Liveworld

May has brought significant changes across the social media landscape, with platforms rolling out new features and tools to enhance user engagement and integrate more advanced technologies. Here’s a roundup of the latest updates: 

Meta 

• Enhanced AI Creation Tools: Meta has introduced new AI-driven tools for Facebook and Instagram ads, including image generation, image expansion, and text generation. Users can now also overlay text on images. 
• Verification for Business Subscription Package: Meta has added more elements to its verification for business subscription package, which is currently not launched in the US but is something to watch for global accounts. 
• AI Safety Collective: Meta has joined forces with other tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft in the FMF mission to ensure responsible AI development. 

Facebook 

• Decline in Referral Traffic: A recent report shows that referral traffic from Facebook is down as the platform reduces the reach of posts with links significantly. 
• Best Posting Times: Weekdays between 9 am and midday are the best times to post on Facebook, while Sundays see the least engagement. 
• Focus on Young Users: Facebook is renewing its focus on young users through various features like Marketplace for deals on furniture, Reels for exploring interests, Facebook Groups for local community connection, and Facebook Dating, which has seen a 20% increase in use among young adults in the US and Canada. 

Instagram 

• Cross-Posting to Threads: Instagram is testing cross-posting capabilities to Threads, where the Instagram post’s caption becomes text for the Thread post. 
• Reels Performance: Posting Reels over 90 seconds can hurt performance as they won’t be eligible for recommendations in Explore or Reels Tab. 
• New Features: Instagram is testing several new features, including a Peek option for quick image sharing, Notes on feed posts and Reels, recent Stories highlights on user profiles, and adding text overlays and image formatting within carousel posts. 
• Broadcast Channels: New features include IG Live for channel members only, custom themes, and blocking certain emojis. 
• Best Posting Times: Weekdays between 9 am and 2 pm are optimal for engagement on Instagram, with less activity on Fridays and weekends. 
• Unskippable Ads: You will need to watch the ad before you are able to continue scrolling.  

X/Twitter 

• Changes and Challenges: Twitter is now officially X. It’s looking to weaken blocking to increase transparency and will soon enable advertisers to create ad audiences with AI. The platform also recently lost a lawsuit against data scrapers. 
• Growth Challenges: X is offering ad discounts, indicating ongoing growth challenges. The platform is also developing new analytics for Communities and adding new features like Community-specific Spaces chats and improved moderator tools. 

LinkedIn 

• Updated Link Previews: LinkedIn has updated its link previews in organic posts with smaller images to encourage on-platform content creation. 
• New Ad Tools: The platform has also added premium video ad placement and more AI ad tools, including Microsoft Designer integration for generative AI campaign creative. 
• Best Posting Times: Company pages see the most engagement on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 10 am and 12 pm. 

TikTok 

• Legal Challenges: TikTok is facing regulatory hurdles, including a potential US ban, and has launched a legal challenge against the US sell-off bill. 
• AI Labeling: TikTok will now label content created by external AI tools to ensure transparency. 
• Collaboration Feature: Testing a collaboration feature for posts, similar to collaborative posts on Instagram. 
• 60-Minute Video Uploads: TikTok is testing the ability to upload videos up to 60 minutes long, catering to the demand for longer content. 
• New Ad Tools: Announced at a world event, TikTok is introducing a “creative AI suite” called “Symphony” for ad partners, a centralized location for marketing tools called “TikTok One,” marketing optimization solutions for TikTok Shops, and interactive add-ons for TopView campaigns. 
• DM Streaks: Testing DM streaks to prompt more engagement among users. 
• Best Posting Times: Posting on TikTok works best in the afternoon, from 2 pm to 6 pm on weekdays. 

Other Updates 

• Pinterest: Pinterest has added a media buyer certification course and shared insights into key summer trends. The best times to share are Tuesdays to Fridays at 1 am. 
• Snap: Snap continues to evolve its ad tools, remaining popular among younger demographics for messaging and chat. 
• Reddit: Reddit has partnered with OpenAI to bring Reddit content to ChatGPT and other products, and has announced its first Ads API partner in Sprinklr. 

These updates reflect the dynamic nature of social media, emphasizing AI integration, user engagement, and the continuous evolution of platform features. As these platforms adapt and grow, they set the stage for future developments in digital engagement and interaction. 

TLDR; Things are changing for social media. Twitter is officially gone. Instagram has introduced unskippable ads. Facebook is focusing on attracting back younger users. TikTok is still releasing new features, even though the ban looms. According to Pinterest, chunky highlights and layering jewelry are the summer trends. 

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Reagan Castleman is the Social Media Manager for LiveWorld’s social profiles. She enhances audience engagement through effective strategies that leverage both paid and organic channels. She can talk about social for literally hours and when she is not talking about it, she is researching all the little intricacies of each platform to make sure the social strategy for LiveWorld is current.