Youtube
YouTube Tests Still Image Carousels Within Shorts Feed [1]
YouTube is experimenting with a new feature that brings still image carousels into the Shorts feed, allowing creators to post up to 10 images that viewers can swipe through — similar to carousel posts on Instagram or TikTok. This change is currently in limited testing only with a small group of creators.
The goal is to give creators more ways to reach audiences and tell visual stories without traditional video content, though many see it as another step in making Shorts more like other social platforms. YouTube also indicates audio options may be added later, but for now it’s only static images within the carousel experience.
- New Feature Tested: Still image carousels in the YouTube Shorts feed.
- Images per Post: Creators can include up to 10 images in a carousel.
- Where It Shows: These appear within the Shorts feed alongside normal short videos.
- Audio Plans: YouTube plans to test audio support for image posts in the future.Test Status: Limited testing with only a small group of creators so far.
- Reasoning: YouTube is adopting common short-form features seen on other platforms to broaden content formats and appeal.
YouTube Expands Voice Replies, Superchat Goals and AI Creation Tools [2]
YouTube has rolled out its final feature update of 2025, bringing several new and expanded tools designed to help creators engage audiences, monetize content, and create better posts more easily. These updates include expanding voice replies, adding new AI-powered creative tools, enhancing Superchat goals, launching comment summaries, and more.
The goal is to give creators more ways to reach audiences and tell visual stories without traditional video content, though many see it as another step in making Shorts more like other social platforms. YouTube also indicates audio options may be added later, but for now it’s only static images within the carousel experience.
- New Feature Tested: Still image carousels in the YouTube Shorts feed.
- Images per Post: Creators can include up to 10 images in a carousel.
- Where It Shows: These appear within the Shorts feed alongside normal short videos.
- Audio Plans: YouTube plans to test audio support for image posts in the future.
- Test Status: Limited testing with only a small group of creators so far.
- Reasoning: YouTube is adopting common short-form features seen on other platforms to broaden content formats and appeal.
YouTube is experimenting with a new format that brings still image carousels into the Shorts feed, letting creators post collections of up to ten images that users can swipe through, similar to what we see on Instagram and TikTok. The feature is designed to expand creative options and help creators connect with their audience in more visual ways.
This test is currently limited to a small group of creators, and while it starts with only images, YouTube has hinted that audio support could be added later to make these posts more engaging. The move reflects YouTube’s broader trend of adopting popular features from other social platforms to enrich the Shorts experience.
YouTube Expands Shorts Ad Options [3]
YouTube is rolling out expanded ad options for Shorts, giving advertisers and creators more ways to connect with audiences and drive engagement during the holiday season and beyond. These changes include enabling comments on Shorts ads, letting creators link directly to brand websites, and expanding where Shorts ads can appear (including mobile web and TV screens).
The goal is to make Shorts promotions more interactive and measurable, helping brands track conversions and boost performance while offering viewers a richer ad experience similar to organic Shorts content.
- Comments on Shorts Ads — Viewers can now leave comments on Shorts ad content, increasing engagement opportunities for brands (requires linking to a Google Ads or 360 Space account).
- Direct Brand Website Links — Creators can include a clickable link in their Shorts that takes viewers straight to a brand’s website, helping drive traffic and conversions.
- Expanded Placement — Shorts ads can now be shown on mobile web browsers, extending reach beyond the YouTube mobile app and potentially also on connected TV screens.
- Holiday Push Focus — These ad options are being highlighted in time for year-end holiday campaigns.
- Performance Insights — YouTube cites research showing Shorts ads can increase purchase intent by 8.8% and drive higher consumer interest versus competitors.
- Shorts Ad Tips Included — YouTube shared best practices, such as using vertical videos, keeping content under 60 seconds, and blending ads with natural Shorts content.
YouTube has expanded its advertising options for Shorts, enabling comments on ads, direct brand website links, and broader placements like mobile web and connected TV viewing. These updates aim to help brands engage viewers more deeply and make it easier to measure direct campaign results, such as traffic and conversions.
Advertisers can now take advantage of more interactive ad formats with the option to respond to comments and connect viewers directly to products or services through clickable links. Along with strategic ad creation tips from YouTube, these developments make Shorts ads a more robust element of marketing campaigns, especially for the holiday season.
