This state is forcing users off social media apps by 10:30PM.

Your Weekly Short-Form Video Secrets:?A social media curfew? Plus a Millennial v. Gen Z fight.

Turn the (phone) lights off by 10:30??

The question of TikTok usage is back in the courts — and we’ll be keeping a close eye on how this one turns out. Long story short, Utah passed legislation in March that would ban minors from using social media platforms between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. without parental authorization. Age verification would also be required to maintain a social media account within the state. Now, a trade group that represents TikTok, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter) are suing. Whew. That’s a lot to digest. Grab some popcorn.

It’s not too surprising these companies would clap back on these restrictions. While there’s certainly lots of research about how social media can negatively impact children, it’s not clear whether curfew legislation would prevent that — or if this is a slippery slope that could lead to the government controlling more parenting decisions.?

What does this mean for you? This isn’t the first, and won’t be the last, attempt at restriction legislation for social media apps. We’ve seen lawmakers at the state and federal levels toss up ideas to ban TikTok, for example (but let the record show, it’s still alive and kicking). So it’s worth keeping an eye on, whether you have kids on social, or you just use it yourself. But at the end of the day, while the players may change (or be forced to step down), what won’t be shifting is user behavior. Short-form video is dominating the game, and as long as you’re prioritizing engineering good content, it will succeed regardless of the platform.?

What's Trending

With 20 million views and about 18K comments, this video leaned on a low-stakes generational divide to stir up lots of engagement.?

The situation: how do you make a “heart” sign with your hands? This creator integrates a little before and after into her video (the Millennial way of making a heart, then the Gen Z way). And she adds a clear opinion of which is right — giving people plenty to comment on. She showcases how upset she is about the Gen Z “finger hook” method, which is both a) an invitation to engage and b) relatable for any Millennial dealing with the rude awakening of no longer being the youngest generation.

As a bonus, this video has stirred up new content ideas for her. Commenters have encouraged her to do the “telephone” sign next.?

Your takeaway:?What’s something current and debated within your field? How can you attach your unique voice and values to that topic? Remember: your content shouldn’t just be dumping something onto viewers. It should be an open door to engage with you.?