Social Media Trends and New Features Monthly Report | December 2024
Empowered Digital Marketing
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?Welcome To The December 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...
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Now on to the monthly trends…
? Meta
Meta's AI Tools Continue to Miss the Mark
Meta's heavy investment in AI tools continues to raise questions about their actual value to users. Despite the company's excitement over its AI developments, many of these tools, such as AI-created images and celebrity-styled AI chatbots, seem to offer little practical value and sometimes even dilute the user experience on Facebook and Instagram. While generative AI has the potential to revolutionize various industries, the gap between the internal excitement about these tools and their practical utility to regular users remains significant. Source: Social Media Today
Instagram Enhances Broadcast Channels with Replies, Prompts, and Insights
Instagram is introducing significant updates to its Broadcast Channels to foster deeper engagement between creators and their community. With over 1.5 billion messages exchanged monthly, the platform is now allowing fans to reply to messages and engage with each other. Additionally, the new Prompts feature enables creators to initiate conversations with Q&As and daily check-ins. Instagram is also rolling out enhanced insights that offer performance metrics, such as total interactions, story shares, and poll votes, along with best practices to help creators achieve their goals. These updates have rolled out globally, aiming to make interactions more meaningful and collaborative. Source: Instagram
Screenshot Blocking for View-Once Media
Instagram is enhancing user privacy by rolling out screenshot blocking for Direct Messages (DMs) exchanged in "Vanish Mode" or when "View Once" is active. This feature provides users with additional assurance when sharing content that is meant to be seen only once. Although Instagram already alerts creators when recipients screenshot their content in these modes, the new update completely disallows it, offering a more definitive measure of protection. This update could be particularly beneficial for younger users, amid recent discussions on the impact of social media on teens' mental health. Source: Social Media Today
Scheduled Direct Messages Feature
Instagram has begun rolling out a new feature that allows users to schedule Direct Messages (DMs). Users with access to this feature can compose a message and then hold down the send button to select a date and time for the message to be sent. After scheduling a message, users will see a confirmation in the chat that reads "1 scheduled message." This new feature provides users with greater flexibility in managing their DMs on the platform. Source: @lindseygamble_ via Threads
Instagram Introduces 'Collage' Feature for Stories
Instagram is testing a new 'Collage' feature for Stories, allowing users to post a collage of images from their camera roll. Unlike Instagram's existing Layout option, this feature offers a more free-form approach, allowing users to create a variety of visual designs. This addition seems to be Instagram's response to the popularity of collages on Pinterest's “Shuffles” app. Collages could potentially become a new consideration for brands, especially if Instagram follows Pinterest's footsteps and includes shoppable product pins within these creations. Source: Social Media Today
Trial Reels for Audience Feedback
Instagram is testing a new feature, "Trial Reels," aimed at helping creators gauge the potential success of their content. The feature allows creators to share their new Reels with a selection of non-followers first, providing them with valuable feedback without the risk of disappointing their existing audience. After approximately 24 hours, creators can view key engagement metrics and compare these insights against previous trials to assess content performance. If a trial Reel performs well, creators can choose to share it with everyone, increasing its reach. This feature is currently being rolled out to select creators and will be available globally in the coming weeks. Source: Social Media Today
Feature for Displaying Missed Story Highlights
Instagram is experimenting with a feature designed to show users unseen Story Highlights from their mutual followers. The feature, currently being tested with a small group, displays these missed Highlights at the end of the Stories tray. As Instagram's platform becomes increasingly crowded with features like Reels and sponsored posts, this new tool aims to ensure users don't miss original content from their friends and family. However, only users who view all current Stories in the tray will see these unseen Highlights. The feature focuses on Story Highlights that users have saved to their profiles, rather than standard Stories that disappear after 24 hours. Source: Tech Crunch
Hide View Counts on IG Reels and Replies on Threads
