Top Highlights from October 29- November 04!
Catch the Weekly Buzz with BAL! Discover the top social media news, creative highlights, and exciting collaborations.
LinkedIn is removing several of its celebratory post templates, like Appreciation, Welcome, and Skill Assessment Badge, leaving only the confetti option. This update seems aimed at encouraging users to create more original content rather than relying on templated graphics, which LinkedIn views as somewhat outdated. While some users may miss these templates, LinkedIn’s focus is shifting toward video and potentially AI-generated backgrounds, likely in an effort to make posts more unique and engaging.
Instagram has added message filters for creative accounts, making it easier to categorise message requests. The new filters allow you to sort messages by follower count, verified accounts, or brand accounts, while also adding a special folder such as “Story replies”. These changes are specifically aimed at making it easier to manage brand collaboration requests, allowing creators to quickly access important messages without missing them.
WhatsApp has launched a new “Lists” feature, allowing users to organize chats into custom categories like family, work, or neighborhood. Users can easily create and edit lists, which support both group and individual chats and appear in the filter bar for quick access. This feature is rolling out to all users, with further enhancements planned.
YouTube’s latest updates bring a revamped Studio Mobile with dedicated shelves for videos, Shorts, and live streams, along with better content management. The Comments tab is now “Community,” featuring enhanced audience metrics, community highlights, and AI-driven comment suggestions. Expanded AI video summaries and a new Help Center chatbot for support are also being rolled out to improve creator-audience interactions and support.
X is working to speed up the display of Community Notes on posts through a new “Lightning Notes” initiative, which aims to have notes appear within minutes, with some tests showing notes live in under 15 minutes. Previously, notes could take over an hour to be added. Posts with notes appearing within an hour will now show a lightning bolt icon to highlight the faster response. However, due to the high volume of posts, scaling this quick turnaround may be challenging, and delays may still reduce its effectiveness in countering misinformation promptly.
LinkedIn has introduced Hiring Assistant, an AI tool to streamline recruitment by automating tasks such as job descriptions, candidate sourcing, and communication management. Currently available to select large enterprises, the tool will expand more broadly in late 2025. Hiring Assistant enables recruiters to focus on candidate interactions by handling administrative work, with options for customization and updates to enhance recruitment strategies. Users retain control over the AI’s involvement, and LinkedIn plans further personalization based on individual recruiter preferences.
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CAMPAIGNS & COLLABS
The Toyota bZ4X campaign introduces its electric SUV as “a secret worth sharing,” blending modern design with tech focused on zero-emission ease and Toyota’s reliability. Using its T2 model, the campaign unites multicultural and mainstream marketing efforts. Highlights include dramatic, cinematic spots by Saatchi & Saatchi and Intertrend, like “Monster,” where the bZ4X rescues citizens, and “Gas Station,” where a passenger learns the SUV’s all-electric. Media placements span influencers, CTV, and digital, partnering with major platforms such as Netflix and Pinterest.
Apple’s “No Sweat” campaign, directed by Megaforce, uses a creative metaphor to showcase the incredible power of the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips in the new MacBook Pro. Featuring a weightlifter who spins massive weights effortlessly, the ad captures the M4 chips’ seamless performance in tackling intense tasks. Narrated by Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir and set to Des’ree’s classic “You Gotta Be,” the campaign emphasizes power and ease in an unforgettable display.
Sainsbury’s new Christmas ad features the BFG from Roald Dahl’s classic tale, who joins “Sophie,” a Sainsbury’s colleague, on a magical journey to gather festive foods. The ad showcases Sainsbury’s holiday offerings while bringing nostalgia and joy, thanks to the beloved character’s charm. Stephen Fry narrates, inviting customers to enjoy a “Big Christmas.” Additionally, Sainsbury’s has partnered with Comic Relief to provide over five million meals to families in need this season.
Facebook Marketplace has introduced a “Haunted Marketplace” featuring items from famously haunted locations across the U.S. This collection includes vintage dolls and mirrors with eerie histories. Notable listings, like Mystic Manor priced at $666,666, have generated significant buzz online since launching on October 25. The initiative allows collectors to own a piece of haunted history and share ghost stories.
Riot Games has partnered with Tiffany & Co. to redesign the Summoner’s Cup, awarded annually to the winner of the League of Legends World Championship. The new trophy, a symbol of excellence in esports, weighs 44 pounds and stands 27 inches tall, taking 277 hours to craft. This marks the return of the championship to North America for the first time since 2016.