Social media is constantly being updated, and to excel, it’s very important to keep “in the know” with these changes. Here are 5 big social media news stories from the last month that you won’t want to miss.

1. They did it again – another Facebook algorithm change

Over the coming months, Facebook will be once again tweaking its algorithm. The changes are a series of ranking updates that will favour video content publishers. This will definitely effect the way video is consumed on the platform.

These three factors will now have a greater impact on video rankings: video and viewing duration (content should be at least 3 minutes long), loyalty and intent, and originality. That means video creators will have to work harder than before to produce truly engaging content.

2. Twitter upgrades its Retweet function

Twitter now lets you add a photo, video or gif when sharing other content. You will be able to add up to four media elements to a retweet, which will liven up our feeds for sure. According to Twitter, this was a highly requested feature, although the people of Twitter are still awaiting that much-needed “edit button”. We can only hope.

3. Shopping is made even easier on Instagram

Creators and influencers will be able to tag and sell items directly to people who view their posts or Stories. This is currently only be available on items from members of the Checkout beta programme recently launched, including Kim Kardashian and Gigi Hadid. Brands and creators will also receive insights to get a more in-depth understanding of how their posts are performing.

4. Facebook has created a new Instagram Creator Studio

What’s this? A new dashboard has been introduced to help users access different analytics metrics including audience activity, demographic info, or engagement stats via desktop. This is currently still in test mode. But it will be integrated into Facebook’s Creator Studio app for now. These won’t be any metrics you haven’t seen before, but it will give you a combined asset library for your Facebook and Instagram accounts. This has the potential to become a very useful tool.

5. Several targeting tweaks to LinkedIn advertising

LinkedIn launched the new Interest Targeting option based on the content people engage with on the platform. Lookalike Audiences are also finally available in Campaign Manager. This is extremely useful on LinkedIn as you have access to highly precise information such as company size, job titles and professional skills.

Another update is Audience Templates, a tool for those who struggle to find their target audience. These templates include audience characteristics to help you search for the right market type based on your goals.

If you’re currently active on social media for your business, that’s great.

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