Social Media Industry News- July 2025

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Social Media Platform News and Updates for JULY 2025

Staying on top of social media changes is crucial for marketers, creators, and brands navigating an ever-evolving landscape. This month, Meta and its platforms have rolled out a range of updates—from AI-powered video editing tools and VR gaming bundles to new advertising formats on WhatsApp and Facebook's simplified Reels strategy. Alongside Meta’s news, this roundup covers key updates across Threads, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, X (Twitter), TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, and YouTube, helping you understand the latest features, trends, and opportunities to keep your social strategies current and effective.

Social media updates for Meta

• Meta Receives MRC Accreditation for Brand Safety: Meta has been re-accredited by the Media Ratings Council for its content-level brand safety measures, ensuring compliance with industry standards. This accreditation boosts advertiser confidence in Meta's measurement processes amid ongoing scrutiny of misinformation on its platforms. The MRC has excluded misinformation from accreditation, indicating ongoing challenges in this area.

• Meta Launches AI Video Editing Tools: Meta has introduced generative AI features for video editing, allowing users to apply preset prompts to transform their video clips creatively. The new tools are designed to enhance user engagement and creativity, making it easier for creators to produce content. This feature will be rolled out in the Meta AI app and Instagram's Edits app, with free access for a limited time.

• Meta and Microsoft Launch Xbox-Branded Quest 3S Bundle: Meta has partnered with Microsoft to launch the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition, a limited-edition VR headset in Xbox-inspired colors with matching controllers and three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. While not a huge discount versus buying items separately, the bundle is designed to appeal to Xbox fans by showcasing Quest's built-in Xbox Cloud Gaming support. It's part of Meta's broader strategy to drive VR adoption through gaming, tapping into an audience familiar with immersive, interactive worlds.

Social media updates for Threads

• Threads Maintains Strong Download Numbers: Threads has remained a top app in download charts, achieving 23 million downloads in May 2025, up from 22 million in April. The platform is gaining traction with 350 million monthly active users, focusing on real-time news and live events to compete with X. Despite its growth, challenges remain as it seeks to establish itself in the competitive social media landscape.

• Threads Rolls Out Multimedia Spoiler Tags: Threads has expanded its spoiler tag feature so users can now hide both text and media (photos, videos, GIFs) behind a tap-to-reveal screen, helping avoid unwanted spoilers or sensitive info. This option aims to attract entertainment and sports communities who often share real-time reactions by letting them protect content details for others. The new multimedia spoiler tags are rolling out to all users, though availability may depend on updating the app.

• Threads Adds Easier Access to Custom Feeds: Threads is changing how users access topic-based feeds by introducing a new drop-down "Feeds" menu at the top left of the main feed, replacing the old side-swiping method. This update is meant to make it simpler to navigate keyword-based streams and encourage more focused, customizable exploration of topics. While Threads acknowledges features like these don't meaningfully boost usage overall, it's adding them to satisfy requests from its most engaged users.

Social media updates for LinkedIn

• LinkedIn Rolls Out Video Header Images for Articles and Newsletters: LinkedIn is launching the ability for all users to add videos to the header image slot of their articles and newsletters, boosting visual appeal in-feed and in emails. The videos are meant to be short (around 30 seconds) and engaging, playing directly in-stream to attract more readers. With video engagement on LinkedIn surging, this new feature is designed to help creators and brands better stand out and grow their audience.

• LinkedIn Expands Video Ad Options with First Impression and CTV Ads: LinkedIn is launching "First Impression Ads," which guarantee your video ad is the first shown to a user each day, along with expanded Connected TV (CTV) ad placements through partners like Paramount. The platform is also adding Reserved Ads for other formats and VAST tags for broader video ad compatibility, plus new Adobe Express templates for LinkedIn-optimized video. These moves reflect the platform's focus on short-form video, which delivers higher engagement and is seen as essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive.

• LinkedIn Adds Advanced AI-Assisted Search for Recruiters: LinkedIn has introduced "Advanced AI-Assisted Search," letting recruiters use natural language prompts to discover candidates beyond traditional keywords and filters. The AI understands intent, dynamically refining results to surface high-potential talent—even for hard-to-define skills—saving time in the recruiting process. While this simplifies hiring workflows, it could also enable applicants to game the system by tailoring profiles with AI, making in-person assessments even more crucial.

Social media updates for Facebook

• Facebook Reels Update: Facebook is transitioning all videos on its platform to be classified as Reels, simplifying the posting process for creators. This change eliminates the need to choose between uploading a video or a Reel, with no length or format restrictions for Reels. The update aims to enhance user engagement and consolidate video metrics into a unified Reels analytics system.

