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Social Media Industry News- February 2025

Writer's picture: Team Ezer Team Ezer


 

Social Media Platform News and Updates for FEBRUARY 2025


In 2025, social media platforms are implementing significant updates aimed at enhancing user experience and improving engagement. Meta is focusing on AI-driven features to personalize interactions, while TikTok is introducing initiatives to attract creators amid regulatory concerns. Additionally, YouTube is rolling out tools to support small creators, and LinkedIn is enhancing its job-seeking capabilities. This blog post will delve into these updates, providing insights into how they can impact users, creators, and businesses alike.


Social media updates for Meta

  • Meta AI Memory Features: Meta is enhancing its AI assistant by introducing memory features that allow it to remember details shared during 1:1 chats on WhatsApp and Messenger. This capability aims to personalize interactions, enabling the AI to provide tailored suggestions based on users’ preferences, such as dietary choices or family activities. Users can manage what the AI remembers, ensuring control over their data, while Meta continues to invest in AI infrastructure.

  • Meta's Breakthrough Bonus Program: Meta has launched the “Breakthrough Bonus” program to attract TikTok creators to Instagram and Facebook amid ongoing uncertainty about TikTok’s future in the U.S. This initiative offers creators bonuses of up to $5,000 during their initial 90 days on Meta’s platforms, allowing them to monetize their content more effectively. The program aims to capitalize on TikTok's instability while enhancing Meta’s creator ecosystem.

  • Community Notes for Meta Apps: Meta is preparing to roll out Community Notes, a feature that will replace third-party fact-checking with crowdsourced insights on potentially misleading content across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Contributors from diverse backgrounds will add notes to posts they find confusing or inaccurate; these notes will appear based on consensus. This initiative aims to enhance transparency in content moderation but raises concerns about its effectiveness and the challenges of achieving cross-political agreement.


Social media updates for LinkedIn

  • LinkedIn’s AI-Powered Job Match Tool: LinkedIn has introduced AI-powered tools for job seekers, including a “Job Match” feature that assesses how well a user’s skills align with job listings. This tool provides a summary of qualifications, helping users target job opportunities where they are more likely to succeed, and offering additional resources for application support. Furthermore, LinkedIn has unveiled a recruitment AI agent to assist smaller businesses in streamlining the hiring process.

  • LinkedIn’s Improved Advertising Attribution Models: LinkedIn is enhancing its advertising attribution methodologies to provide more accurate insights into campaign performance by moving away from traditional last-click attribution. The new approach combines Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA) and Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) to consider a broader range of influences on user behavior. Initial testing has shown significant improvements in tracking user responses, which could lead to better optimization of ad spend.

  • LinkedIn’s Update to the Top Voices Program: LinkedIn has revamped its “Top Voices” program by introducing a six-month review cycle for badge holders, ensuring that only active contributors maintain their status. This change aims to enhance the quality of recognized experts by focusing on consistent engagement, originality, and adherence to community policies. The update replaces the previous gold badges tied to Collaborative Articles, which were found to be misused by some users.


Social media updates for Instagram

  • Instagram's Updated Dimension Guidelines: To maximize your presence on Instagram in 2025, it's essential to follow the platform's updated image sizing and display guidelines for carousel posts, Stories, and Reels. Instagram has published a new overview that outlines these dimension charts, which serve as a vital resource for social media managers. You can check out the original sizing overview.

  • Instagram Business Chats Transparency Labels: Meta is adding "Business Chat" labels to Instagram DMs to distinguish business communications from personal chats, enhancing user awareness regarding privacy. These labels aim to clarify that while personal chats have end-to-end encryption, business chats involve data sharing with Meta and the business for ad targeting and marketing purposes. This update is designed to inform users about their data privacy levels during interactions with commercial entities on Instagram. Read more.

  • Instagram's New Vertical Profile Grid: Instagram has introduced a vertical-aligned thumbnail format for profile grids, moving away from the traditional square display to better accommodate vertical content. This change aligns with current user behavior and the popularity of vertical videos, similar to formats seen on TikTok. Instagram is also working on features to help users customize their grids and manage Highlights more effectively in light of this new layout. More details can be found.


Social media updates for Pinterest

  • Pinterest’s 2025 Palette Launch: Pinterest has released its second annual “Pinterest Palette” report, showcasing key color trends for 2025 based on extensive data analysis from user interactions. The report highlights five emerging colors, providing marketers with insights and inspiration for their branding, campaigns, and product launches. Each color is detailed with examples, hex codes, and related tags, making it a valuable resource for creative professionals.

  • Pinterest’s New Ad Tools Mini-Site: As part of its efforts to attract advertising dollars, Pinterest has launched a new mini-site detailing the benefits of its evolving ad tools, particularly emphasizing its growing popularity among Gen Z users. The site offers insights into Pinterest’s user demographics and shopping behaviors, along with incentives like “bonus media” for brands that increase their ad spending. With a record 537 million monthly active users, Pinterest positions itself as a viable option for marketers looking to reach an engaged audience.

Social media updates for X (Twitter)

  • X’s Planned Money Transfer Service: X is progressing with its “X Money” service, which will enable users to make payments and transfer funds within the app, with Visa as its first partner. Despite past delays, X CEO Linda Yaccarino announced that they expect to launch the payment system later this year. The service aims to align with Elon Musk’s vision of transforming X into an “everything app,” although regulatory challenges remain in securing necessary licenses.

  • X’s New Video Tab Launch: X has officially launched a dedicated video tab in its app, allowing U.S. users to access a full-screen immersive video feed. This move follows a 40% year-over-year increase in video views and is part of X’s strategy to position itself as a “video-first” platform. The addition of this tab reflects X’s ongoing commitment to enhancing video content accessibility for users.

