Meta introduces new AI ad capabilities: The changes include more investments in Andromeda, new tools for Advantage+, and more genAI use cases.

When Southwest Airlines announced they were charging for bags, Amtrak posted on X, “Guess we’re the only ones doing free baggage now.” The post, followed by more info on Amtrak’s baggage policy, is an example of what Amtrak senior manager of social media Nicolle Lopez calls its infotainment strategy, designed to educate and entertain at the same time.

Meta’s new Stories payout model drops view minimums, aiming to reengage influencers and win back young users.

Everyone from big brands to independent marketers is expected to be comfortable with short-form video creation. But for those who have not worked as creators or have more experience with long-form video, it’s difficult to know where to start.

Reels may get its own app: Instagram is reportedly exploring a standalone platform as it vies to draw attention away from TikTok.

A dedicated Instagram Reels app could give Meta an edge over TikTok—or fragment its audience. If users resist another app, Instagram’s video dominance could take a hit.

TikTok returns to US app stores, hinting at a secure future: Regulators and storefronts say they want to keep the app around, putting it on much stronger footing.

Short-form video offerings signal the platform’s push to become more than just a job-hunting site as it aims to compete for screen time with TikTok and Instagram.

Instagram is revamping Reels with a follower activity feed while Threads rolls out analytics and tests ads. The moves aim to deepen user engagement and maximize brand exposure.

Instagram is looking more and more like TikTok: The company is launching a video editing app, Edits, which is strikingly similar to TikTok’s CapCut.

The loss of TikTok in the US would cause a ripple effect across the media, marketing, and commerce landscape. Meta and YouTube stand to gain the most, but there is a long list of other winners—and losers.

A US TikTok ban may happen in the near future, but brands that sell on TikTok Shop shouldn’t abandon it until they have to.

TikTok’s ban is officially happening, but there are caveats: A few potential escape hatches exist, but the January 19 deadline remains.

Aimed at teens and active users, this move could enhance personalization, increase engagement, and boost Meta’s ad appeal.

Instagram integrates with Spotify: Users can now save songs from Reels directly to their Spotify library.

A third (33%) of US influencers believe that if TikTok is sold or banned in the US next year, Facebook Reels will become the next major player in short-form video, per August 2024 data by First Insight. Instagram Reels is close, at 32%.

Total media time is on a steady slide in the UK. By 2026, it will drop to below 10 hours per day, the lowest level in a decade. Digital media—particularly digital and social video—is picking up some of the slack, but it won’t halt the decline.

Canada ranks near the top of the list of countries for average daily time spent with media, with digital formats driving consumption to new levels.

Our user forecasts for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and Pinterest in Canada highlight an expanding platform mix increasingly divided by age demographics.