With the start of a new month, it’s time to dive into the latest social media updates from October; here’s what you need to know.
YouTube continues to fine-tune its Shorts experience, but there’s been a bit of confusion along the way. Earlier this month, YouTube announced that videos up to three minutes long would now qualify as Shorts. Naturally, creators had questions — would this impact their older short videos?
To clarify, YouTube reassured creators that any videos uploaded before October 15, 2024, won’t be converted into Shorts. Only new vertical videos of three minutes or less, uploaded after this date, will be categorized as Shorts. It’s a simple update, but one that could take some time to adjust to — YouTube says the transition could take a few weeks as their system updates.
In addition, YouTube is making custom membership badges easier to upload, expanding Sponsored Content tagging to mobile, and rolling out Shorts drafts across Android and iOS. While none of these updates are groundbreaking, they’ll certainly streamline the content management process for creators across desktop and mobile.
Meta is inching closer to tighter integration between Instagram and Threads. Currently, it’s testing a feature that will let you easily share content directly from Instagram to Threads. The idea is simple: posts and Reels from your IG account will show up in your Threads composer for quick reposting.
Image Source: Alessandro Paluzzi
It sounds convenient, but there’s a potential downside — double-posting content might annoy followers who track you on both platforms. That said, Meta must have data suggesting that cross-posting is already common, which could explain why they’re exploring this feature.
While this update could encourage more users to share content across both apps, we’ll have to wait and see whether it enhances user experience or simply leads to content overload. Meta has informed TechCrunch that the feature is currently in internal testing, though there’s no confirmed timeline for a public rollout yet.
Threads is working on a new feature that could help users find more relevant discussions: “Loops.” This upcoming addition is designed to function as a community space, where users can organize specific Threads under one topic-focused Loop. Think of it as a way to sort your content and discover conversations that matter to you.
Image Source: Alessandro Paluzzi
The name “Loops” is clever — a “loop” in a “thread”, creating a space for topic-specific engagement. It’s also similar to X’s Communities feature, which organizes content by theme. While Loops could make it easier for users to engage in targeted conversations, it’s still unclear how well this feature will integrate into Threads' public posting setup. Nevertheless, it’s another step in Meta’s efforts to improve user engagement on the platform.
Instagram is offering creators a little extra guidance with the launch of its “Best Practices” section within the Professional Dashboard. Here, Instagram is doling out tips on how to maximize your reach — like posting 10 Reels a month to keep your content fresh and front-of-mind for followers.
Sure, the tips are research-backed, but it’s hard not to be skeptical when a platform encourages creators to keep posting frequently (which, of course, benefits Instagram, too). While quantity matters, we all know that creating content that truly resonates with your audience is what counts. And one powerful Reel could do more for your profile than posting endlessly.
Still, the new Best Practices section could offer some useful insights, especially when it comes to aligning your posting strategy with data-backed trends. Just don’t expect any earth-shattering revelations.
Looking to boost your reach on Instagram? According to IG chief Adam Mosseri, posting carousels could be your best bet. Carousels, which now allow up to 20 frames with added music, provide multiple opportunities for engagement. And more engagement equals more reach.
Mosseri explains that carousels often outperform single-photo posts for two reasons: first, more media means more interactions, which boosts visibility. Second, if a user doesn’t swipe through your carousel, Instagram may automatically show them the next image on their feed, giving the post a second chance to capture attention.
As an added bonus, carousels with music are eligible to appear in the Reels tab, offering even greater reach. While carousels shouldn’t be forced, Mosseri suggests that if you have the content, they’re worth considering as part of your strategy. With Instagram also allowing text overlays and multi-format display options in carousels, there’s more flexibility than ever to make your posts stand out.
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