YouTube Adds More AI Creation Tools [4]
YouTube has expanded its AI creative tools in the YouTube Create video editing app, especially for those making Shorts, by adding Google’s latest Veo 3 Fast AI model. These tools help creators generate and edit video content more easily, including creating shots they didn’t film or turning raw footage into finished clips.
In addition, YouTube has improved shopping performance data for creators who sell products, giving them more detailed insights like total sales, orders, and returns through YouTube Studio Analytics.
- New AI Tools in YouTube Create:
• Google’s Veo 3 Fast model now in the YouTube Create app on Android
• Helps generate vertical video clips with controlled lighting and style
• Includes “Edit with AI” feature to turn raw footage into edited content - Shopping Performance Data:
• Creators can see detailed seller stats (sales, orders, returns)
• Data available in YouTube Studio Analytics → Advanced Mode → Seller
- Updated Inspiration Tab:
• YouTube Studio’s Inspiration tab now shows more tailored content ideas
• Options to customize how suggestions appear (e.g., image style)
YouTube has boosted its AI video creation tools in the YouTube Create app by integrating the new Veo 3 Fast AI model, making it easier for creators to produce and edit Shorts content, including generating footage they might have missed. The app also includes an AI-powered editing feature that helps turn raw clips into polished videos.
At the same time, YouTube is giving creators who sell products better shopping performance insights, such as total sales and returned items, available within YouTube Studio. The Inspiration tab has also been updated with more tailored content ideas to help creators plan their next videos.
Inspiration by : [1] YT Image Carrousel, [2] YT AI Voice Replies, [3] YT Update Short option, [4] YT Update Creation Tools
Instagram Update
Instagram Is Using AI To Generate SEO Summaries of Posts [1]
Instagram has started using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate search-friendly summaries and titles for posts so they show up better in Google Search results. These summaries are not written by the post author but are automatically created by Meta’s AI with the goal of increasing discoverability and making the content more visible when people search on the web.
- Instagram’s AI creates descriptive summaries for user posts to help them rank higher on Google Search.
- These summaries are generated by Meta AI and can be much longer and more detailed than the original caption.
- The system targets search engine optimization (SEO) — meaning the text uses keywords and phrasing that help posts appear in search results.
- Creators do not control or write these SEO summaries — the AI does it automatically.
- While Instagram says it helps people understand the content better, critics point out it may prioritize search visibility over preserving the original voice.
Instagram is now automatically generating AI-created SEO summaries and headlines for user posts to boost how well they show up in Google Search results. These summaries are written by Meta’s AI — not the original poster — and are designed to include search-friendly keywords to improve discovery, even if they go beyond what the user originally wrote.
This move aims to help Instagram content reach a wider audience on the web, but it also raises questions about accuracy, authenticity, and control since creators don’t decide how their posts are summarized.
Instagram Adds Custom Effects for New Year’s Celebrations [2]
Instagram has added a range of special effects and creative tools to help users celebrate New Year’s and year-end moments on the app. These include festive visual options designed for Stories, Edits, and other features to make celebratory posts more engaging and expressive.
- Glitter and Stylized Text: New glitter effects and special fonts for NYE Stories to match the celebratory mood.
- Keyword-Triggered Effects: Limited edition effects and emojis that activate when certain words are used in Notes or Story comments.
- New Edits Features: Instagram’s Edits app gets advanced effects like object segmentation for creative video looks.
- Festive Stickers & Add-Yours: Special “EOY” Add Yours sticker design for end-of-year sharing.
- AI Restyle Presets: New AI Restyle presets with holiday themes like festive, celebratory, and reflective looks.
Instagram added new custom effects for New Year’s celebrations to help users make more festive posts and Stories. This includes glitter text options, keyword-linked emojis, special Add Yours stickers, enhanced effects in the Edits app, and AI-driven Restyle visuals for year-end highlights.
These updates are designed to give creators and everyday users creative ways to share their excitement as people post about the holidays and ring in the new year on Instagram.
Instagram Implements New Limits on Hashtag Use [3]
Instagram has set a new limit on hashtags in posts to reduce spam and better understand how users interact with hashtags. This comes after testing limits for a year.
Hashtags are less important for content discovery now because of AI, but they still help users find related content. Instagram has been testing a limit of three hashtags in recent experiments.
