Weekly social roundup
I love Punch more than life
I know everyone has talked about him endlessly, but I can’t help it: I LOVE PUNCH, AND I AM SO HAPPY FOR HIM FINALLY GETTING A HUG.
That’s all. I just needed to get that out there.
Punch took over my entire feed, and for once last week, it felt like the internet was coming together in hopes of seeing this cute AF monkey finally get the love he deserved.
LONG LIVE PUNCH!
Anyways!! It’s been a somewhat full week of social media news. Meta is still in court explaining why Instagram isn’t addictive. We also have new features from all platforms. Brands going all in on microdramas. And so much more.
You ready? Let’s do it.
Microdramas are here to stay
Microdramas are getting more views than Netflix and Disney+
ICYMI: Microdramas are original and scripted short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram (and, well, basically any place that allows short-form content. It’s like soap operas, but on your phone and way shorter.
There has been a major increase in people creating and consuming microdramas, so much so that now microdramas are being watched more than Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+.
According to research consultancy Omdia, microdramas are being watched 35.7 minutes per day, per user; while Netflix is at 24.8 minutes, Prime is 26.9 minutes, and Disney+ is 23 minutes.
Woof. It seems this niche way of engagement isn’t so niche anymore.
Sponsored
Ready to Simplify Your Social Media Workflow?
Join Agorapulse’s live 30‑minute product tour to see how to simplify social media publishing, reporting, and listening all in one platform. Learn why teams are leaving old tools behind and making the switch without the stress.
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Top Meta news from the week
Instagram is officially allowing all users to customize and edit thumbnail photos of content that has already been posted.
Instagram’s new subscription plan will allow you to pay to have your Instagram Stories bumped to the front of your followers’ feed.
You’ll soon be able to spy on how other creators Reels performed with Edits new performance insights feature.
Instagram is testing a new feature inside DMs, where it will create a Reel for you using photos and videos you’ve sent through DMs.
WHOOP! All Instagram users can now schedule content (you don’t need a Professional account to do it!).
Have you seen this yet? There is now ANOTHER new section on Instagram pushing expiring Stories.
Instagram is launching its very own TV app to compete with YouTube.
Eeek! Instagram’s newest AI tool is auto-generating links to products users can buy based on what a creator is wearing in a video. The new feature shows lookalike products without the consent of the creator. And creators aren’t happy about it.
You can officially share your Threads post straight to Instagram Stories without leaving Threads.
Have you subscribed? Meta’s Horizon+ now has over 1 million ACTIVE subscribers for its gaming subscription service.
Freaked out that someone could be filming you unknowingly with Smart Glasses? This app will help you detect if someone is wearing them nearby.
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Top TikTok news from the week
TikTok has released its “Discover List,” a list of 50 creators they think you should watch this year based on five categories: Educators, Foodies, icons, Innovators, and Originators.
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Top X news from the week
X’s search engine is getting an upgrade. After months of users complaining that search isn’t very good, X revealed last week that it’s working on rewriting the source code for search functionality.
Starter packs are launching on X, where new users will be able to quickly find accounts to follow based on their interests.
A “Made with AI” label is coming to X, but will users actually use it?
X launched a new feed filter option, where users can filter stories they want to see more of in their feed.
Extra, extra! Read all about it!
Top other social media news from the week
It’s finally here for all creators: Voice replies are now available to all YouTubers to respond to comments.
Snapchat is hosting its first-ever award ceremony called The Snappys.
Read of the week
The case for being more fangirl on social media
Yes, Instagram does have its own Finsta. But, like, WHY?
Rachel of Link In Bio wrote about how she recently stumbled upon Instagram’s Finsta account, and that it was only discovered that it was a Finsta because everyone who follows this account works at Meta.
Maybe I am a bit jaded after being online and in marketing for so long, but if this appeared on Rachel’s feed, it seems like Instagram could be potentially pushing its Finsta?
The posts are … chaotic but there does seem to be a strategy behind it.
Rachel spoke with Jackie, the Creative Strategist at Instagram, about the thought behind the Finsta and what users should expect if they decide to follow.
And that’s all, folks!
Thank you, as ever, for supporting and reading! It always means a lot. I’ll talk to you all next week!
Mackenzie
