Weekly social roundup

Sloooooooow week

It’s been a quiet week when it comes to social media news. Honestly? Thank goodness.

I feel like recently it’s been all over the place with features, updates, Zuckerberg doing something wild (tbh, when isn’t he?). But this week saw fewer updates, but more fun articles.

I call that a win-win in my book.

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Goodbye, TikTok??

Could this finally be the end of TikTok in the USA? 😵‍💫

Last week, TikTok said it won’t sell its algorithm to the US, so what now?

TikTok was supposed to be banned in the USA if TikTok didn’t sell back in January, and now we’re 200+ days since the ban date, and TikTok still isn’t banned. 

President Trump keeps extending the date of the ban, and as the next deadline approaches, the Chinese government is standing firm that it will not sell TikTok’s algorithm as part of any partnership deal with the US. 

Womp womp.

As we all know, TikTok’s algorithm is what makes the app so addictive and fun. You scroll through your FYP for hours at a time, knowing that you’re going to get sucked in and find good content. 

And a lot of us on the internet know that if the algorithm isn’t sold, it means the US version of TikTok will just be a Temu version. 

But that’s not all, folks! The original reason behind the ban was to protect US citizens’ data and privacy, and now it looks as if the White House has launched its own TikTok account, and China was quick to point out the absolute hypocrisy:

Now knowing that TikTok isn’t going to sell the algorithm at all and the US Commerce Secretary saying that the US government will finally take a stand against TikTok, the September 17th deadline might actually happen this time, and TikTok could be banned…

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

Top Meta news from the week

• Meta is reorganizing its AI division into four separate groups, downsizing the whole department, and it seems to be making investors nervous about the future of AI at the company. 

• Meta Verified has added a brand new feature that actually makes paying for verified worth it. Subscribers now have access to Search Optimization, where your account will be boosted in search results.

• Google just won a small battle against Amazon. The company signed a $10 billion cloud contract with Meta for the next 6 years.

• If you buy ads on Meta, this one is for you. How and when you will be charged for your ads is changing.

• New Meta glasses are coming soon that are controlled by finger gestures and a wristband. Yes, I fear we are both living in the future and going to be looking goofy AF. 

• Ugh, Meta is going to be adding more AI slop to our feeds.

• Instagram is stealing ideas from TikTok once again! Creators can now link multiple Reels into a series, so subscribers can watch all at once.

• AI video translation is rolling out to more and more people on Instagram.

• Bonuses for Reels will be coming back soon, according to Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri. However, when that will be is anyone’s guess.

• Edits has officially added the option to turn your text into speech with its new AI voices.

• Long captions on Instagram don’t affect your reach, despite what IG gurus tell you.

• Screenshots on Instagram could soon be counted towards your engagement metrics.

• You can now see the retention rate on your Instagram Reels. This will help you know at what point you lost your audience’s attention.

• It’s baaaack! You can now clip your videos and images to the beat of a song on Instagram Reels — without downloading the Edits app!

• Spotify 🤝 Instagram. Spotify and Instagram’s partnership upped another level with new features like audio previews in Stories and real-time music sharing in Notes.

• WhatsApp is working on a way for users to be able to leave voicemails.

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

Top TikTok news from the week

• TikTok is about to do another round of layoffs.

• Is this what people want? TikTok launched a new feature to help college kids find others who go to their school. 

• TikTok says it will not be selling its algorithm to the US.

• Yikes! TikTok is forcing advertisers to use its AI ad tool.

• While the threat of a ban is pending in the US, TikTok is doing incredibly well in Europe.

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

Top X news from the week

• xAI is building an AI-simulated software company called Macrohard (yes, a play on Microsoft 🙃).

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

Top YouTube news from the week

• YouTube is the biggest streaming platform, once again, ahead of Netflix.

• YouTube is adding all new effects to make editing that much easier … and fun!

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

Top other social media news from the week

• Bluesky has shut down in Mississippi because of the new age verification laws.

Get your productivity back

New app: Focus Friend

The internet’s dad and big-time YouTuber, Hank Green, has launched his first app called Focus Friend. 

According to Green, the productivity app is to help you stay focused and create healthier habits when it comes to the online world and social media.

The app works like most productivity apps, where you set a timer to get what you need to do done, but the twist is that the app provides you with a friend (a bean).

While you work on your task, your friend is knitting. However, if you pick up your phone while the timer is still running, your bean friend drops its knitting needles and can’t finish its knitting project.

It’s funny because it doesn’t seem like a bean would really help you stay focused, but because you want them to finish their projects, you also end up finishing yours. 

Focus Friend has become the #1 app in the App Store, and it seems like more and more people are looking for new ways to stop their constant distraction from doomscrolling.

A curated list of fun things to read

My favorite read of the week

This was such an interesting read from Fast Company. After Meta went to trial with the FTC and basically admitted that social media and connecting with friends on social media are dead, there seems to be a big question in the air: What’s next for social?

A lot of people are putting all of their eggs into the AI basket (Meta included), but will subscribing to small communities online (like someone’s Substack or Patreon) be the way we move forward in the future? 

Or are we all doomed to scroll forever and ever?

All eyes will soon be on Australia when its country-wide ban on social media for kids 16 and under takes place.

Will it work? Will kids finally go outside and touch grass? Will VPNs be on the rise?

The journalist at WIRED spoke to teens in Australia to get their insights, and it seems like they’re all divided. While some say they think it’ll help by not giving teens access to social media at such a young age, others worry that it will stop access to safe spaces and groups. 

The ban doesn’t go into effect until December, and I, for one, will be keeping a close eye on what happens when it does. 

For great insights into marketing

Creator of the week: @brendenbuilds

@brendenbuilds

How i write high converting paid social copy #copywriting #paidsocial #metaads #marketingtips #marketingagency

As someone who has worn a million and one hats when it comes to social media and marketing, I have had to learn a little about a lot. Ad copy, engaging copy editing, video editing, brand building, community management, etc, etc, etc.

If you are just getting started in marketing or are trying to learn more, @brendenbuilds is a great recent discovery of mine on TikTok. He does great explainer videos on how he has created buyer personas, built out great ad specs, created high-performing marketing campaigns, and more.

He breaks everything down on his channel and gives solid advice on how anyone can get started.

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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.

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See you next week!

Mackenzie