It Won't Be Long Before Facebook and Instagram Look A Lot Like TikTok
In a leaked memo, Facebook employees were asked to make the app's feed more like TikTok while Instagram tests TikTok-like fulls screen format for its Main Feed. The updates will force brands to rethink and adjust their content strategies for IG and FB — concepting and producing more short-form video, updating all content to full-screen specs, and applying TikTok trend best practices.
Twitter Rolls Out Initial Test For "Product Drop" Reminders
With social commerce continuing to grow, Twitter expands its in-platform shopability features. Merchants will be able to add a "Remind Me" button to tweets about upcoming launches and be reminded 15 minutes prior to the drop. For brands with prominent Twitter followings, this is an opportunity to take you from conversation to purchase.
Instagram Launches New Features for Creators
Instagram released a new set of features from longer Reels, to in-platform grid planning and the ability to pin posts to your page. The official launch of pinned posts allows creators & brands to control their Instagram profile display. Brands can now pin top-performing content, and campaign content to create a brand introduction for new followers. It also opens the door for pinned campaign content through influencer partnerships to keep branded content at the forefront of a creator's page for increased reach & engagement.
Youtube says 1.5 Billion People Watch Youtube Shorts
After two years and lucrative cash bonuses are given to entice creators to create short-form video, Youtube claims to see massive engagement with Youtube Short video. It's another reminder for brands that 1) short-form, audio-focused content is the future of social media and 2) engaged audiences go wherever talented creators are able to monetize their influence.
New Insights added to TikTok's Creative Center Platform
The update provides marketers with valuable trend research to aid in content creation and allows brands to join in on trends, hashtags, and find rising creators early on. To further help marketers understand the platform, TikTok launches a second season of "Made for TikTok". The series interviews ad agency professionals and creators for a first-hand look at the strategies and lessons learned from building communities.
Creators Take-On Brands Capitalizing Pride Month
"We see through brands and their performative allyship for the LGBTQ+ community during June. The companies seen in the graphic aren't necessarily ones with a problematic history, but the joke is that corporations as a whole have turned what started out as a commemoration of a political uprising into a marketing opportunity."
Abercrombie & Fitch
Partnering with The Trevor Project for the third time to create a capsule, gender-inclusive collection ranging in sizes from XXS-XXXL. The brand has also increased its donation to The Trevor Project to $400k.
Tinder
To help put an end to a 40-year blood donation policy that bans blood donations from men who have sex with men, Tinder partnered with the Human Rights Campaign to increase awareness and encourage users that are eligible to participate in the Advanced Study for a more inclusive policy. For users interested, simply swipe right on the "All Types" Pride card in the app.
Ugg: Feel Heard
Ugg has partnered with Pink Sparrow for a storefront installation that speaks to the crucial support line for LGBTQ+ youth, The Trevor Project to highlight the importance of Feeling Heard. The installation features phone booths, headphones, and Ugg's colorful all-gender Pride collection.
Miller Lite's "Beers & Queers History"
Written by queer historian Dr. Eric Cervini, the nonfiction book dives into the LGBTQ+ history of bars and bar culture. This book is the newest addition to Open & Proud with the Equality Federation, geared towards helping bars serving Miller Lite become more welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community.