Social Scoop Unplugged #9
Want to stay ahead in the social media game? This week’s Social Scoop Unplugged has you covered! Instagram experiments with Reels performance tips in-stream. Meanwhile, Meta is testing facial recognition for added security, and TikTok has launched a new Electronic Music Hub alongside a partnership with the British Beauty Council to improve the in-app shopping experience. Not to be outdone, X is introducing its ‘Radar’ keyword search tool, making it easier for users to discover content.
Instagram Trials In-Stream Performance Tips for Reels
Have you ever wondered what makes a Reel perform well? Instagram is currently testing a new feature that adds helpful notes in-stream, giving you a peek behind the curtain on why a clip is getting the love it deserves.
As shared by app researcher Oncescu Radu, these notes provide insights into the key elements that drive a Reel’s performance. Just tap through on the prompt, and you’ll get a detailed breakdown of what’s working.
While this could be a game-changer for creators keen to optimise their Reels strategy, I’m not sure everyday users will find these extra data points particularly useful, especially since they take up some precious screen space. Perhaps Instagram is targeting this feature for Creator accounts, ensuring that the insights reach those most invested in their performance.
Nonetheless, it’s a great way to get creators thinking about what influences Reels performance and how Instagram’s algorithm ranks clips. With Reels being the fastest-growing content type across both Facebook and Instagram, now driving over 200 billion views daily, it’s clear that they’re becoming essential for brands looking to up their game.
With Meta’s recent shift towards AI-recommended content, over half of the posts you see in your IG feed are now tailored for you by their algorithm, rather than from accounts you follow. This has led many brands to leverage Reels to enhance their content visibility and engagement, making these insights potentially valuable.
While it’s still in the experimental phase and might not roll out to everyone, it’s exciting to see Instagram exploring ways to support creators in their quest for success!
Meta Could Be About to Make Your AI Chats More Personal!
Have you ever wished your AI chatbot could actually remember things about you, like your coffee order or the fact you prefer being called “boss” instead of “bestie”? Well, Meta might be making that a reality soon!
The latest scoop (spotted by WABetaInfo) reveals a new feature called AI “Memory” hidden in WhatsApp’s back-end code. Sounds intriguing, right?
So, what’s AI Memory?
Basically, it’s a way for Meta AI to remember bits and bobs from your chats to make its replies more tailored to you. For example, you could ask it to remember that you’re a vegetarian, and voilà – no more burger recommendations for dinner!
You could even tell Meta AI how to refer to you in future convos. Fancy being called “Queen” every time? Sure, why not? This means your chatbot will feel a lot more personal, without you having to repeat yourself over and over.
But don’t worry, you’re not stuck with what it remembers forever. If Meta AI gets a little too attached to certain details, you can always ask it to forget those “rules” and start fresh. Handy, right?
This feature feels like a game-changer for making AI chats more… human. It’s not quite full-on custom bots yet, but it’s definitely a step towards making your chatbot experience more ‘you’.
Speaking of which, Meta’s also working on a bot creation feature for Instagram, where you could build a bot friend with its own personality and quirks. Imagine that!
In fact, Meta recently brought in Michael Sayman, the developer behind Social.ai (an app that lets you chat with loads of different AI bots). Clearly, Meta’s planning to dive deep into the world of custom AI bots.
So, if you’re keen on having a bot that remembers your preferences (and doesn’t offer you steak when you’re all about the tofu), Meta’s AI Memory could be just the thing. Stay tuned, bestie – personalised AI is on the way!
Meta’s Trying Out Facial Recognition for Security
Meta is testing new facial recognition features that could be useful—or controversial—depending on your feelings about using your face as ID.
First, they’re trialling facial matching to combat “celeb-bait” scams. You know those dodgy ads featuring a celebrity’s face? Meta’s system will compare those faces to public profiles. If it detects a match, they’ll verify the ad’s legitimacy with the official profile. If it’s a scam, it gets blocked.
Meta explains:
“If we suspect an ad might be a scam using a public figure’s image, we’ll compare the faces in the ad to their Facebook and Instagram profile pictures. If we confirm it’s a scam, we’ll block it and delete any facial data used for the one-time comparison.”
So, they’re not keeping your data—it’s just a temporary check.
Of course, privacy concerns linger, especially since Meta abandoned its facial recognition tools in 2021 due to fears of misuse. Now, they’re cautiously reintroducing it, including a feature that allows you to upload a video selfie for identity verification if locked out of your account. The selfie is encrypted and deleted after comparison, ensuring your privacy.