  • X’s Proposed Signup Fee for New Users: X is exploring the option of charging new users a fee to create accounts, potentially set at $8, as part of its strategy to boost revenue. This plan includes offering a free month of X Premium, which provides users with added features like a verified badge. The initiative aims to counteract financial losses and increase subscription uptake, though it carries risks of alienating potential new users.


Social media updates for TikTok

  • TikTok’s Data Privacy Commitment: On Data Privacy Day, TikTok reinforced its commitment to user privacy and data protection amidst ongoing scrutiny and regulatory challenges in the U.S. The platform highlighted various transparency tools, such as the Privacy Center and independent monitoring initiatives, aimed at safeguarding user data. Despite these efforts, TikTok continues to face significant hurdles regarding its operational status in the U.S. because of concerns about its ties to the Chinese government.

  • TikTok’s Operational Status in the U.S.: TikTok remains in a precarious position in the U.S., as it is technically banned because of a Senate-approved bill requiring the app to be sold to a U.S. company. Despite ongoing discussions involving potential deals with Oracle and Microsoft, TikTok’s future in the country is uncertain, with the app still operational but under legal scrutiny. The situation reflects the complexities of balancing national security concerns with the platform’s significant user base in the U.S.

  • TikTok’s Updated Video Editor: TikTok has launched an enhanced Video Editor as part of its Symphony creative tools, offering advanced functionalities like digital avatars and auto-captioning. This new editor aims to streamline the content creation process, allowing users to leverage AI to produce engaging videos efficiently. The addition of 388 stock avatars and AI dubbing in multiple languages enhances the platform’s appeal and usability for creators looking to reach wider audiences.


Social media updates for Snapchat

  • Snapchat’s Challenge Tags for AR Creators: Snapchat is launching “Challenge Tags,” a new initiative that offers cash prizes to AR creators based on the originality and quality of their work. This program encourages developers to engage with specific themes and trends in AR creation, with a total prize pool of $10,000 for the initial challenges. Additionally, Snapchat is introducing student pricing for its AR Spectacles to promote educational access and engagement in AR development.

  • Snapchat’s “Find Your Favorites” Campaign: Snapchat has unveiled the “Find Your Favorites on Snapchat” campaign to highlight its creators and attract TikTok users seeking alternative platforms. The campaign will feature popular Snap creators discussing their content and how users can discover them within the app. Snapchat reports a 50% year-over-year increase in creator content and aims to bolster its audience amid ongoing concerns regarding TikTok’s operational status in the U.S.

  • Benefits of AR Campaigns on Snapchat: Snapchat has shared new insights highlighting the effectiveness of AR campaigns in driving user attention and engagement compared to traditional video ads. Research indicates that AR experiences encourage more deliberate decision-making, resulting in higher swipe-to-purchase ratios. The findings suggest that integrating AR with video can enhance brand awareness and user interaction, guiding brands in their marketing strategies.


Social media updates for WhatsApp

  • Camera Effects: WhatsApp has expanded its camera effects feature, previously available for video calls, to include 30 backgrounds, filters, and effects for photos and videos sent in chats. Users can now transform their media with these creative options, enhancing their messaging experience. This update aims to make conversations more fun and visually engaging.

  • Selfie Stickers: WhatsApp now allows users to create custom stickers directly from their selfies, making it easier to personalize chats. By tapping on the “create sticker” option, users can take a selfie and immediately turn it into a sticker to share. This feature is currently available on Android and will be rolled out to iOS users soon.

  • Share a Sticker Pack: Users can now easily share sticker packs directly in their chats, enhancing the interactive and expressive capabilities of their conversations. If you come across a sticker pack that you think a friend would enjoy, you can send it to them with just a few taps. This update aims to foster creativity and connection among users.

  • Quicker Reactions: WhatsApp has introduced a quicker way to react to messages by allowing users to double-tap on a message to add a reaction. This feature simplifies the process of responding and makes it easier to engage in conversations. Users can also quickly scroll through their most-used reactions for added convenience.


Social media updates for YouTube

  • Hype Feature: YouTube is introducing a new “Hype” feature aimed at helping small channels grow by allowing viewers to express stronger support for videos. When a viewer likes a video, they will have the option to “hype” it, signaling to the algorithm that it deserves wider promotion. This feature is limited to three hypes per week for users, making it a more special endorsement than a simple like, specifically designed to boost visibility for smaller creators.

  • AI Integration for Video Creation: YouTube has developed an AI tool that will assist creators in generating video ideas, titles, thumbnails, and outlines directly within YouTube Studio. This feature aims to simplify the content creation process by leveraging insights from a creator’s data and channel history, making it more efficient to produce videos. While this AI support can speed up video production, creators are encouraged to maintain their unique voice to stand out from potential AI-generated content.

  • AI Auto-Dubbing: YouTube is rolling out an AI auto-dubbing feature that will allow creators to automatically translate their videos into different languages, expanding their reach to global audiences. This tool will enable creators to upload content once and have it dubbed in various languages, significantly reducing the time and resources needed for translations. This enhancement will help creators tap into new markets and increase their viewership without extensive additional effort.

  • Enhanced Community Features: YouTube is updating its community tab to foster more genuine interactions among subscribers, moving beyond simple broadcast posts. This change will allow subscribers to engage more deeply by sharing questions, thoughts, and ideas within the channel itself, thus creating a stronger community feel. The platform aims to help creators build a loyal fan base while also considering the challenges of managing a more interactive community.


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