Meta is experimenting with new features that give users more control over their metrics on Instagram and Threads. On Instagram, creators might soon be able to hide view counts on their Reels, potentially encouraging users to explore more content rather than focusing on the most viewed clips. On Threads, users may have the option to remove the listing of their Threads Replies from their profile, creating a more comfortable environment for sharing thoughts. These tests are in line with Instagram's shift away from vanity metrics, focusing on meaningful user engagement rather than likes and follower counts. Source: Social Media Today
Threads Rolls Out Updates in Response to Bluesky's Rising Popularity
Threads appears to be responding to the growing popularity of Bluesky by rolling out a series of updates, many of which mirror Bluesky's features. Despite neither app coming close to X's 570 million monthly active users, the sudden burst of updates from Threads and public comments from Instagram and Threads chief Adam Mosseri indicate a level of concern over Bluesky's surge in momentum. Meta originally created Threads to capture users alienated by changes in Twitter/X, but Bluesky's growing appeal, particularly among tech journalists and celebrities, threatens to dilute that potential market share. While Threads remains the leading X alternative, Bluesky's swift user growth could make it a formidable contender in the near future. Source: Social Media Today
Threads Individual Post Metrics
Threads is currently experimenting with changes to its Insights feature, specifically focusing on metrics for individual posts. As Threads enhances its algorithm to display user posts to a broader segment of their followers, understanding which content resonates with the existing audience has become even more crucial. Feedback from users included in this test will play a significant role in refining the feature to help creators better engage with their community. Source: @mosseri via Threads
领英推荐
Alternate Feeds at Top of Main Feed
Threads is rolling out a feature that keeps various feeds visible on the home screen, enabling users to switch easily between their "Following" or "For You" streams and custom lists. This update, inspired by Bluesky’s functionality, replaces the swipe actions on posts with traditional social media functions. The changes follow a surge in Bluesky's popularity, driven by its user-friendly features for audience building and news content reach, which exposed the limitations of Threads' algorithm-based feed. Threads' recent updates, including a default Following feed and improved search, seek to address these issues and regain user interest. Source: Social Media Today
Resharing Feature without Quote Posting
Threads is introducing a new feature that allows users to reshare photos and videos from posts they come across on the platform, crediting the original poster in the process. This feature enables users to contribute their unique perspectives to trending content without quote posting. Users can access this feature by long pressing any media or tapping the repost icon, selecting "use media," and creating their own post. Source: @mosseri via Threads
Post Scheduling Feature Coming
Threads is responding to user demands by testing a scheduled posts feature within the app. Users will soon have the ability to schedule a post directly from the composer, making it easier to plan their Threads posting process. While this feature has been available through third-party platforms since March, its native availability is expected to enhance post formatting and direct platform analytics. The scope of the initial test has not been confirmed, but Threads is set to begin trialing the feature in the near future. Source: Social Media Today
Threads Continues to Grow Despite Bluesky's Rise
Threads continues to gain traction with a reported 300 million monthly active users and over 35 million sign-ups in November alone. Despite the rising popularity of Bluesky, which currently has 20 million active users, Threads remains the leading alternative to Twitter, even topping the iOS downloads chart in November. Instagram and Threads chief Adam Mosseri confirmed that the surge of updates and new features on Threads was partly in response to Bluesky’s growth. While Bluesky's growth could potentially dilute Threads' market share, Meta's replication strategy and Threads' constant updates suggest a promising future for the platform. Threads' ability to attract a vast audience and keep them engaged will play a critical role in its bid to become Meta's next billion-user platform. Source: Social Media Today
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Larger In-Stream Video Display
LinkedIn is focusing on enhancing the video experience on its platform by testing larger video panels that appear between regular posts in the feed. The new video format, currently being trialed with a select group of iOS users, features rounded corners for greater in-stream visibility. Tapping on a clip takes users to LinkedIn’s immersive video feed, which has seen a 36% usage growth this year. Despite some questioning the suitability of this TikTok-style format for LinkedIn's professional content, the platform is striving to capitalize on its popularity, particularly among younger users. Source: Social Media Today
