May 15: The latest social media news

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📉 Meta (Ads)

• Meta announced new ad formats for advertisers (source):
  — A new ad format for Threads, “Video Ads”.
  — A new ad format for Instagram Reels, “Reels trending ads”.
  — A new ad format for Facebook livestreams, “Facebook Live Partnership ads”.

💠Meta (AI)

• Meta added a new “Background conversations” feature on Meta AI’s iOS app. (source)

• Meta added a new “Allow comment summaries on your posts” on Facebook’s iOS app. (source)

📱Instagram Edits

• Instagram added new video effects and a “Beat markers” feature for Instagram Edits users. (source)

💚 WhatsApp

• WhatsApp is working on a new AI-powered feature for chats, “Summarize with Meta AI”. (source)

• WhatsApp is working on a new setting for status updates, “Allow sharing (resharing and forwarding)”. (source)

• WhatsApp is testing a new “Recent Searches” feature for channels. (source)

🧵Threads

• Threads is testing on iOS a new feature for post descriptions or text-only posts, “Spoiler tags”. (source)

• Threads added a new “Account Status” feature on Android and iOS. (source)

• Threads added a new “Content preferences” feature on Android and iOS. (source)

💃🏻 TikTok

• TikTok added an AI-powered feature for TikTok Stories, “AI Live”. (source)

• TikTok added a new “LIVE setup for client acquisition” feature for TikTok Live. (source)

💠xAI

• xAI added a new “Gork (described as <Lazy Male>)” voice on Grok AI’s iOS app. (source)

🔎 Google

• Google is testing “AI Overviews”-like results in three new countries: the Netherlands, Sweden and Türkiye. (source)

• Google is testing “AI Overviews”-like results for recipes. (source)

• Google now allows advertisers to add annotations to the Google Search Console performance reports. (source)

• Google is now showing the number of followers for a Facebook or a TikTok profile in the Google Search Ads. (source)

🎥 YouTube

• YouTube launched a new UI for the mini-player available on mobile. (source)

• YouTube added a new “Upvote” button for playlists. (source)

💬Reddit

• Reddit added a new “AI-powered description” feature for business profiles. (source)

💛Snapchat

• Snapchat announced three new ad formats for advertisers (source):
  — A new ad format for Snap Maps, “Promoted Places”.
  — A new, AI-powered advertising package called Snapchat Smart Campaign Solutions.
  — Three new ad formats for Sponsored Snaps: “First Snap”, “Web & app auction ads” and “Sponsored Snaps from Creators”.

📊 Quick Insights

• Meta | US and EU27 Economic Impact. (source)

• TikTok Ads | Benefits for Automotive Marketers. (source)

🗓️ Upcoming social media holidays

• 16 May – Love a Tree Day.

• 16 May – National Bike to Work Day.

• 17 May – International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

• 18 May – International Museums Day.

• 21 May – National Memo Day & National Bike to Work Day.

💡 7 content ideas

1. Recommend books, podcasts or other resources that drives growth to and in your industry.

2. Share a fun quote from a famous thought leader in your industry.

3. Start a "positivity challenge" post encouraging followers to spread positivity and kindness in their daily lives.

4. Share a video tutorial that showcases your product in action.

5. Start a debate with your audience and use the comment section to communicate.

6. Do a video tour of your office.

7. Share a post related to business strategy or leadership.

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Read our previous social media editions: May 1 and May 8.

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Showing special appreciation to all the sources listed in this newsletter. They all have great newsletters and social media feeds worth subscribing to.

https://www.techcrunch.com/

https://www.theverge.com/

https://www.seroundtable.com/

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniemaihodge/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bramvanderhallen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kritig/

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lakshmansom

https://www.threads.net/@alex193a/

https://www.threads.net/@chris/

https://www.threads.net/@jonahmanzano/

https://www.threads.net/@jaskaransainiz/

https://www.threads.net/@liahaberman/

https://www.threads.net/@lindseygamble_/

https://www.threads.net/@mattnavarra/

https://www.threads.net/@testingcatalog/

https://www.threads.net/@theahmedghanem/

https://www.threads.net/@wabetainfo/

https://www.threads.net/@wearesocial/

https://www.youtube.com/@creatorinsider