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Social Media Updates: What’s New and Why It Matters

Let’s Talk Social… and I mean literally about social updates. In the ever-evolving tech world, daily innovation is key. Social media giants are constantly competing for attention, dropping new features to draw in users and keep them hooked. We’ve seen it before—Instagram’s boomerangs took over Phhhoto, stories and DMs replaced Snapchat, and now Instagram Reels is making a play to outdo TikTok. 

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But what are the most recent updates across the major platforms? Let's explore these changes, how strategic they are, and what they mean for both users and brands.

Instagram: The King of Feature Innovation

Comments on Stories
In one of its latest moves, Instagram has rolled out comments on stories. This feature lets users leave public comments directly on stories, turning what used to be brief, disappearing moments into more interactive experiences. While it might seem a bit much at first, it's strategic. Instagram is aiming to keep people on stories longer, and what better way than letting them engage with the content through comments? We’ve seen people post stories and swipe through, but now the comment feature adds a reason for people to linger.

New Fonts for Stories and Stickers for Posts
Instagram is also playing up creativity with new fonts for stories, allowing users more ways to express themselves. This feature is paired with the ability to add stickers to posts, which blurs the line between posts and stories, making them feel more connected. The intent behind this update seems clear—Instagram wants to boost interaction and engagement with stories while keeping posts fresh and creative.

20 Photos on Carousels
Another interesting addition is the expansion of carousel posts to 20 photos. Instagram is encouraging users to share more of their lives and less of the curated, posed images we’re used to seeing. The idea? Just upload what’s on your camera roll, share your world, and don’t worry about perfection. It’s a push toward authenticity and showing more content, which in turn, keeps people on the platform longer.

Longer Reels
Instagram has also jumped on the trend of longer video formats, likely inspired by the success of TikTok and YouTube’s longer video content. With reports showing that videos longer than 30-60 seconds are getting more views, Instagram extended the length of Reels to match this demand. But is longer better? In a world where social media is often blamed for shortening attention spans, this trend of longer Reels feels like a move worth testing. Are users actually more engaged with longer content, or is this simply an algorithm-driven experiment?

LinkedIn: Entering the World of Video

Transitioning to Video
LinkedIn is stepping out of its comfort zone and embracing video content in a big way. Once seen as the ‘Facebook for professionals,’ LinkedIn is expanding its video capabilities by adding a "Videos For You" carousel, much like Instagram Reels or TikTok's For You page. For brands and businesses, this is huge. LinkedIn isn’t just a place to share job updates and professional achievements anymore—it’s evolving into a space where businesses can showcase their work environment, services, and even run video ads targeted at other professionals.

This shift to video could be a game-changer for brands. While platforms like Instagram and Facebook often favor influencers and personal brands, LinkedIn offers businesses a unique space to engage with a professional audience in ways that other platforms can’t. But, with more video content flooding the platform, will LinkedIn’s focus on professional achievements and networking get lost? Time will tell, but for now, this feature presents exciting opportunities for businesses looking to leverage video content in a professional setting.

TikTok: The Home of AI and Financial Education

AI Voiceovers
One of TikTok’s most interesting—and slightly creepy—new features is the ability to create AI-generated voiceovers in your own voice. Imagine having the ability to create content without needing to speak or even be present. While this can be a massive time-saver for content creators, it also opens the door to concerns about identity theft and fraud. For marketing agencies, though, this could streamline content production by allowing brands to generate voiceovers without needing the client’s constant involvement.

Hot Topics and Trends
TikTok remains the go-to platform for trends, especially among Gen Z. Some of the year’s most engaging content revolves around themes like “Home Ownership at a Young Age,” “Viral Finance Tips,” and “Latino Business Success.” These topics highlight the platform’s ability to attract and engage an audience that’s both financially and entrepreneurially driven. For brands looking to connect with younger, forward-thinking audiences, these trending topics offer insight into what resonates most with Gen Z and how to shape content that speaks to their aspirations.

Social media is always evolving, and these updates showcase how platforms are constantly adapting to keep users engaged. Whether it’s Instagram’s push for longer engagement with new features, LinkedIn’s leap into video, or TikTok’s AI advancements and trending topics, each platform is vying for attention—and it’s up to us to decide how to make the most of it.

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Written By: Aylin Madrigal - Chief Marketing & Operations Officer at Brand Geniuz