Every time we start thinking we won’t have many social media updates to share with you at the end of the month, we’re hit with loads in one go! This month has once again been packed with updates, announcements and new features to each platform. Here are some of the changes we’ve spotted throughout the month…
SHARE FACEBOOK POSTS TO YOUR STORY
The beady-eyed Facebook users among us may have spotted a new sharing option when they hit the ‘share’ button at the bottom of a post.
Alongside the options to share the Facebook post to your newsfeed or to a group, you will now see a new option to share that post to your story. Once again, very Instagram.
AUTO-CAPTIONS ON LINKEDIN
LinkedIn are introducing new features to make the platform more accessible.
One of these updates, is that captions will automatically be generated from a video once this is uploaded. Much like Facebook, LinkedIn will automatically add captions to videos during the upload process, which you can choose to implement immediately or review and edit for accuracy.
Other accessibility features added include a new ‘high-contrast’ option for your mobile app newsfeed.
FACEBOOK INTRODUCES NEW GROUP FEATURES
Facebook has announced new features to Facebook Groups, enabling members to engage with their community in more ways, and make it easier for admins to manage Groups.
One of these new features is that Reels can now be posted into Groups, as well as onto Facebook Business Pages!
Other features include updates to your Group Profile allowing you to customise the ‘About Me’ section and add an indicator to your profile if you’re open to messaging.
INSTAGRAM BRINGING BACK MYSPACE?
There is some leaked news going round (which Meta are yet to comment on) that Instagram are testing a ‘new’ feature where users can add a song to their profile.
Once you have selected a song, whenever someone visits your profile, that song will start playing…
I know, it’s like people don’t remember MySpace!
POP MUSIC ON PINTEREST
Sometimes we do wish we were sharing legitimately new features with you that weren’t just social media platforms copying off each other… But today is not that day!
Pinterest are said to be bringing popular music to Idea Pins. So just like you can add trending and popular music on TikTok and Instagram Reels, you can basically do that on Pinterest now too.
YOUTUBE @HANDLES
If you own a YouTube channel, it is likely you will have received an email in the past week or so, letting you know that you can now set a @handle for your channel.
This should make it much easier to bring people to your YouTube channel, and to make it consistent with your other social media accounts. So, instead of sending people to a long and complicated URL filled with random numbers and letters, people can now find you through your unique handle.
If you do have a YouTube channel, it’s worth setting your @handle before 14th November or you will automatically be generated one by YouTube.
TWEET STATUS INDICATORS ON TWITTER
Remember when Facebook introduced the option to add emotions to a post, to add tone and context when words aren’t enough?
Well, Twitter is introducing pretty much the exact same thing with Tweet Status Indicators.
The new status indicators allow you to add another element to your Tweet, when 280 characters simply aren’t enough. As well as emotions, the indicators will also include options such as ‘Spoiler Alert’, ‘A thread’ and ‘Unpopular opinion’ to add extra context.
Status indicators will also be searchable, which could be a good way to follow a topic and find content to interact with.
MULTIPLE LINKS IN INSTAGRAM BIOS
Instagram has always limited users to having just one external link in their profile bio, and unlike other platforms does not allow links in the body of their posts. Well, they allow them, but they won’t work!
Instagram now are said to be testing allowing multiple links within a profile bio, so users aren’t so limited with where they send their followers.
This could be a good move from Instagram, but we’re not sure it it will just make profiles look super messy? It’s definitely not good news for our trusty pals, Linktr.ee though…
AUDIENCE CONTROL ON TWITTER
Sick of random accounts tagging you in irrelevant tweets? Twitter’s new audience control features could be what you’ve been waiting for!
Twitter are testing new control features which allow you to restrict which accounts can tag you in their tweets, from anyone at all, to only people you follow, to completely blocking certain accounts.
NEW CHIEF TWIT ENTERS THE TWITTERSPHERE
We couldn’t really let this month’s round-up pass without a mention of the month’s BIG social media news… As we’re sure you’ve all heard, Elon Musk has officially taken the top seat of Twitter.
The billionaire’s $44 million takeover officially went through late last week, and he of course went straight to his Twitter bio to dub himself ‘Chief Twit’ as apparently ‘normal’ job titles are overrated.
It sounds like some big changes are already underway and we’re sure we can expect plenty more over the coming months.
THAT’S ALL FOR THIS MONTH
We hope you enjoyed this month’s round-up and we can’t wait to see what November has in store! Be sure to keep an eye out for next month’s update to see what’s changed!
Don’t forget, you can also get our monthly updates straight through to your inbox when you subscribe to our newsletter here.
Is there something we’ve missed? We’d love to hear any other changes you’ve spotted in the last month, so be sure to share them with us on social media.