to vote directly within the content, thereby driving interaction and engagement. Channels are also being given more control over their ad content with the introduction of ad category blocking. This feature, accessible via YouTube Studio, allows creators to block specific categories of ads from appearing on their content, providing them with more discretion over the advertisements associated with their videos. Source: Social Media Today
Playback Speed, Miniplayer, Sleep Timer, And Collaborative Playlists
YouTube is introducing several features designed to enhance the user experience. The platform will provide even more precise playback speed controls, allowing users to modify playback speed in 0.5 second increments, catering to those who appreciate detailed control over content consumption. The miniplayer is also getting a makeover for easier browsing while watching videos, including resizable and movable functionality. A new sleep timer feature will automatically pause videos after a certain duration, beneficial for users who often fall asleep while watching. Additionally, YouTube is launching collaborative playlists, enabling users to create shared playlists with friends and family, further promoting user engagement and connection. Source: Social Media Today
Enhanced Search Functionality in Comments
YouTube is rolling out an update to improve search functionality, allowing users to search directly from comments posted on both long-form videos and Shorts. Popular search terms found in comments will appear as clickable search shortcuts (highlighted in blue and bold with a magnifying glass icon). Clicking on these shortcuts will lead users to related content, with the originally viewed video continuing to play in the mini-player. This update, available on Android and iOS, aims to facilitate easier exploration of topics of interest. Source: YouTube
YouTube Extends Shorts Length to Three Minutes
YouTube has announced an update that allows creators to make Shorts up to three minutes long, expanding from the previous limit of 60 seconds. Additionally, the platform is updating its systems to accommodate this change, which includes the addition of creation tools for longer Shorts. However, creators should note that Shorts over 60 seconds containing copyrighted content will be blocked. Also, videos up to three minutes long and in square or taller aspect ratio will be considered Shorts, but this only applies to new content, not content already posted on the platform. Source: @CreatorInsider on YouTube
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Thanks for reading our October trends report!
-The Empowered Team