While this could be a handy security tool against scams or account lockouts, privacy advocates remain uneasy about Meta’s approach. If they manage the data securely, it might prove useful, but they’ll need to be transparent as they roll this out. For now, they’re sharing tips to keep your account safe that don’t involve facial recognition, but let’s be real—it’s the facial recognition that’s stirring up the most chatter.
Instagram’s Testing a New Feature to Help You Keep Track of Shared Posts
Instagram might be about to make your life a whole lot easier if you’ve ever struggled to find that one meme or post someone sent you. They’re experimenting with a new “Social Library” feature that could store all the posts, Reels, and memes you’ve shared, liked, or bookmarked in one handy place.
What is the Social Library?
• A dedicated section where you can easily access all the posts you’ve interacted with
• Separate tabs for posts you’ve reshared, liked, or saved
• No more endlessly scrolling through your DMs trying to find that hilarious meme or important Reel
It’s like a personal content archive to keep tabs on everything that’s caught your eye. And it seems like Instagram is recognising just how much people share stuff in private chats these days.
The shift in how we use Instagram
Back in 2022, Instagram’s boss, Adam Mosseri, mentioned that:
Friends post a lot more to stories and send a lot more DMs than they post to Feed.”
Makes sense, right? These days, we’re less about posting selfies and daily updates and more about using the app to discover cool stuff, sending it to friends, and chatting privately. And let’s be honest—who’s got time for long personal updates when you’ve got memes to share?
So why the change?
Here’s why it makes sense that people are sharing more via DMs:
• Less interest in curated highlight reels: The perfectly staged photoshoots and over-the-top life updates don’t feel as relatable anymore.
• Political fatigue: Many users don’t feel like wading into debates or sharing their opinions in a highly charged environment.
• Smaller, closer circles: People now prefer to post and share within smaller, more personal group chats where they can be more real.
With the rise of AI-driven content suggestions, it’s easier than ever to discover posts worth sharing—and forwarding them to friends is way more fun than posting your own updates for everyone to see. It’s like social media has become more of a “check this out” platform than a “look at me” one.
What’s next for the Social Library?
As of now, it’s just in the testing phase, and there’s no official word on when (or if) we’ll see this feature rolled out to everyone. But, considering how much more we’re sharing content privately, it seems like a logical next step. Fingers crossed it makes it into the app!
I’ll keep you posted if I hear more from Instagram about this exciting new feature!
TikTok Launches Exciting New Electronic Music Hub
Well, TikTok’s done it again! This time, they’re turning up the volume on the electronic music scene with a brand-new Electronic Music Hub in the app, and it’s already got people buzzing.
It’s a big move for TikTok, and if you’re into electronic music, this new hub could be your next go-to spot for discovering artists and tracks. 🎧 Artists who’ve already got established fan bases are finding fresh audiences on TikTok, and thanks to the app’s algorithm magic, it’s easier than ever for people to discover new sounds and beats.
Why does this matter for artists?
Well, TikTok is a powerhouse for music discovery. A study TikTok published last year showed that users are way more likely to find and share new music on the app, with 75% of TikTok users discovering new artists through short clips. Impressive, right? 👀
And electronic music is thriving. There’s been a 70% rise in electronic music-related videos year on year, with genres like Drum & Bass, Techno, and Trance all seeing major boosts.
TikTok explains it perfectly:
“From the rise of Amapiano to the resurgence of Drum & Bass, electronic music thrives on TikTok due to its infectious energy, global appeal, and the creative ways our community celebrates it—whether through sharing, remixing tracks, or creating trends.”
It’s clear that TikTok’s helping musicians and creators in a big way, from creating viral trends to giving older tracks a new life. However, it’s not all smooth sailing—TikTok has faced some bumps, like losing Universal Music tracks earlier this year due to rights disputes, and of course, the ongoing ban talks in the U.S. (fingers crossed they sort that out soon!).
Meanwhile, Instagram’s been making moves to step up its music game too—so watch this space. But right now, TikTok remains the top platform for musicians to get noticed.
Oh, and one last thing—this new Electronic Music Hub will be launching in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the USA, and Australia on 21st October. So if you’re a marketer in the music space, or just a music lover, this is definitely something to keep an eye on!
TikTok Teams Up with British Beauty Council to Boost Live Sales
Beauty lovers! TikTok is at it again, this time joining forces with the British Beauty Council to supercharge its live shopping game. This exciting partnership aims to provide invaluable growth advice to UK beauty brands looking to thrive on the platform. Let’s break it down!
