Strap in: Instagram dropped a trio of “be more social” updates, then had to calm everyone down about location sharing. YouTube’s dressing like Netflix, LinkedIn continues its B2B glow-up, Bluesky’s growing (but quietly), and TikTok brought Tomorrowland into living rooms worldwide. Plus: handy updates from YouTube and WhatsApp, and two fun campaigns to borrow for your moodboard.
Lets dive in 👇
Latest News
📍 Instagram’s new ways to connect: Reposts, Friend Map, Friends tab in Reels
Instagram’s been busy. First, reposts now get their own profile tab, giving shared content a longer shelf life and more visibility. Friend Map lets you share your location with select people (opt-in, thankfully), and a new Friends tab in Reels shows what your mates are engaging with. For brands, it’s a push towards tighter micro-communities and more peer-to-peer discovery, meaning your content could spread through friend networks faster than before. 👉 Learn more
🔒 Location sharing is off unless you turn it on
Some launch-day panic and commotion ensued with Maps arrival, not only are they very similar to Snap Maps, like so similar, but there were also privacy concerns. Luckily, the man Adam Mosseri stepped in to clarify: Friend Map is opt-in, highly customisable, and Stories only show tagged places for 24 hours. You can hide your location from specific people and even block certain spots entirely. For event marketers, pop-ups, or local businesses, it’s a handy way to add FOMO without oversharing. 👉 Learn more
📈 Instagram Insights glow-up
Your analytics just got smarter. Reels now show where likes happened (timeline or profile), carousels reveal which slide pulled the taps, and you’ll see post-level demographics and follower growth drivers. “Views” becomes the headline metric, helping you benchmark reach more clearly. It’s a more complete picture for tracking what’s actually winning attention, and what’s just making noise. 👉 Learn more
📌 Pinterest hits 578M MAUs (+11% YoY), Gen Z now over half
Pinterest just hit its biggest audience ever, 578M monthly users, and Gen Z now make up more than half of them. Revenue’s also up 17% thanks to better e-commerce tools and expansion outside the US. For brands, especially those with a good-looking product, this is prime mid-funnel territory where discovery and purchase intent live side-by-side. 👉 Learn more
🪽 Bluesky at 38M users… but posting is slowing
The decentralised platform is still attracting new sign-ups, but user activity isn’t keeping pace. Core communities remain active, and the vibe is slower and more thoughtful than X/Twitter. For now, it’s best to secure your handle, keep an eye on features, and be ready to move if engagement surges. 👉 Learn more
🧠 Why B2B should go bigger on LinkedIn
LinkedIn’s user base has swelled to 1.2B, with a 36% YoY lift in video consumption and the highest concentration of decision-makers anywhere online. New ad formats, from CTV to Thought Leader Ads, plus stronger attribution tools, mean you can tie content directly to pipeline. If you’re not increasing spend here, your competitors probably are. 👉 Learn more
📰 LinkedIn dials back its alternate feed “pills” test
Those separate For You, Following, and News feeds are being phased out. That means the algorithmic feed will once again dominate, and your content plan should focus on broad engagement signals instead of relying on niche feed tabs to get seen. 👉 Learn more
🎧 TikTok x Tomorrowland: 74M unique livestream viewers
Forget muddy fields, TikTok turned Tomorrowland into the world’s biggest digital dance floor, pulling in a record 74M viewers over two weekends (up from 16M in 2023). Beyond the streams, TikTok packed the app with backstage access, creator collabs, and an in-app festival hub. It’s proof TikTok Live can make an event global overnight, no tent required. 👉 Learn more
🔞 YouTube testing AI age-estimation
YouTube’s AI will now make a guess at your age based on viewing habits. Adults misidentified can confirm their age via ID or credit card. This could affect which ads reach certain audiences, so keep a close eye on campaign reporting if you see shifts in impressions or engagement. 👉 Learn more
🔗 WhatsApp “Guest Chats”
A new test lets you chat with people who don’t have WhatsApp via a simple link. The catch: it’s text-only for now. For brands, it’s a lower-friction way to offer customer support or capture leads without asking users to download yet another app. 👉 Learn more
📺 YouTube’s Netflix-style channel makeover
Some YouTube channels are getting TV-like layouts with “Start Watching” buttons, seasons, and binge-friendly navigation. It’s perfect for long-form or episodic content, and a cue to start thinking about your videos as full-blown series rather than one-offs. 👉 Learn more
🔧 Quick Tip of the Week
Now that Instagram has added granular Insights for Reels, carousels, and follower growth, start tracking which types of content actually convert profile visitors into followers. Then double down on formats that drive growth, not just views.
✨ Campaigns We Love ✨
🖋 Aldi Specialbuy tattoos
Aldi’s middle aisle now comes in temporary ink form, think inflatable hot tubs, hedge trimmers, and random kitchen gadgets reimagined as tattoos. It’s the perfect tribute for anyone who’s ever popped in for milk and left with a kayak. 👉 See more
🥾 Columbia’s “Engineered for Whatever”
Columbia ditched the perfect, posed adventure shots for mud, mess, and unpredictable weather. Because real outdoor life is less “catalogue cool” and more “I’ve lost a shoe but I’m having a great time.” 👉 See more
🗓️ Mark Your Calendars
Opportunities to celebrate this week
- Wednesday August 13 – World Calligraphy Day 🖋
- Thursday August 14 – World Lizard Day🦎
- Friday August 15- World Greatness Day 🤗
- Saturday August 16 – National Rum Day 🥃
- Sunday August 17- Baby Boomers Recognition Day 🧑🍼
- Monday August 18 – National Pinot Noir Day🍷
- Tuesday August 19 – World Photography Day 📸
- Wednesday August 20 – World Mosquito Day 🦟
And next…
- Thursday August 21 – National Hazy IPA Day 🍻
- Friday August 22 – World Plant Milk Day 🥛
- Saturday August 23 – International Hashtag Day #️⃣
- Sunday August 24 – International Strange Music Day 🎶
- Monday August 25 – National Whiskey Sour Day 🥃
- Tuesday August 26 – National Dog Day 🐶
- Wednesday August 27 – National Banana Lovers Day 🍌
That’s a wrap!
Go explore those new IG Insights, pin something worthy of Gen Z’s attention, and maybe park your handle on Bluesky before someone nabs it. If you want help weaving any of these into your strategy, you know where to find us.
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