  Facebook Introduces Passkeys for Secure Login: Facebook is rolling out passkeys, allowing users to log in using fingerprint or face ID instead of traditional passwords. This feature enhances security by keeping login information on the user's device, making it less susceptible to theft. Passkeys will also be usable for auto-filling payment information and will soon be available for Messenger as well.

• Facebook's Updated Link Posting Strategy: Facebook has been advising users to add links in the first comment of their posts rather than in the post body itself to improve engagement. This shift is based on data showing that posts without external links receive significantly more views. Many high-performing publishers are adopting this strategy to enhance visibility and interaction.

Social media updates for Instagram

• Instagram Introduces Customizable Notes: Instagram has rolled out new features allowing users to customize their Notes with background colors and emoji. This update aims to enhance user engagement and creativity in direct messaging, particularly appealing to younger audiences. The ability to personalize Notes aligns with Instagram's strategy to boost interaction within the app.

• Instagram Expands Music Sharing Features: Instagram is enhancing its music-sharing capabilities to encourage more creative expression on the platform. Users can now rearrange their profile grid and share songs from Spotify directly in Notes, in addition to the existing music features. This initiative aims to position Instagram as a strong competitor in music sharing, potentially attracting users from TikTok. 

• Instagram's Edits App Gains Teleprompter Feature: Instagram has added a teleprompter tool to its Edits video editing app, allowing users to upload scripts for seamless video presentations. This feature enhances content creation by enabling creators to present directly to the camera without memorizing scripts. Alongside this update, Edits is receiving additional features to improve usability and creative options for users.

Social media updates for Pinterest

• Pinterest Enhances Visual Search Features: Pinterest has shared new tips for brands to align with its evolving visual search capabilities, emphasizing the importance of keeping product catalogs updated and using lifestyle imagery. The platform's visual search tools allow users to find relevant items by interacting with Pins, enhancing the shopping experience. Brands are encouraged to utilize Pinterest's Performance+ targeting to reach audiences effectively based on visual interests.

• Pinterest and Instacart Partnership: Instacart and Pinterest have announced a new collaboration that allows Pinterest advertisers to leverage Instacart's first-party data for targeted marketing. This partnership aims to connect Pinterest users with shoppable ads, enhancing the shopping experience by allowing users to purchase items directly through Instacart. The initiative is expected to improve targeting for food and recipe-related brands significantly.

• Pinterest's TransActV2 Ranking Model Update: Pinterest has introduced an updated ranking model, TransActV2, which uses a broader history of user interactions to enhance personalization in user feeds. This new model can analyze up to 16,000 user actions, significantly improving the accuracy of engagement predictions and user experience. Early results indicate double-digit increases in user engagement metrics, showcasing the effectiveness of this updated approach.

Social media updates for X (Twitter)

• X to Charge More for Larger Ads to Preserve Feed Aesthetics: Elon Musk announced that X will soon charge advertisers based on the vertical size of their ads to discourage giant, screen-dominating creatives that disrupt the user experience. The planned model will make full-screen ads cost more than smaller ones, aligning incentives with a cleaner feed layout. Though not yet implemented, the change is coming and will impact campaign pricing strategies.

• X Bans Hashtags from Ads to Improve Look and Focus: Elon Musk declared that hashtags will be banned from all ads on X, calling them an "esthetic nightmare" that clutter promoted posts. While hashtags can distract viewers from a call-to-action, Twitter's previous ad team had already advised against them for this reason, so the move formalizes existing best practices. However, the blanket ban limits brands that might want to promote campaign-specific hashtags, showing Musk's personal design priorities in action.

• Musk to Remove "Politically Incorrect" Facts from Grok Chatbot: Elon Musk plans to scrub Grok's training data of "politically incorrect, but nonetheless factually true" content after disputes over the chatbot providing answers he disagrees with. Examples include Grok supporting gender-affirming care for youth or citing evidence of right-wing violence, leading Musk to call for users to flag "divisive facts" for removal. Critics warn this will turn Grok into an ideological echo chamber, highlighting broader concerns about AI censorship and bias shaped by its owners.

Social media updates for TikTok

• TikTok Saga Update: Despite a federal ban on TikTok in the U.S., the app remains accessible due to delays in enforcement by President Trump, who has expressed support for the platform. Negotiations for a potential U.S. partnership are reportedly ongoing, with various wealthy investors interested in acquiring a stake in TikTok's operations. While some reports suggest a deal is close, others indicate that negotiations have stalled, leaving the future uncertain.

• TikTok Launches Badging System: TikTok has introduced a new badging system to highlight trustworthy and high-quality sellers on its platform. Badges such as "Official Shop" and "Gold Star Seller" will help consumers identify reputable sellers based on performance metrics and customer service standards. This initiative aims to enhance the shopping experience on TikTok and boost consumer confidence in purchases.

