The social media world is blooming with updates, and April brought plenty of fresh features worth knowing. Let’s dive in.
Instagram is rolling out a fresh feature for Reels, and it’s all about shared vibes and personalized content. Meet Blend—a new way to discover Reels WITH your friends, not just from them.
What is Instagram Blend?
Blend is a shared Reels feed between you and a friend (or a group chat). It takes both of your content preferences and creates a personalized stream of Reels you’ll both enjoy.
Once you’re in a DM with someone, tap the smiley face icon and hit “Create Blend.” Your friend will get an invite, and once they accept, you’ll start seeing a feed of Reels that reflect both of your interests. The feed updates daily, so there’s always something new to scroll through together.
Why Was Blend Created?
We’re seeing a shift toward more private, shared experiences on social platforms—people want to send funny videos to friends rather than post everything on the main feed. Blend leans into that behavior, making exploring content as a duo or group easier (and a little more fun).
Whether you and your bestie both love chaotic cooking videos or can’t stop watching pet Reels, Blend serves up the perfect mix. It’s also a great way to discover creators you might not have found on your own.
The TikTok saga continues. The U.S. government has once again extended the deadline for TikTok’s U.S. operations, this time to mid-June 2025.
For months, creators and brands have wondered: Should we keep investing in TikTok? With the deadline pushed again, the short answer is “yes”. TikTok remains fully operational in the U.S., and engagement hasn’t slowed.
The extended timeline also gives marketers and agencies breathing room to prep for potential platform shifts without pulling the plug too early. So while we don’t love the uncertainty, we are happy one of social media’s most powerful platforms is sticking around, at least for a little longer.
Another feature bites the dust. Instagram has officially pulled the plug on Content Notes, which allowed users to add a short message to posts or Reels and share it with those who followed them back or their Close Friends list. While some users enjoyed the feature, others barely noticed they existed.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced that the feature is being removed to simplify the experience and because it was not “adoptable.” Notes will remain in DMs—where they’ve seen strong use—but won’t clutter other areas of the platform moving forward. It’s part of a broader effort to make Instagram feel less overwhelming.
With Content Notes out, expect Instagram to keep testing new ways to spark private sharing. The app is leaning into messaging, but only where it actually adds value. And as always, features that don’t perform won’t last.
RIP Notes. You were quirky, short-lived, and surprisingly poetic (if only for a few months).
That’s a wrap! See you next month. 👋
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