November 2023 Social Platform Updates

LinkedIn surpassed 1B+ members. Instagram is testing an AI friend feature. And Threads plans to launch in the EU.

Here's everything you missed from social platforms last month...

Facebook 👍

✦ Released a Stories API so creators can publish from third-party tools.

✦ Added “A/B” testing for captions and thumbnails on Reels.

✦ Testing rewards when creators hit certain goals, such as posting Reels weekly.

✦ Piloting a “rising creator” label.

✦ Rolled out a “Facebook Organic A/B Testing API” to run experiments on video and Reels.

✦ Introduced Emu Video, which generates four-second videos from text prompts, and Emu Edit, which edits images from text prompts.

Instagram 📷

✦ Testing polls in comments.

✦ Unveiled an option to add song lyrics to Reels.

✦ Announced there are more than 1M active subscriptions to creators.

✦ Testing an "AI friend” feature.

✦ Offering some American, Japanese, and Korean creators holiday bonuses based on their content performance through the end of the year.

✦ Testing the ability to turn read receipts off in DMs.

✦ Expanded its close friends feature from Stories to also include the feed and Reels.

✦ Added new camera filters and video editing tools.

✦ Made it possible to turn Reels and Stories into custom stickers.

✦ Released an option to download Reels to one’s smartphone.

LinkedIn 🤝

✦ Crossed 1B+ global members.

✦ Testing a new version of its paid Premium offering, which will include personalized suggestions.

✦ Will start removing carousels and profile videos starting on December 14th.

Omegle Ω

✦ The random video chat service shut down due to online safety issues.

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Snapchat 👻

✦ Introduced an AI lens that uses ChatGPT.

✦ Partnered with Amazon to let people buy products directly from Snapchat ads.

✦ Launched a Creator Hub.

Substack ✍️

✦ Introduced tools for creating, watching, and sharing video posts, including the option to publish the audio from a video as a podcast episode.

Threads 🧵

✦ Invited some creators to join “Pops,” a community of reality TV and pop culture creators that offers challenges to win prizes.

✦ Enabled users to delete their profile separately from their Instagram account.

✦ Gave users a choice to opt out of their posts being suggested on Facebook and Instagram.

✦ Planning to launch in the EU in December.

TikTok ♪

✦ Scanning videos using AI to identify items and encourage purchases of similar products through its TikTok Shop feature.

✦ Added real-time tracking of total play time, average watch time, and watched full video to TikTok Analytics.

✦ Announced it will shut down its creator fund on December 16th in favor of the new Creativity Program.

✦ Got banned in Nepal.

✦ Enabled users to automatically save songs they find on TikTok to their favorite music streaming service, e.g. Spotify.

✦ Launched Live Fest, a promotional event featuring contests and prizes to encourage creators and fans to engage with live streams.

✦ Released a mobile effect editor and enabled creators to make custom filters.

✦ Unveiled artist accounts with new tools to help musicians engage with fans, including a new Music tab that artists can add to their profiles.

Twitch 🎮

✦ Deprecated Hype Chat.

✦ Rolled out a privacy center to educate users about their personal data.

X 🐦

✦ Added support for audio and video calls.

YouTube 🎥

✦ Introduced new partnership and product updates to support teen mental health.

✦ Testing a generative AI tool that categorizes video comments into major themes.

✦ Added “For You” video suggestions on channel pages.

✦ Now requiring creators to disclose when they’ve created realistic-looking “altered or synthetic content."

✦ Testing a new song-generating AI feature called Dream Track.

✦ Released new ad guidelines to expand what is considered permissible “adult” content.

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