Social Media updates and what they mean for you – April 27th

Say hello to this week’s social media updates you need to know.

TikTok
TikTok is inviting more US businesses to its shop test before rolling it out to more retailers.

No platform is safe from AI as TikTok looks to integrate their own set of generative AI tools.

What does this mean for me?
Depending on how this expanded test goes, TikTok could roll out its shop feature to more territories such as the UK. But as yet we don’t know if or when this will happen.

You could soon be able to create your own custom AI-generated profile images. All you need to do is upload selfies, select a style, and the robots do the rest.

LinkedIn
Custom call-to-action buttons are being rolled out for LinkedIn Premium users. The custom button will mean you’re able to send people to a specified URL from your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn has launched a new video series about people who’ve experienced setbacks in their careers as a way to increase their focus on original content.

What does this mean for me?
This could be excellent for anyone using the platform to build a personal brand. It’s not available to everyone right now but we have reassurance it’s coming to all premium subscribers soon.

If you’re interested in other people’s stories why not give the Catalyst series a watch? This could also mean they’re going to start prioritising video content, but that’s just a hunch!

Facebook/Meta
Meta is on track to recommend more AI-selected content in the feed, signifying a move away from their social graph which has previously given them their market advantage. You’ve got TikTok to thank for this shift.

Meta’s latest performance update shows usage and revenue continue to grow buuuut their profit margins are a mess.

Twitter fans who aren’t into Elon Musk’s weird antics are going to love this one – Meta’s alternative, ‘Barcelona’, is inching ever closer.

What does this mean for me?
Using more AI-recommended content means a bigger focus on the content you consume rather than the people you’re connected to. Which means more of what you love (hopefully) and less annoying posts from that long-distance family-friend you see once in a blue moon.

Usage has changed, with fewer people creating content which could be fantastic news if you’re one of the people who IS creating. Hello more eyes!

They’re pitching it as “Instagram for your thoughts” which actually sounds kinda fun. You’ll be able to use your IG details to log in, and your IG ID will be your username, posts will be up to 500 characters, and it’l be decentralised (whatever that means in Meta-land).

Twitter
Uuuuugggghhhhh Musk is at it again. Creator subscriptions will soon be a Twitter-Blue-only feature.

Twitter’s been threatening it for a while but prioritised tweets from Twitter Blue subscribers are officially here.

Make your bloody mind up Elon! After removing all blue ticks from accounts that weren’t paying for them last week, Twitter has now reinstated blue ticks for accounts with over a million followers. Confused? Us too. People really hate being forced to pay for Twitter Blue, with #BlockTheBlue trending.

In another baffling move, Twitter has removed State Affiliated and Government Funded Media labels. Although this could be a mistake, no one’s sure.

If you’re running ads, you will have likely received an email saying you must sign up for Twitter Blue or you won’t be able to advertise anymore. Why? Because Musk said so, that’s why. The actual reason is that take-up of Twitter Blue has been pitifully low and therefore they’re trying to make people sign up through brute force and bloody-mindedness.

What does this mean for me?
Regarding the Twitter Blue updates, unfortunately, Twitter is increasingly heading to a pay-to-play model which means that pretty soon you’ll need to be a Twitter Blue subscriber.

According to Twitter, 20% of users account for almost all tweets, which makes it even weirder that Musk is deprioritising them in favour of those that pay.

Removing state-affiliated labels makes it even harder to tell what’s real news and what’s total BS on the platform. Although why anyone is still heading to Twitter and expecting genuine news rn is beyond us.

If Twitter ads are a big part of your strategy you will likely want to sign up for Twitter Blue to ensure you can still run them.

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