This week in the world of digital updates, the much anticipated TikTok ban news has reared its ugly head, prompting businesses to diversify strategies. Despite this, TikTok continues to roll out new updates and tests. Instagram follows suit, adding a new feature to replicate Facebook.

What’s new with TikTok?

The TikTok ban is incoming

President Biden has now signed the bill indicating the ban or selling of TikTok after it was approved by the US Senate. The bill gives TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, nine months to either divest the app or remove the app from the region, or further risk facing a ban in the U.S. If you’re a business owner, ensure that your social media strategy is cross-platform to broaden your audience and mitigate the risk of losing them due to the ban.

TikTok now allows businesses to insert a ‘Product link’

Despite the incoming ban, TikTok presses on with new updates with the latest one helping business owners drive more traffic to their websites and increase product sales. The new feature allows TikTok Business Account holders to add a link to their products.

👀 Tests spotted on TikTok this week:

• TikTok is now testing the possibility of sharing comments directly to stories. This will allow users to interact immediately with their audience.
• TikTok has been spotted experimenting with AI and is possibly leveraging it to replicate voices for a potential new ‘Text to Speech’ feature.

Struggling to get results with TikTok? Book a free 20-minute-chat here and we’ll prepare a strategic content calendar, along with direction for filming, editing all of your TikTok’s, posting and community management. And we provide a monthly report so you can see exactly how it’s contributing to the bigger picture.

What’s new with Instagram?

Instagram adds new Notes feature

Instagram has rolled out a new Notes feature on profiles, enabling users to add a note bubble above their profile picture, mirroring the Facebook Messenger Notes. This will be a useful feature for event-based businesses and can even enhance sales, promotions, and product launches.

👀 Tests spotted on Instagram this week:

• Instagram is developing an Experiment mode for Reels, where your Reel will initially be shown to non-followers and won’t be visible on your profile unless shared with everyone.
• Instagram has been spotted experimenting with the Highlights display on user profiles, the display appears to ditch the circular shaped covers and appears more like a rectangular reel with the display taking up more location space.

Want to take Instagram off your hands? Book a free 20-minute-chat here and have a months worth of content scheduled at all time, your comments replied to and NEVER have to struggle with content ideas again!

What’s new with Threads?

Threads ramp up safety with new ‘Hidden Words’ Feature

As Threads grows, it’s increased its efforts against hateful or offensive content by introducing a ‘hidden words’ feature similar to Instagram’s. CEO Adam Mosseri unveiled the feature on his Threads account, announcing the new update goes beyond hiding words in replies to filtering out unwanted content from feeds, search results, profiles, and post replies.

Struggling to navigate Threads? Book a free 20-minute-chat here and we’ll help guide you.

What’s new with Facebook?

Facebook adds polls feature to reels

Facebook now lets you integrate polls into your reels just before sharing them, enhancing user engagement. Additionally, if Stars are enabled on your reels, your followers can amplify their votes by gifting you Stars, earning an additional vote for each Star sent. This feature will be invaluable to gauge your target audience preferences wants and identify their preferred products.

👀 Tests spotted on Facebook this week:

• Facebook tests out a new feed for Reels called ‘Nearby’. This feature will be great to help local businesses reach their communities with ease.

Want some help reaching your audience on Facebook? Book a free 20-minute-chat here and let’s get your content in front of your ideal audience.

What’s new with LinkedIn?

LinkedIn has added a ‘Subscribe to Newsletter’ button.

LinkedIn has simplified the process for businesses and audiences to stay informed about industry news with a new ‘Subscribe to Newsletter’ button on LinkedIn profiles. Ensure your business takes advantage of the feature to help maximise its reach within the industry.

Book a free 20-minute-chat here and get strategic with the content going out to your LinkedIn connections. Build relationships, grow connections and establish yourself as an authority in your field of expertise without your connections even knowing we’re the marketers in your pocket.

What’s new with YouTube?

YouTube Shorts introduces Select Shorts

YouTube’s new Select Shorts feature helps brands maximise their impact through short-form ads, offering advertisers the opportunity to align their ads with top content across various categories. YouTube has also provided creative best practices, known as Shorts ABCDs, to help marketers create engaging and relatable short-form ads that resonate with viewers.

Want some help running your Paid Ads? Apply to work with us and never worry YouTube updates again.

What’s new with Google?

Google Delays Cookie Phase-Out Again

Google has postponed getting rid of third-party cookies once more, in order to meet the rules set by the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority. This organisation has raised worries about how this change will affect digital marketing and Google’s competitors. This will allow business owners more time to adapt their digital marketing strategies without the pressure of losing access to third-party cookies.

Want some help running your Paid Ads? Apply to work with us and stay compliant and across all the changes (without having to do a thing).

Well, LOTS of big changes to our social media landscape. But since you’re following us you’re already all across it huh? As always, we’ll keep you posted! Feel free to sign up for our weekly summary here so you never miss the best updates. AND don’t forget, if you do miss out you can always go back to last weeks blog posts here.

XOXO

OMD SQUAD