• TikTok for Artists Platform Launch: TikTok has launched "TikTok for Artists," a dedicated platform providing musicians with analytics and insights into their music's performance on the app. The platform features daily-updated dashboards that track song performance and audience engagement, allowing artists to optimize their promotional strategies. Additionally, a pre-release tool enables artists to promote upcoming albums directly on TikTok, enhancing fan interaction.

Social media updates for Reddit

• Reddit Unveils New AI-Powered Community Intelligence Insights: Reddit is launching advanced insights tools to help marketers analyze conversation trends using its new "Reddit Community Intelligence" platform. The updated Reddit Insights offers search modes like Explore Anything, Compare Anything, Understand a Cultural Moment, and Map a Purchase Journey, turning billions of Reddit posts into actionable marketing data. Reddit is also testing ad "Conversation Summary Add-ons" that link directly to positive subreddit discussions for added social proof.

• Reddit Highlights Its Role in Shaping Purchase Decisions: Reddit's new report shows 88% of users turn to its conversations for help making purchase decisions, with posts maintaining visibility and value long after publishing. The platform's unique upvote system ensures the most helpful content rises to the top, offering brands a reliable space to build trust through authentic participation. The report also notes Reddit ads deliver strong returns, with a +$6.94 increase in incremental ROAS for tech advertisers.

Social media updates for Snapchat

• Snapchat Generation Report Released: Snapchat has published a new report examining how its user base, primarily composed of Gen Z and Millennials, engages with the app. The report highlights key trends such as the preference for "lo-fi" content, increased use of voice notes, and the importance of real-time connections among users. Brands are encouraged to adopt a more casual, authentic communication style to resonate better with this audience.

• Snapchat Acquires Saturn: Snapchat has acquired Saturn, a calendar app designed for high school and college students, enhancing its ability to facilitate social connections among its primarily teen user base. The app allows users to share schedules, chat, and organize events, aligning well with Snapchat's focus on real-time communication. Saturn will continue to operate independently while Snap explores integration possibilities.

• Snapchat's Impact on Consumer Electronics Purchases: A new Snapchat report reveals that social media significantly influences consumer electronics purchases, with 78% of Snapchat users discovering new products on the platform. The data shows that Snapchatters are more likely to make purchases directly from brand posts and trust creator recommendations as much as those from friends. This underscores Snapchat's role in shaping buying behavior, particularly in the electronics sector. 

Social media updates for WhatsApp

• WhatsApp Introduces AI-Powered Message Summaries: WhatsApp is rolling out "Message Summaries," using Meta AI to give users quick, private overviews of unread messages in busy chats. While Meta stresses this happens with "Private Processing," which it claims preserves user privacy, some worry it's unsettling to have AI read private conversations. The feature is optional and off by default, but may still raise questions about WhatsApp's broader privacy assurances.

• WhatsApp Begins Testing Ads in Status and Promoted Channels: Meta is testing ads in WhatsApp's Status feature (its version of Stories), letting businesses show promotions between friends' updates in a less intrusive way. It's also introducing "Promoted Channels" to help brands highlight content and grow followers, alongside plans for channel subscriptions. While Meta says it will use only limited info for ad targeting to maintain user privacy, users may still be wary of ads in the app.

• WhatsApp Shares Latest Monthly Feature Round-Up: WhatsApp's latest monthly update includes animated emojis in all chats, a new tool to make animated stickers from videos, and shared avatar stickers for personalized interactions. Other additions include easier group creation, shared captions for multiple photos or videos, new video chat effects, and tagging groups in Status updates. These smaller tweaks build on existing features to give users more creative and social options in their chats.

Social media updates for YouTube

• YouTube Updates Shopping in Shorts, Expands Communities, and Adds New Live Gifts: YouTube is enhancing shopping in Shorts by replacing the old banner with prominent product stickers that viewers can tap to buy, boosting clicks by over 40% in U.S. tests. The platform is also expanding its Communities feature to more channels, adding new post-sorting options for better audience engagement. Additionally, YouTube is introducing four new animated gifts for livestreams to increase interactivity and donations.

• YouTube Launches "Open Call" for Creator-Brand Partnerships: YouTube is rolling out "Open Call" within its BrandConnect platform, letting brands post creative briefs that creators can respond to with custom video pitches. This initiative aims to democratize brand deals, giving creators of all sizes new monetization opportunities while helping brands leverage trusted voices in short-form video. Currently available to select advertisers, Open Call will expand soon as YouTube strengthens its creator-brand ecosystem.

• YouTube Revamps Advanced Mode in Analytics for Easier Insights: YouTube is redesigning its Advanced Mode in Analytics to be more intuitive, with a simplified sidebar, better filtering, and a new metric picker for tailored reports. Creators can now save custom reports, compare video performance over time, and quickly access key metrics like Traffic Sources or Top Moments. The update aims to make powerful analytics tools accessible to both beginners and advanced users.