What You Need to Know:
• Partnership Goals: TikTok is here to help beauty brands connect directly with their audience and tap into the growing opportunities available in the app.
• Expertise Sharing: Through this collaboration, TikTok Shop will share essential insights on how beauty brands can ace their live shopping sessions. They’ll be drawing on the success stories of top-performing sellers to guide newcomers.
• Success Story Spotlight: The first educational session will feature Mitchell Halliday, who made headlines as the first merchant to rake in $1 million in a single day through TikTok Shop’s live sales events. How impressive is that? 💰
TikTok is looking to mirror the success of live shopping seen in China, where in-app sales have skyrocketed to over $500 billion annually. While TikTok isn’t quite at that level yet, they’re optimistic about introducing Western consumers to the joys of live-stream shopping.
Growth opportunities
Despite the challenges, TikTok has facilitated a whopping $3.8 billion in total spending within the app throughout 2023. And the beauty sector is thriving:
• Fast Sales: A beauty product is sold every two seconds on TikTok Shop!
• Diverse Brands: From established names to emerging businesses, beauty brands are tapping into TikTok Shop’s features, like live shopping, to unlock new revenue streams and connect with the vibrant TikTok community.
Will it catch on?
While TikTok’s shopping features have seen some traction, the journey to mainstream acceptance may take time. However, given that TikTok is now the second-largest online beauty and wellness retailer in the UK, the potential for growth is undeniable.
The first event with the British Beauty Council will take place on 24th October during British Beauty Week. TikTok Shop will host a live broadcast with Mitchell Halliday, showcasing the incredible power of live shopping.
X Expands Access to Its Exciting ‘Radar’ Keyword Analytics Tool
X is stepping it up with a fresh feature that could seriously benefit businesses using the platform. Say hello to “Radar,” a brilliant addition to their analytics toolkit. This tool lets you set up keyword analytics, enabling you to track conversation volume over time and measure trends that matter to your business.
What’s new with Radar?
• Expanded Access: Originally teased in August, Radar is now rolling out to selected Premium+ subscribers, with plans for wider availability soon.
• Insightful Tracking: Keep tabs on how conversations evolve and stay ahead of the trends that resonate with your audience.
Premium+ benefits
X Premium+ comes with a price tag of £16 a month (or £168 annually when purchased via the web), but here’s why it might be worth the investment:
• Advanced Analytics: Unlock deeper insights to enhance your marketing strategies.
• X Pro Access: Enjoy the benefits of X Pro (formerly TweetDeck), giving you robust social media management capabilities.
• Ad-Free Experience: Say goodbye to ads interrupting your flow!
• Additional Perks: Gain access to Media Studio, the Grok AI chatbot, and other exciting features.
Is it worth it?
While some brands have been questioning the value of X lately, it still boasts 500 million monthly active users and considerable influence. If you’re serious about connecting with your target audience, these advanced features might just be the boost you need.
Honestly, I think X Radar is one of the platform’s best additions to date. If you’re also using X Pro, it could be a great opportunity to streamline your other social media management tools and really maximise the benefits of X analytics
It’s a shame X didn’t prioritise this sooner instead of focusing on selling blue ticks, but if you’re still using X for your business promotions, this upgrade is definitely worth considering!
Save Drafts & Track Analytics on Threads
Exciting news for Threads users! Meta has rolled out some fab new features to enhance your experience. You can now save up to 100 post drafts, making it super easy to keep your ideas organised and ready for action. Plus, the new analytics feature gives you valuable insights into your reach, engagement, and audience demographics, helping you understand what resonates with your followers.
With metrics like view counts, interaction insights, and a follower growth chart, this is a game-changer for marketers and creators looking to grow their Threads audience. And let’s not forget the post scheduling feature, allowing you to plan and publish your content at the perfect time, right from the Threads desktop app!
Threads is gaining traction with 200 million monthly active users, and while it’s still playing catch-up to X, these updates show Meta’s commitment to turning Threads into a vibrant hub for conversation. Will it become the Twitter alternative Meta hopes for? Only time will tell, but with these new tools, it’s definitely setting itself up for success.
That wraps up this week’s Social Scoop Unplugged! 🚀 Remember, the world of social media never stops evolving, and neither should your strategy. Stay curious, keep experimenting, and don’t forget to adapt to these exciting updates as they unfold.
If you’ve found this helpful, share it with your network or drop me a message with your thoughts and feedback. Until next time, keep shining and be creative online!