Paid Boosting for Personal Updates
LinkedIn is testing a new ad option that allows users to pay to boost their personal posts for increased reach within the platform. This feature, currently being tested with a limited number of paying users, provides an easy way to amplify personal updates similar to the existing "Boost" option for business posts. It's designed to help users build their personal brand and establish themselves as influencers in their respective sectors. The boost option is currently available for text, image, article, video, and newsletter posts, offering a new way for individuals and businesses to increase their presence on LinkedIn. Source: Social Media Today
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? TikTok
Possible Reprieve for TikTok as Trump Urges Supreme Court to Block Ban
President-elect Donald Trump has appealed to the Supreme Court to delay a law that would necessitate the sale or shutdown of TikTok. The law is set to take effect the day before Trump's inauguration. Trump's legal filing suggests that a delay would allow his administration to negotiate a resolution to preserve the platform while addressing national security concerns. This move comes as a surprise, given Trump's previous stance on banning the popular social media app during his first term. The final decision of the Supreme Court remains uncertain. Source: PBS
AI Labels for Enhanced Transparency
TikTok is introducing new measures to increase transparency around the use of AI in content creation. The platform is collaborating with the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) to label content modified by AI from external sources. This initiative aims to provide users with more oversight and reduce misinformation. However, the effectiveness of the labeling process depends on the participation of all generative AI projects in the C2PA. Additionally, TikTok is partnering with MediaWise to launch AI media literacy campaigns to educate users about identifying AI content. Source: Social Media Today
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? X
Follower vs. Non-Follower Engagement Data
X has introduced an upgrade to its analytics, revealing the engagement split between followers and non-followers on user posts. This new feature offers valuable insights for users striving to expand their following. However, with the growing reliance on algorithmic recommendations in "For You" feeds, more users are interacting with content from non-followers, raising questions about the effectiveness of the "Follow" function. The pivot towards algorithm-based content suggestions has increased overall engagement but poses challenges for creators aiming to build and monetize their community. The addition of follower vs. non-follower interaction data could lead to a reassessment of the platforms' strategies, prioritizing content from followed profiles. Note that these advanced insights are exclusive to X Premium users. Source: Social Media Today
Labels for Parody and Fan Accounts
X, formerly known as Twitter, is implementing new labels for parody and fan accounts to prevent misrepresentation and misunderstanding within the platform. These labels will clearly distinguish these accounts from the actual entities they represent. Failing to add these labels could result in account suspension. This move comes after a surge in impersonating accounts following the introduction of purchasable verification checkmarks. The new labels aim to restore the trust of brands and users, which was affected by the rampant impersonation, and to differentiate genuine user accounts from parody ones. Source: Social Media Today
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? YouTube
Audio Replies to Video Comments
YouTube is trialing a new feature that allows creators to reply to comments on their videos with voice notes. This enhancement, currently being tested with a select group of creators in the US, aims to boost fan engagement by providing a more personal response. While it's similar to TikTok's video replies, the audio replies feature could offer quicker responses while maintaining a high level of personalization and engagement. The full rollout of this feature will bring an additional tool for YouTube creators to consider in their engagement strategies. Source: Social Media Today
Auto-Dubbing Feature in Multiple Languages
YouTube is expanding access to its auto-dubbing feature, allowing creators to share their content in various languages by enabling audio translations. Available through a simple checkbox in the upload process, these translations aim to broaden the reach of content to a more diverse audience. Currently, auto-dubbing is available from English to French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, and vice versa. Although there may be slight inaccuracies in translation, YouTube includes warnings on auto-dubbed clips indicating that the translation was auto-generated. The feature is being rolled out gradually and can be found under "Advanced Settings" in YouTube Studio. Source: Social Media Today
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Thanks for reading our December trends report!
-The Empowered Team