But now, IG has settled on limiting tags to five per post, which will become the new universal restriction in the app.
“Instagram will gradually update the number of hashtags that you can include in a caption for a reel or post to five. We find that using fewer (up to 5) more targeted hashtags, rather than many generic ones, can improve both your content’s performance and people’s experience on Instagram.”
Instagram has been telling creators for years that hashtags aren’t as important as they used to be, and this is reflected in the development of Threads, Meta’s newer platform. They have taken a stricter approach to hashtags, allowing only one per post.
Key points from Instagram’s chief, Adam Mosseri, include:
- In October 2023, he said hashtags won’t change Threads’ development.
- In January 2024, he mentioned hashtags might help grow Threads but won’t noticeably increase usage.
- In February 2024, he said hashtags don’t work to increase reach on Instagram.
- In May 2024, he confirmed hashtags don’t improve visibility but are good for connecting posts.
Because of this, Instagram is limiting hashtag use to five or fewer tags per post—so creators need to choose wisely.
Reshare Public Stories on Instagram [4]
Instagram has introduced a new feature that lets users reshare any public Story to their own Stories feed, even if they’re not tagged in the original post. This works similarly to how reposting Reels or feed posts already does, but now applies to Stories as well. Social Media Today.
When someone reshapes a public Story, Instagram automatically gives credit to the original creator, helping to ensure they get visibility and recognition for their work. This update aims to make it easier to share content without taking screenshots or manually re‑uploading it. Social Media Today.
Instagram hopes this will boost engagement and support creators by making content more shareable while still linking back to the source. The feature expands how people can amplify Stories and helps reduce the influence of aggregator accounts that repost content without credit
IB : [1] IG Integrate Using AI to SEO, [2] New Year Celebration, [3] IG Implements new limits Hashtag Used, [4] IG Reshare Public Stories
Tiktok Update
TikTok Shares the Most Popular Music in the App [1]
TikTok has released its list of the most used songs and top artists on the platform in 2025, based on engagement from users around the world. These lists reflect the sounds that were most popular in videos and trends throughout the year.
Surprisingly, the most popular track on TikTok in 2025 wasn’t a new hit — it was “Pretty Little Baby”, a song originally released in 1962. This vintage track gained huge popularity as a soundtrack for wholesome and nostalgic videos, being used millions of times and earning billions of views.
Alongside older hits, many contemporary artists also dominated TikTok trends. Big names like Taylor Swift, Doechii, and KATSEYE appeared on the top lists, showing how both new and established music continues to thrive on the platform.
TikTok’s influence on music trends highlights how the app can revive older songs and introduce them to new audiences, showing the power of short‑form video in shaping global listening habits.
Overall, the 2025 music lists show TikTok’s role as a key driver in what songs gain viral popularity — whether they’re brand‑new releases or forgotten classics finding a second life online.
TikTok Launches Shared Feed Options To Enhance Connection [2]
TikTok is rolling out new features designed to help friends and family connect more closely on the app through shared content experiences. These updates include a Shared Feed, Shared Collections, and greeting cards in direct messages.
The Shared Feed shows two users a daily curated list of 15 videos based on both of their interests, right inside their private chat. This makes content discovery a more social and joint activity, rather than something each person does alone.
With Shared Collections, TikTok users can save videos into a collaborative folder with friends or family. This works like a shared board where both people can add and organize content they like together.
In addition, TikTok is introducing seasonal greeting cards within messages, allowing users to send animated festive cards to each other directly in the app.
Overall, these updates aim to make TikTok feel more social and interactive, encouraging people to discover and share content together rather than separately.
X Update
X Launched test watch history Tab [1]
X is testing a new watch history feature that would let users find videos they’ve previously seen in the app more easily. This “Seen” tab could act like a log of videos you’ve watched, helping you go back to content you remember but can’t quite find.
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The feature is still in early testing, and it’s not yet clear how much history it will keep or how exactly it will work once widely released.
Another change being shown in screenshots involves updated reply notifications, where bubble icons highlight replies from people you follow directly in the feed. This could make it easier to notice and join conversations with friends and people you know.
These additions are part of ongoing experiments by X’s product team to encourage users to stay longer and interact moreon the platform, even though not all tests will necessarily become permanent features.
