Social Media News: August 2021

Each month I recap the biggest changes in social media so you can stay informed and adjust your marketing strategy accordingly. Here are the highlights of what you should know for August 2021:

Instagram Reels Expanded to 60 Seconds: Instagram Reels’ length limit has been extended from 30 seconds to 60 seconds. Short-form videos such as those on TikTok and YouTube Shorts have been expanding in length, and Instagram Reels is joining the trend. See Instagram’s announcement here.

TikTok Tests New Stories Options: TikTok is joining the Stories trend with its very own version. TikTok Stories, like Stories options on Facebook and Instagram, will disappear after 24 hours. This new feature marks another step in TikTok’s growth! You can learn see images of the new feature on Matt Navarra’s here.

Facebook Launches “Campaign Ideas Generator”: Facebook is offering more to small business owners with their Campaign Ideas Generator.  This mini-site provides campaign ideas, pre-made assets, and other resources to help small businesses get promotions up and active. Read more here.

Instagram Tests TikTok-like Vertical Feed Presentation: Instagram is testing a new Explore UI with a vertical content feed reminiscent of TikTok’s feed. This feed appears as a normal Explore section until a post is opened. Then, the post expands to the new full-screen, Reels-like display. This new presentation highlights content relevant to users, helping Instagram users find new and engaging content. Read more here.

LinkedIn Updates “People You May Know” Recommendations: LinkedIn has refined the recommendation algorithm for its “People You May Know” feature, making it easier for users to build their professional networks. This new algorithm aims to balance recommendations to highlight users who may not be seeing as many connection requests. This is a valuable tool for small business owners, who may not have the same reach as large influencers, in expanding their network on LinkedIn. Read the official announcement here.

Twitter Adds Co-Hosting Option for Audio Spaces: Twitter’s new audio feature, Spaces, now allows co-hosts. Users will be able to add up to two co-hosts to each Space, allowing them to invite speakers, manage requests, and pin Tweets. This tool will make hosting large Spaces much more convenient, allowing users to delegate administration responsibilities to co-hosts. Learn more at the Twitter announcement here.

Have you noticed any of these updates this month? Leave us a comment with your favorite new feature!