In this week’s edition of Digital Updates, we have some digital updates you ACTUALLY want to see. From Filtered DMs, AI music and Chatbots, Meta, YouTube and Instagram are delivering the goods. We can’t wait to how these roll out and the results we get from testing them out on us and our clients (#sofetch).

Filtered DMs? Yes please!

Finally, an Instagram update we’ve all been asking for (about time). Instagram has brought in a new messaging feature which means that DMs from users not connected within the app will now be limited to text-only invites. Meaning no more unwanted spammy images or videos without consent (looking at you sugar daddies). The recipient will have to accept the message before any further contact can be made 📣. And users will only be able to send a single invite/message request to each user (which means less annoying follow-up messages when you’ve been politely ignoring their requests). But that is something small business owners will need to consider when reaching out for collabs, potential customers or other businesses for the first time. Remember, genuine conversion comes first!

Direct from Instagram – “We want people to feel confident and in control when they open their inbox. That’s why we’re testing new features that mean people can’t receive images, videos or multiple messages from someone they don’t follow, until they’ve accepted the request to chat. We’re grateful for the feedback we hear from our community, and we’ll keep listening to find ways to help everyone feel safer on Instagram.”

Meta launches its new AI music tool (but we think it’s shady AF)

Meta has recently released a new AI Open Source tool that can take text prompts and turn them into music, and whilst it does make music more accessible for small business owners, we don’t necessarily agree with the concept. Artists are already having a hard time getting paid properly through streaming services and social media royalties without AI coming in and stealing another opportunity for them to make a living. Does anyone else think it’s a little on the nose?

Direct from Instagram – “Imagine a professional musician being able to explore new compositions without having to play a single note on an instrument. Or a small business owner adding a soundtrack to their latest video ad on Instagram with ease. That’s the promise of AudioCraft – our latest AI tool that generates high-quality, realistic audio and music from text.”

🎵 Today we’re sharing details about AudioCraft, a family of generative AI models that lets you easily generate high-quality audio and music from text.https://t.co/04XAq4rlap pic.twitter.com/JreMIBGbTF

— Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) August 2, 2023

Would you want to know if the post you’re reading is AI?

Instagram seems to be working on an option to label your content as created by AI, so that content consumers are informed about whether the original creator is actually the subject expert, or whether they got a little help along the way. Spotted by App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, it looks like this change has been made due to a commitment to more responsible development of AI from major players like Google, Microsoft and OpenAI. But we’re curious, will anyone accurately label their content? Or will the app be smart enough to text it? We’re all for the update, more transparency is always better!

Want a ChatBot with personality? Meta has you sorted with 30 personalities to choose from

Yep, you read that right. Meta has been working away on developing their ChatBot and is reported to be working on capabilities that will give their users the option of 30 personalities to choose from. No more boring all robot-like replies, you can ask questions, get advice, and inspire creativity with 30 different personalities to help you along the way. Testing was spotted in the wild by non-other than the reliable App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi. Apparently, this tool will also integrate with users’ Threads accounts, giving you more content ideas IRL. We can’t wait to see what the personalities are like…Regina George anyone?

Google updates its AI policy

Speaking of AI, Google has recently updated its AI policy and according to Google:

Automated Content: 
“We don’t allow reviews that are primarily generated by an automated program or artificial intelligence application. If you have identified such content, it should be marked as spam in your feed using the <is_spam> attribute”.

This basically means Google is A-OK with you creating content through AI, as long as you’re using it for good, not evil. So specifically that reviews are authentic and not written through AI (to be authentic as possible).

YouTube is playing copycat with some new features

Stepping up their Shorts game, YouTube has been spotted copying some of TikToks most popular features with a bunch of new updates, like:

• Collab (similar to TikToks Duet feature – allowing you to film side by side with other creators)
• Q&A Sticker
• Live Streaming in a vertical format
• Improved editing features (by adding new shortcuts that will link a viewer through to the camera composer with the audio and/or effects from the Short that they were viewing applied, so they can use that as a template)
• Shorts Playlists

I mean are we surprised given the popularity of TikTok shows no signs of slowing down?

So there you have it! Another week of exciting digital updates.

Please, head on over to Instagram and let us know which is your fave.

And as always, we’ve gotchu if you need a little help managing the updates, and content or just need a little advice on what’s next in your marketing strategy!

XOXO

OMD SQUAD