Social Media News Round-Up: 27/08/21
Instagram is removing swipe-up links for Stories
Instagram is planning to remove its swipe-up link feature from 30th August. The feature was popular among creators, allowing those with more than 10,000 followers to attach swipeable links to Stories to drive users to websites, partnerships, and more. So what’s replacing it? Well, Instagram says users will now be able to use new link stickers instead, which will “streamline the Stories creation experience” and offer more “creative control” over the look of link-containing Stories. Unfortunately, only the users who had access to swipe-ups (i.e. 10,000 followers+) will get access to the new sticker option, but the platform is still evaluating rolling it out to more users.
Twitter is working on recorded Spaces as it opens up ticketed Spaces to selected users
Not only has Twitter opened up ticketed Spaces to selected users this week, but the platform also appears to be testing recorded Spaces too. Ticketed Spaces will allow creators to make money - as well as build a stronger community - directly on the platform. Recorded Spaces, on the other hand, open up massive opportunities for brands and creators when it comes to sharing and repurposing content to their wider audience. Both will help to establish Twitter as even more of a must-use platform for creators and brands looking to build their online presence and monetise their content.
TikTok is developing its own AR effects creation platform
TikTok is following in the footsteps of Snapchat and Facebook by developing its own AR effects studio. The platform would enable AR creators to build their own effects for the platform, expanding its collection of interactive features for creators. If the new AR studio takes off, it could reap huge rewards for TikTok in terms of increased engagement and creativity - AR trailblazer Snapchat says that more than 200,000 creators have built over 2 million lenses using its own AR studio, and there is an ever-increasing demand from creators for more creative capabilities across the social media platforms.
Instagram’s new Sponsored Product Listings in the Shop tab
Instagram rolls out new sponsored product listings to all brands using the Shop tab
Instagram is now rolling out its new promoted products option within the Shop tab to all brands, after a few weeks of successful testing. Brands with product listings in the Instagram app will now be able to promote them on the Shop tab with a Sponsored disclaimer marketing the paid posts, making it “easier for people to discover and shop from brands when they’re already in the mood to browse.”
TikTok tests longer video uploads
TikTok is testing longer video uploads - up to 5 minutes in length - amongst some of its users. This comes after the platform already extended its video length limit multiple times, changing the limit from 15 seconds to 60 seconds, then to 3 minutes just last month. Where the limit should end really depends on how receptive the platforms’ 689 million active users are to this new longer style of content - only time will tell.
Facebook announces new programme to better police misinformation
Facebook has announced a new Accelerator Challenge for fact-checking partners via its Journalism Project. The programme will see the platform’s fact-checking providers come together to participate in a 10-week training programme designed to help improve collaboration and develop better approaches to misinformation. Facebook hopes this will “not only reduce the spread of misleading content, but also elevate accurate information” on its platform, helping to repair its reputation as a breeding ground for misinformation.
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