The biggest updates in social media | April 2024
The social media industry is in constant flux with consistent updates and improvements to our favorite social media channels. To help you keep up, we’ve collated all the key headlines for the month of April so you can get your fill without needing to headline hunt across multiple sources.
Social media news
Meta
New insight and targeting options for Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns
Live now
A new targeting option for Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns will allow you to directly target those who have shown an interest in your products/services but haven’t yet made a purchase.
Meta brings advanced AI chatbot to all apps
Live now
Meta’s generative AI assistant is now available for users of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, and can be accessed from the search bar of each app.
Facebook launches updated vertical video display
Live now
Videos viewed on Facebook will now appear in a consistent vertical full-screen format.
Instagram shares tips to create standout Stories
Live now
Instagram has shared a variety of tips around Story creation advising the use of Sticker templates, the Layout Stories composer option, and turning live photos into boomerangs, amongst other tips. Check them out here.
Instagram adds Notify Sticker
Live soon
A new Notify Sticker for creators will allow their audience to opt in to receive notifications whenever the creator posts a feed post, Reel, Stories, or live videos.
Further reading: 2024 guide to Instagram Reels and how to use them
Profile Notes are coming to all users
Live soon
Notes, originally visible only from the DM messaging area, show up on user profiles now too.
Influencers to create AI bot versions of themselves
Live soon
While Instagram has previously unveiled AI chatbots based on various celebrities, this ability is said to be expanding by enabling Instagram influencers to also create AI bot versions of themselves.
Instagram adds new options for creator subscriptions
Live soon
Creator subscriptions, which allow users to pay creators for access to excusive content, have received some upgrades, including Sticker tap insights (allowing creators to see how many times their Stickers were engaged with) and a teaser display which will show non-subscribed followers that you have published subscriber-only content. Additionally, Instagram is reportedly working on new ways to prevent users from screenshotting or recording exclusive subscription content.
Instagram glitch temporarily removed millions of followers
Confirmed by Instagram, a technical issue towards the end of April resulted in accounts seeing an inaccurate loss of followers in their account insights.
Instagram updates feed algorithm
Live now
Instagram’s algorithm update consists of four key elements: the removal of aggregator accounts from recommendations, adding labels to reposted content, replacing reposts with original content in recommendations, and more distribution for smaller creators.
X (Twitter)
X working on updated Explore page featuring Grok chatbot
Live soon
X is reportedly close to launching a new explore page that is said to feature topic summaries generated by Grok, its AI chatbot, as well as a “Live on X” breakout box to highlight in-progress Spaces.
X enables Passkey access for all iOS users globally
Live now
After enabling Passkey access for iOS users in the US in January, passkey access has now been rolled out globally.
X removes option to hide blue tick
Live soon
X is notifying all subscribed users that the ability to hide their blue verification ticks from their profiles will soon be removed.
X encourages brands to sign up to Verified for Organizations
Live now
X has introduced an incentive to encourage brands to sign up to the Basic Verified Organizations package by rewarding users with ad credits equal to the amount of their membership subscription.
xAI previews coming image queries with the Grok chatbot
Live soon
xAI has previewed the next stage in the development of their AI chatbot, revealing that Grok will soon be able to facilitate a range of visual queries.
X plans to expand annual fee for all new accounts
Live soon
X has confirmed plans to expand its one-off fee initiative for new accounts, intended to reduce the number of bots on the platform. X will be free to join and browse, but users will be required to pay a small annual fee before being able to post, like, reply, or bookmark posts on the platform.
Swipe to respond coming soon
Live soon
Soon to replace engagement buttons in the app, new functionality will allow users to swipe left and right to complete actions such as like, reply, report, quote, and share.
X adds streamlined ad set-up with AI-based targeting
Live now
X has launched a new and simplified process for setting up ads. All users need to do is select a conversion event, set a daily ad budget, and input the desired demographic targeting for gender, age, and location. X will use AI to extrapolate and expand upon the reach of your campaign.
X working on connected TV app
X has confirmed that a new X-specific video app for smart TVs is in the works, allowing users to browse video content from the platform and watch via TV.
Connected TV and live event ads launch
Live now
In partnership with a range of video providers, LinkedIn will now enable marketers to activate video campaigns that will display on their audience’s home TV sets. Additionally, LinkedIn is launching Live Event Ads which will enable users to promote upcoming LinkedIn events in-stream.
LinkedIn announces verification for recruiters
Live soon
A new verification badge for recruiters is intended to reduce the quantity of recruitment scams and spammy outreach.
New shortcut will help users find collaborative articles for contributions
Live now
A new “Contribute Expertise” shortcut within the post composer will link users through to all Collaborative Articles that they can contribute to, based on their expertise and niche.
Further reading: How to create engaging copy-based social media content
LinkedIn tests premium company pages with business subscription options
Live soon
LinkedIn is experimenting with new ways to help paying businesses standout on the platform with a range of exclusive features, thus far including custom CTA buttons to display on company pages, info on who has visited your page (much like the information individual profiles receive), custom testimonials to feature on pages, AI-powered post writing assistance, auto-invite engaged members to follow your page, and LinkedIn premium logos to display on pages.
TikTok
TikTok’s photo app is coming soon
Live soon
Some users are now being informed that their still image TikTok posts will be viewable on TikTok Notes (TikTok’s coming-soon photo app).
TikTok may enable brands to generate AI bots to pitch products
Live soon
Already in effect within Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), TikTok may introduce the ability for brands to create videos using AI-generated influencers based on prompts submitted by the advertiser to promote their products in the app.
Further reading: How to make money on TikTok
TikTok tests “AI-Moji” digital avatars
Live soon
Some users have been given the ability to scan their face for an AI-version avatar of themselves to be created and used as Stickers within the app.
Bill passes requiring TikTok to be sold into US ownership or banned entirely
A new bill has passed in the US which requires the Chinese-owned TikTok to either be sold into US ownership or be banned from the states entirely. TikTok intends to fight the bill within the court system.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram updates its algorithm to help smaller creators.
- X announces big UI change with swipable actions.
- TikTok’s photo app is coming soon.
- Bill in US passes requiring TikTok to be sold into US ownership or risk being banned.
- Instagram and TikTok work on AI bots designed to imitate influencers.
- LinkedIn and X experiment with video viewing in Connected TVs.