The Social Scoop - Week 50

Hashtags are out, keywords are in ✍️

Instagram has introduced a new update: posts are now limited to adding three hashtags in the caption copy. The platform is gradually rolling out this change after acknowledging that hashtags are no longer an effective tool for boosting reach. Instead, keywords are becoming more important for increasing discoverability through SEO. This update follows TikTok’s recent move to limit posts to five hashtags.

YouTube brings back in-app messaging 💬

Do you miss messaging your friends on YouTube? No worries, the private messaging feature which left the platform in 2019 is making its return! This way the platform ensures you’re staying on YouTube, instead of leaving the app to share a video through WhatsApp or other messaging platforms. The new feature is currently being tested for users 18+ in Ireland and Poland. This comes after Spotify rolled out its in‑app messaging feature, letting users share songs, podcasts, audiobooks etc. and message each other directly.

Meta integrates Advantage+ directly into ad-set setup ⚡

Advantage+ will now be on by default for both audience and placement options in Meta Ads Manager. Using Advantage+ was previously a separate option, giving advertisers the option to manually set up a campaign or with the use of Advantage+. With the redesigned ad creation flow, Advantage+ tools are built directly into the campaigns. According to Meta, many advertisers using these AI-driven recommendations are seeing significantly improved results: overall video watch time on Facebook and Instagram has increased by over 20% year-over-year.

YouTube Music Recap gets an AI upgrade 📈

Have you seen your Spotify Wrapped yet? But what about your YouTube Music Recap? The Recap has been around since 2021, but this year it has received an upgrade thanks to AI chat. It allows you to ask questions about your behavior on the app, which are then translated into visual graphics that can be shared. With these new features, YouTube Music is making it easier than ever to reflect on your listening habits and share your favorite moments with friends.