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- Social media updates inside 💌
Social media updates inside 💌
New apps, TikTok ban will get extended (re: Trump), and so much more!!
Mackenzie Taylor
September 02, 2025
Weekly social roundup
Sloooooooow week
Oh, what’s that? Another slow AF week? Yup.
Well, I mean, in terms of social media news.
I, like many of the girlies I follow online, am so excited it’s finally crisp fall weather. Bring on the leather jackets! Bring on the boots! Bring on cozy candles and all that goes with them!
But let’s not get sidetracked. I promise to only squeal in delight when the leaves start changing a handful of times.
Until then, let’s dive into the social media news from the week!
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A new app has entered the villa
Is this the app we’ve been waiting for? 👀
There is a new social media app on the scene, and it’s all about decentralized social media.
Skylight allows creators and users to share short-form videos, with a major emphasis on content creators owning their own content and their followers!
No more worrying about whether an app shuts down tomorrow, where do all of your followers go? This is your platform in your own hands.
Plus, the app is all about YOU creating and curating your feed and not using an algorithm.
Have you downloaded it yet? Will you? Or do you, like me, have app fatigue and are waiting to see if this one takes off?
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Top Meta news from the week
Managing your DMs just got easier. Instagram has upgraded DMs by adding more sorting options and folder creation.
Picture-in-Picture Reels are coming! You can soon start scrolling your Instagram feed while also watching Reels in the corner of the screen.
Confused on how to effectively use Edits? Instagram created a video series to break it all down for you.
It feels like we’re back on OG Facebook! Students can now add their university to their Instagram bios.
Have you turned on translations on your Instagram videos yet? Instagram is auto-translating all videos to expand reach, and the results are ridiculously good.
WhatsApp’s newest feature lets you use AI to rephrase, proofread, and adjust the tone of your texts.
Well, well, well. Meta is finally changing the way it trains its chatbots to prioritize teen safety. Or so they say…
This is great for business owners! You can add promotions from your Instagram Shop to your bio to help push sales.
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Top TikTok news from the week
Trump said he is going to keep extending the TikTok ban until a deal is made.
TikTok also added new DM features, including a personal favorite, minute-long voice notes.
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Top YouTube news from the week
Livestream gifts have just been gamified. YouTube is asking creators to set goals and reward their audience if they hit a certain donation threshold on the app.
Love a creator on YouTube? You can now “Hype” them up to get discovered worldwide with YouTube’s new feature. This is great for smaller creators to get discovered.
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Top other social media news from the week
The key to going viral on LinkedIn? Posting more.
Another one bites the dust. Mastodon can’t comply with the age verification laws in Mississippi, and will no longer be available in the state.
There is a new app on the market, and it doesn’t use an algorithmic feed.
According to the Pew Research Center, 1/5 of Americans get their news from social media personalities.
Uh oh. X no longer allows liking or following from the API’s free tier.
Working smarter, not harder or yada yada
Tools I’ve been loving
I have to be honest. I got hooked on an Instagram ad, and I haven’t looked back. Templify is an app with fun and unique templates for Instagram.
They have templates for Reels, carousel posts, regular posts, and so much more. It’s fun. It’s easy to use. And if you’re looking to add something a bit different to your Reels and posts, I suggest giving it a try.
Another Reels, Stories, and posts template app I have been using quite a bit recently is Unfold. I downloaded this ages ago, and it promptly got forgotten about in my folder titled “Random Photo and Video Things.”
I recently rediscovered the app, and it’s gotten so much better over the years. You can add your brand kit, add various effects, or select from one of their many incredible templates to make content creation so much easier.
I feel like I am Veed’s #1 fan girl. I use their AI tool, which takes a long-form video and creates short-form clips based on the most interesting and likely to go viral moments from the longer video. It’s SO easy to use!
Plus, all Talk Social To Me listeners get 50% OFF the first three months if you click here.
A curated list of fun things to read
My favorite read of the week
This story is WILD!
A journalist shared her very personal adoption story online, only for it to be retold by a TikTok influencer, who claimed it as her own.
The piece delves into the issue of plagiarism online, exploring whether different rules apply to influencers and where the lines between inspiration and theft blur.
The September Lock In
Creator of the week: @kadieglenn
@kadieglenn Since everyone is doubling down on the great lock in, here’s a how to on building self-trust brick by brick: ✅ Start with credible commitm... See more
It seems like EVERYONE is talking about the Great September Lock In, where you LOCK IN and really focus on yourself, your career, your goals, your fitness, your creativity, your whateveryouwant for the rest of 2025.
The first video that popped up on my FYP when it came to the Lock In was Kadie and, honestly? Her TikTok is incredible! I scrolled for hours the other day after stumbling upon her explanation on how we’re all doing a hard reset on the year and getting our lives back into focus.
If you’re looking for a shake-up for the rest of the year or motivation, I highly recommend Kadie’s page and joining us for 2025!
Trend of the week
Trend you need to jump on now
Description of the overall trend:
This trend is such a fun way to show off your brand personality. The idea? Someone tells you to “control” something (like your spending, your drinking, your obsession with iced coffee…), and you LITERALLY control it with your mind.
How to recreate the trend:
On screen, write the phrase “You need to control [insert thing here].” Then film yourself doing a fake telekinesis motion (pulling something into the frame like you're using the force). Bonus points if it's dramatic.
Who the trend is best for:
Bars and restaurants (drinks, obviously)
Fashion brands (cue: bags flying in)
Creators who want to show off obsessions in a funny way
Anyone with a sense of humor and an on-brand “thing”
Want even more trends delivered to you each week? Subscribe to the Social Sound Report where you’ll get even more trends sent to your inbox!
Listen of the week
Need help focusing while you work?
I tend to go through phases of what I listen to when I’m working. Sometimes I can do podcasts. Other times I need silence. And sometimes I just need to pretend I am in Paris listening to music at a jazz cafe.
This curated playlist on YouTube has been my go-to every single morning this past month, and if you’re looking for something nice and not distracting to help you get through your work day, I highly recommend.
And, THE END!
If you got to the end, thanks for reading! I love you all, and can’t thank you enough for the support.
Want even more of me (I won’t blame you if you say no), you can follow me on TikTok!
@talksocialtome_ Sure, Jan!!!!!! #socialmediameme #socialmediatrends #trendingaudio #trendingsound
If you want to chat with other creatives, social media managers, or small business owners, you can join our Facebook Group, The Social Hub.
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See you next week!
Mackenzie
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