We made it through the first quarter of 2023 and the trend this month seems to be adding venerability and transparency to users. But it seems like each social platform has a different way of addressing this fad. Read on to learn about the ins and outs of the latest industry updates!
Social Media Updates
Twitter Will Only Show Verified Accounts on its ‘For You’ Page
To push Twitter Blue, Elon Musk has announced that starting April 15, Twitter will only display tweets of verified users on its For You Page which has become its default page. To be a verified user you will have to be subscribed to Twitter Blue and will receive the blue checkmark. Anyone with a blue checkmark who isn’t subscribed will have to pay $8 per month to keep it, or your blue legacy checkmarks will disappear starting April 1st. Additionally, Musk said only verified accounts can vote in polls. Making these previous free features restricted for Twitter blue subscribers is “the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over”, according to Musk.
TikTok Looks to Highlight its Value to the US Economy, Amid Ongoing Debate About Banning the App
The discussions of a U.S. ban on TikTok are heating up. Due to the ongoing bans and discussions, TikTok released a ‘TikTok Sparks Good’ docuseries which features diverse and inspirational creator success that expands beyond TikTok. Regardless of whether the app brings good or bad vibes, the discussion of the ban comes down to the app’s links to China and the provisions of China’s cybersecurity. Here is a list of the countries that have chosen to ban TikTok so far.
Instagram Has Started Putting Ads in Search Results
Instagram is placing more ads on the platform which will appear in the feed when users tap into a post on Instagram’s search results page. Ads appearing in searches are still in testing for now and Instagram plans on launching the new feature globally in the coming months. The platform will also be adding “reminder ads” which, if a user opts in, will send push notifications to remind users of an upcoming event or important date, sending reminders the day before, 15 minutes before, and at the start time.
LinkedIn Adds Native Post Scheduling for Company Pages and New Audio Event Options
LinkedIn is adding a native post scheduling feature that will allow company pages to follow other pages on the app. Even though scheduling posts on LinkedIn has been around on third-party apps, native posting can make it easier to tag other pages while giving an idea of what a post will look like before it goes live. Posts can be scheduled up to three months in advance allowing you to select a date and time. Scheduled posts can be viewed in the company page tools and are only available on the web version of LinkedIn. Additionally, company pages will be able to share an automated post when they add an open job listing to help with exposure and reach. The platform is also adding audio events for Company Pages to engage with their audience on the platform. This will allow company pages to host audio events, while users can tune into industry-specific discussions with leaders. These audio events first launched in creator mode last June but are now available for company use.
Instagram Is Testing Full-Length Reel Replays Within Stories
Instagram is working to add more integration between stories and Reels by playing the entire duration of Reels when shared in Stories. As of now, when a Reel is shared viewers only see 15 seconds and need to tap to view the rest. This is another way that Instagram can take advantage of the growing popularity and engagement of Reels.
Industry News
Amazon Starts Flagging ‘Frequently Returned’ Products That You Maybe Shouldn’t Buy
Amazon will begin to warn consumers when products sold on the site are regularly shipped back for returns with a ‘frequently returned’ tag. This label is to help shoppers make more informed purchasing decisions and avoid products that are misleading or low-quality. This can also encourage sellers to be more transparent on their product pages and address and fix issues that lead to returns. There is no official rollout date for the new tag at this point.
Google’s Ads Transparency Hub Finally Lets You See More About Who Is Behind an Ad
Google will be making it easier to find information about advertisers behind ads that users see across searches on YouTube and other Google ad sites. The ‘Ads Transparency center’ will be a searchable hub that will contain a library of ads from verified advertisers. Users can search ads directly in the hub or by clicking the three dots next to a Google ad. The center is planned to launch over the coming weeks.
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