It can feel like a full-time job to keep up with the ever-changing world that is social media, but don’t worry — we’ve got you covered with the latest and greatest social media updates from the past month.
Whether it’s Instagram revamping its profile layouts, LinkedIn amplifying its video features, or a number of other updates, there’s plenty to explore.
Let’s get into August’s roundup of social media news to ensure you’re always one step ahead.
Attention all Instagram perfectionists: your carefully curated squares might soon become…rectangles? Yes, Instagram is testing a new vertical grid display for profiles, swapping out the classic square thumbnail for longer, sleeker stills. This new layout seems to be designed to better align with video content, the app’s most engaging content format.
Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri confirmed the changes in a recent Q&A, saying that this shift is aimed at modernizing profiles to better reflect today’s content format, mostly in vertical formats.
Post by @lindseygamble_View on Threads
LinkedIn is stepping up its video game with the introduction of in-feed video carousels. These side-scrolling displays allow users to browse through tailored video clips without leaving the comfort of their feed. Tapping a video takes you to the platform’s full-screen video feed, similar to TikTok’s.
This new feature seems part of LinkedIn’s broader push to integrate more video content in an effort to engage younger audiences and capitalize on the rising popularity of short-form video. Just last month, LinkedIn highlighted that video uploads have surged by 34% year-over-year, contributing to the 1.5 million pieces of content being uploaded every minute. Whether this will reshape how professionals interact with the platform remains to be seen, as this type of video content seems conducive to what users are usually seeking on the app.
Instagram is bringing back a touch of nostalgia with its latest feature that lets you add a song to your profile. For OG social media users who remember the days of MySpace and its autoplay tracks, Instagram’s take is a bit more subdued. Now, users can add a track to their profile that visitors can choose to listen to.
🎵You can now add music to your @instagram profile (karaoke skills not included) 🎤 pic.twitter.com/H1tJ9PiwWS
— Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) August 22, 2024
This feature has been in testing for a while. It seems to be part of the app’s broader strategy to incorporate more music features, possibly positioning itself as a key player in music promotion, especially if TikTok’s future in the U.S. becomes uncertain.
Threads is continuing to evolve with some updates that might seem familiar. The latest updates include a new “Media” tab on profiles, making it easier to view all of a user’s image and video posts in one place.
In addition, Threads has introduced custom feeds, allowing you to create lists based on specific keywords or profiles.
Image Source: Ahmed Ghanem on Threads
These updates are part of Threads’ broader effort to refine the user experience and offer more personalized content streams. While Mosseri isn’t convinced these features will significantly boost engagement, they do align the app more closely with its competitors.
X is rolling out Grok 2, the latest version of its AI chatbot. This is likely another effort to drive more Premium sign-ups amid declining ad revenue and increasing costs. The update comes with new features like image generation and other functional improvements. As seen below, the AI chatbot is being prominently highlighted in the app to attract users to upgrade.
With user numbers shrinking and ad revenue down by 70%, X is looking to its AI initiatives. Grok 2 seems to be a key element in X’s strategy to shift its revenue model toward subscriptions. While the platform faces significant financial challenges, the launch of Grok 2 represents a critical move to stabilize its business.
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