The latest social media updates you need to know

Social media has a habit of changing just when you think you’ve got it figured out. New features, algorithm tweaks and updates are constantly changing how content is created, shared and seen, meaning what worked a few months ago might not have quite the same impact today.

Keeping an eye on these changes can help you make smarter decisions about your content, while still staying true to your brand and what your audience wants to see. You don’t need to jump on every new feature, but knowing what’s changing means you can spot the opportunities that are actually worth your time.

Here are some of the latest social media updates worth knowing about, and what they could mean for your content.

LinkedIn tests new ‘AI slop’ button to tackle low-quality content

We’re all seeing more AI-generated content popping up on our feeds, and LinkedIn is now testing a way for users to have their say. Its new ‘AI slop’ button allows people to flag content they think is overly AI-generated, helping the platform understand what users actually want to see.

It’s a small but interesting step towards encouraging more genuine, useful and human content on LinkedIn which we are sure plenty of users will welcome.

Instagram introduces a feature to let users reorder their profile grid

We know the pain all too well of posting something that looked great at the time, only to later completely throw off the carefully curated grid. The good news is Instagram is giving users more control by allowing them to reorder posts on their profile.

This means you can tweak the look of your grid without deleting and reposting content, which is particularly handy for brands who like their profiles polished. It also means you can subtly move important content to the top of your feed if it becomes relevant again, or you want it to be something people notice as soon as they click on your profile.

Instagram upgrades their carousel game with multiple captions feature for a single post

Instagram is also experimenting with multiple captions on a single carousel, and it could be a useful update for brands. As well as keeping captions less cluttered, it gives you more opportunities to target different keywords across each slide, potentially helping your content appear in more Instagram searches.

It could also boost engagement by encouraging people to keep swiping for the full story. The longer users spend interacting with your post, the more positive signals Instagram gets that it’s worth showing to others, and this is a pretty easy way to get people staying till the end. 

TikTok experiments with direct audio and voice calling feature in app

TikTok is gradually rolling out a new way for users to connect, with one-to-one voice and video calling being added to direct messages. The feature allows users to call without leaving TikTok or sharing their phone number, bringing the platform a little closer to traditional messaging apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. 

The rollout is happening in stages, so don’t worry if you can’t see the option just yet. Although it’s still unclear how brands and creators will use the feature for business, it’s another sign that social platforms are leaning into more personal, human ways of connecting with audiences.

Instagram adds clickable links in captions for Meta One subscribers

For years, Instagram has made us work surprisingly hard to get people from a post to an external website. Now, that could be changing. Instagram is testing clickable links in captions for Meta One subscribers and Meta Verified users, potentially making it much easier to send followers directly to websites, blogs, products and other content. 

For businesses, this could be a particularly useful update if it becomes available more widely, giving Instagram another way to drive traffic beyond the traditional link in bio.

If you want more advice on how to improve your current social strategy, get in touch with us through our contact form to book a chat with one of the team.