Overall, X continues to try new user interface updates quietly — often letting users discover them gradually rather than making big announcements — as part of its broader effort to boost engagement and improve video discovery.
- The Most ‘Ratioed’ Users on X Can Now Be Viewed [2]
X (formerly Twitter) now has a new tool called Ratio Finder, created by developer Chris Park using X’s API. This mini‑site lets people see which users on X get the most ratioed posts — meaning replies and comments out weigh likes or reposts.
Being ratioed usually suggests a post is controversial or unpopular because people react more than they like it. However, the way the app counts ratios may not perfectly match how X users normally understand the term, since it also considers when replies get more likes than the original post.
The Ratio Finder shows a list of users whose posts are most ratioed at any given moment, making it easy to spot discussions where the crowd is strongly reacting.
It also includes a leaderboard of people who often post replies that get more likes than the original content, highlighting users who engage others effectively.
Overall, the app is a public way to track ratios on X and spot conversation dynamics, even if some of the ranking logic might be debated.
Meta Update
Meta Launches Reels Algorithm Controls to US Users [1]
iMeta has rolled out a new feature called “Your Algorithm” on Instagram Reels that lets users in the United States see and adjust the topics that shape their recommended videos. This gives people more direct control over what content they see in their Reels feed, beyond what the algorithm automatically chooses. Businesstechweekly.com
Users can access these controls through a new icon at the top right of their Reels tab. When opened, it shows a dashboard listing interests Instagram thinks they care about based on their activity — like certain hobbies, genres, or themes. From there, users can add new topics they want more of or remove categories they’re not interested in. Businesstechweekly.com
By choosing what topics to include or exclude, people can customize their Reels feed to better reflect their preferences. For example, if a user doesn’t want to see as many sports videos but wants more cooking clips, they can adjust those settings directly. Businesstechweekly.com
Meta says this is a step toward giving people more meaningful control over their experience, though past experience shows that many users might not actively use algorithm controls even when available. Some people mainly want the reassurance of choice, while still using the default personalized feed.
The feature is currently available to all Instagram users in the U.S. first, with plans to expand to other English‑speaking regions in the future. Users can also share their chosen interests to their Stories if they want to show followers what they care about.
Pinterest Update
Pinterest Publishes 2026 Trend Predictions Report [1]
Pinterest has released its annual “Pinterest Predicts” report for 2026, highlighting the major trends it expects to shape culture, lifestyle, fashion, home design, beauty, and more next year. The forecast is based on data from billions of searches and interactions on the platform, giving a picture of what users are increasingly interested in. Social Media Today
The 2026 report identifies 21 emerging trends that Pinterest expects to grow in popularity, and historically the platform’s trend predictions have proven to be highly accurate (about 88% accuracy) in previous years. Social Media Today
These trends span a wide range of categories — from fashion and beauty to home décor, food, travel, and lifestyle — and reflect deeper shifts in how people are thinking about identity, comfort, authenticity, and creativity. Latin Times
Pinterest’s analysis shows that many users are moving away from minimalism and toward more expressive, nostalgic, imaginative, and sensory experiences, whether that’s through bold aesthetics, emotional rituals, or playful design. designtaxi.com
Alongside the trend list, Pinterest also published a brand guide to help marketers and creators understand how they can use these insights in content, campaigns, and product planning to better connect with their audiences in 2026.
You can check out the full Pinterest Trends 2026 report here.
Facebook Update
Facebook Launches Feed Updates, Algorithm Control Options [1]
Facebook is rolling out a series of feed and algorithm updates aimed at making the platform more relevant and user‑friendly. These changes include redesigning how posts, especially multiple photo posts, appear — with standardized grids and easier ways to like and expand content with a tap.
The update also brings a more immersive visual experience, including refreshed search results that show content in a grid layout and a new full‑screen viewer for browsing photos and videos without losing your spot.
One of the key features is improved algorithm control tools, similar to what Instagram and Threads have, where users can more directly tell Facebook what content they do or don’t want to see by selecting topic signals when hiding posts.
Facebook is also making navigation easier by putting the most‑used features — like Reels, Friends, Marketplace, and Profile — front and center in the bottom tab bar, along with a cleaner menu design and updated notifications.
Overall, these updates let users shape their feed experience more directly, giving them better control and a more visually engaging way to discover and interact with content on the platform.